Tributes are pouring in for singer Tina Turner, who has died at the age of 83, while her Australian connections and role in Rugby League’s most successful promotion campaign ever are also being celebrated.
Known for her incredible, game-changing and iconic performances and serious stage energy, Turner was once dubbed the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
She has been described as paving “the way for so many women in rock music,” by singer Gloria Gaynor, on learning about her death.
And Turner also had a powerful story of resilience and success that came with her independence — she left her abusive husband Ike in 1978, with the heights of her career following in the 1980s. She later spoke out about the abuse and worked to raise awareness of the problem to support other women.
Spice Girl Mel B said Turner gave women hope on escaping domestic abuse, with Mel B herself having experienced domestic abuse and campaigning for better education.
“She did the impossible, she left him, she survived, she got away, and gave ALL survivors like me hope — to hear of her passing right now is beyond devastating to me personally,” Mel B said.
Actor Viola Davis also noted Turner as a survivor. “Iconic. Beautiful. A survivor. Brilliance,” she shared on social media. “Our first symbol of excellence and unbridled ownership of sexuality!!”
NASA has also paid tribute, saying Turner’s legacy will “forever live among the stars” and that she was “simply the best”.
In 1993, Tina Turner shared an iconic performance at the NSW Rugby League Grand Final in Sydney, marking one of the greatest entertainment moments in Australian sporting history.
NSWRL first teamed up with Turner in 1989 for their rugby league promotions, using her song “The Best” to promote the best game moments. At the time, Rugby league was on a mission to break up its perception of being a “blokey” sport, and reinvigorate the sport by opening it to new audiences.
The collaboration largely came thanks to Micki Braithwaite, who was the then assistant to NSWRL boss John Quayle. Braithwaite was also friends with Roger Davies, who was Turner’s manager and happened to be a fan of rugby league. Davies, an Australian, was also at the time managing Olivia Newton-John.
In 2020, a documentary was released about the collaboration, which became the most iconic and memorable campaign in rugby league history. In the doco, Quayle talks about the challenges they faced leading up to the launch of the campaign, with people questioning how a black American woman could promote league, a sport she had never played.
Turner was flown to Australia to record the promo. Thirty years later, the NRL brought the campaign back following years of fans pushing for a return of the anthem.
Turner also collaborated with Jimmy Barnes on recording a version of the hit, with two of the most powerful voices in history creating a version of the anthem unlike anything ever heard.
Turner was born in Nutbush, Tennessee, and relinquished her US citizenship twenty years ago. She has been living in Switzerland ever since.
She died following a long illness.
Watch below, the official clip for a version of Simply the Best, recorded with Jimmy Barnes.