TINA TURNER (1939-2023)
SIMPLY THE BEST
“For anyone who’s in an abusive relationship, I say Go. Nothing can be worse than where you are now.” T. Turner
In September 2025, a ten-foot bronze statue of Tina Turner was unveiled in Brownsville, Tennessee. Almost immediately it drew backlash from spectators and fans alike, calling it an “abomination” and an “insult.” Say what?
The statue, sculpted by Fred Ajanogha, has been placed in Heritage Park, near a high school Tina attended. The Bronze Beauty, as some appreciative folks are calling the statue, is depicted holding a microphone, complete with Tina’s signature wild hair, tones legs clad in a short min skirt, wearing spiky heels. According to the sculptor, the monument emphasized her strength as a woman who wore her hair like a lion’s mane. What’s not to like?
Plenty, according to the naysayers. But art is subjective, often abstract, confounded by personal taste and the eye of the beholder. Other statues of women, especially that of Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe, have also received negative feedback from visitors. What’s the point? When I gaze upon a statue, I choose to look at the life of the woman being honored. It’s already been decided by numerous committees that the woman’s likeness should be carved in stone and memorialized for centuries. In all likelihood the Bronze Beauty will outlive her naysayers. To me, she’s glorious, heartfelt and mesmerizing. You can’t take your eyes off her; even in death and in bronze, Tina is riveting.
Tina led an extraordinary life; she’s a rags to riches success (to learn more about her life go to www.americansongwriter.com or read her memoir, “My Love Story”). Most people know her music, which is legendary, but they also know she escaped from an abusive relationship. But Tina is much more than the sum of her parts. Talented, yes, but she also possessed hutzpah and an ability to keep moving forward. Songs like Proud Mary, Simply The Best, and What’s love got to do with it? “might highlight her raspy, raw voice but her no-holds-bar dancing style and explosive energy on stage elevated her to a higher level. That’s why she earned Rock and Rock Hall of Fame status and numerous Grammy Awards.
But it was her advocacy for domestic violence survivors that makes her stand out. That’s what makes the statue so important. To me, it depicts a woman with a “don’t mess with me bravado” and while it might not look pretty to some, I find it beautiful. While it’s true that her legs appear quite muscular (as do most dancers), to me they evoke a domestic violence survivor’s motto “touch me like that again and I’ll kick you into tomorrow.” My kind of woman.
Rock on Tina! I’m happy that we can add another monument of the matriarchy to our landscape. We need more statues of strong women who stand proud of their accomplishments. You will be remembered.