Like all of us, Oprah Winfrey is a Tina Turner fan. Unlike most of us, however, she was lucky enough to be Turner’s friend.in a new interview cbs this morningOprah and Gail King, who also knew and loved Turner, reflected on their friendship with the performer and even revealed details about her later years.
As Oprah and Gail noted, Turner suffered from a number of health issues before eventually passing away on May 24, 2023.She suffered a stroke in 2013, Kim recalls, when she attended a CBS Sunday Morning 2018 interview. In 2016, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and the following year, she underwent a kidney transplant thanks to her husband, Erwin Bach, who gave her the kidney. Just this past February, Oprah revealed that she had had back surgery.
Oprah revealed: “I met her in 2019, and I went to see her in the hospital, and she said to me at the time that she was actually ready.” “Meaning, ready to leave this planet. I expected that would be me. Last time I saw her. Then I have to say that her husband Erwin Bach is the most extraordinary person I’ve ever known because he loves her back to health and lifestyle replica. I mean, he really wants her live.”
“She keeps coming back,” Gail added, calling Turner a “bad guy.” “She used to always say, ‘I’m still not in pain,’ despite everything she’s been through.”
Despite these crises, both characters rightly emphasize that Turner’s resilience in the face of abuse and health issues is something we should remember. The video offers plenty of sweet moments from Oprah and Turner over the years, from the live performances the pair shared to the surprise turner appearance on the talk show for Oprah to celebrate her 50th birthday.
“She became a clarion call for other women to triumph,” Oprah said. Watch their entire interview below.
Since Turner’s death, there has been an outpouring of tributes to her. Angela Bassett as the singer in the 1993 biopic What does love have to do with it? Saying she “owns her pain and trauma and uses it as a means to help change the world,” Lizzo recently sang “Proud Mary” at a show in Phoenix.
Revisit our list of Turner’s 10 best songs.
“What a legacy she left us”: @gailkin and @oprah Share special moments with Tina Turner, from concerts to dance lessons to meals together.
Oprah said she was a longtime Turner fan — the singer went above and beyond her expectations for a friendship. pic.twitter.com/1INqw1BJ1j
– CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) May 25, 2023