Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, received a fitting tribute at the 2024 Grammys, as her friend Oprah Winfrey praised her legacy and Fantasia Barrino brought the house down with a rendition of her signature song “Proud Mary”.
Turner, who died last year at the age of 83 after a long illness, was one of the most influential and successful artists of all time, with a career spanning six decades and countless awards and accolades. She was best known for her powerful voice, electrifying stage presence, and iconic hits such as “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, “The Best”, and “River Deep – Mountain High”.
As part of the In Memoriam segment, which also honored Tony Bennett, Sinead O’Connor, and other musical legends who passed away in the past year, Winfrey took the stage to share her admiration and gratitude for Turner, whom she called her “favorite artist and friend”.
Winfrey recalled how she first became a fan of Turner when she was a teenager and how she later got to interview her several times and witness her courage, resilience, and grace. She also highlighted Turner’s impact on music and culture, as well as her personal inspiration to millions of people around the world.
“Tina’s voice continues to speak to all of us,” Winfrey said. “She taught us how to be strong, how to overcome, how to reinvent ourselves, and how to simply be the best.”
Winfrey then introduced Barrino, the former American Idol winner and Broadway star, who performed a dazzling version of “Proud Mary”, the song that Turner made famous with her former husband Ike Turner in 1971 and later re-recorded as a solo artist in 1988.
Barrino, who wore a gold fringe dress and high heels, channeled Turner’s energy and charisma as she sang and danced across the stage, accompanied by a band and a group of dancers in matching outfits.
She also interacted with the audience, getting Dua Lipa, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and other stars to join her in the chorus and the choreography. The performance received a standing ovation from the crowd and was widely praised on social media as one of the highlights of the night.
The 2024 Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah, also featured performances by Dua Lipa, Luke Combs, Joni Mitchell, among others.
