Tina Turner Says She “Had A Terrible Life” And Talks Moving On After Her Toxic Relationship With Ike Turner: “I Just Kept Going”

Iconic singer-songwriter Tina Turner opened up about having a “terrible life” and life with ex-husband Ike Turner in a new interview with The New York Times.

The 79-year-old singer is now well-rested in her Switzerland, Chateau Algonquin home enjoying the fruits of her labor after a more than 50-year-long successful music career. However, everything wasn’t always sweet; the singer admits that things were once very sour in her life. “I had a terrible life,” Turner, 79, told the New York Times. “I just kept going. You just keep going, and you hope that something will come.”

Turner, who is now married to Erwin Bach, also revealed that her previous relationship with her singing partner Ike Turner put a great deal of stress on her even after their breakup. Some of her abuse from Ike was depicted in her biopic “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” but Turner says the film didn’t come close to everything she experienced in real life. “I don’t know if I could ever forgive all that Ike ever did to me – [but] Ike’s dead. So we don’t have to worry about him,” she told the press. Continuing, Turner says she greatly identifies with the #MeToo movement having been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused. “I think I’m ashamed. I feel I told enough,” she told the publication.

Following her life working with Ike, Turner says she’s moved on from the music business and began focusing on her own happiness. “I don’t sing; I don’t dance, I don’t dress up…I was just tired of singing and making everybody happy. That’s all I’d ever done in my life,” she said in her memoir.

Turner explained that she is living for herself now and happy with her new man. “I identify only with my life. I was busy doing it. Doing the work…I don’t necessarily want to be a ‘strong’ person. I had a terrible life. I just kept going. You just keep going, and you hope that something will come. This came,” she said alluding to her current husband.

It’s been 10 years since Turner has graced a stage, but the “Proud Mary” singer’s story is making its way to Broadway.  The Tina Turner Musical premieres in the U.S. this coming fall; Turner is a consultant on or the show.