Bonnie Tyler, Welsh singer of Total Eclipse of the Heart, dies at 75
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Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer best known for the 1980s hits "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero", has died at the age of 75. Her family said she died "unexpectedly" on Wednesday night in a Portuguese hospital as a result of an illness she had been receiving treatment for, and asked for privacy. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from figures across music, entertainment and public life, reflecting her status as one of Britain's most enduringly popular recording artists.
Tributes were led by actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, a cousin of Tyler's husband of more than 50 years, Robert Sullivan, who described the singer as "our Queen Bonnie" and recalled Tyler performing at her 2000 wedding to Michael Douglas. The Prince of Wales called her a "proud Welsh icon", signing off in Welsh, while Sir Cliff Richard, Shakin' Stevens, Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart also paid their respects, the latter performing "It's a Heartache" at an event in Gleneagles. Tyler, originally from Skewen in south Wales, had been placed in an induced coma in May after emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal, and her spokesperson said last month she remained "very unwell and in intensive care". Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described her as "one of Britain's greatest recording artists".
- Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75 in Portugal.
- Catherine Zeta-Jones, Prince William and fellow musicians led tributes.
- She had been seriously ill since emergency surgery in May.
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Bonnie Tyler was one of Britain's best-known pop singers, a Welsh performer whose gravelly voice powered global hits in the early 1980s, most famously "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero". Born in Skewen, south Wales, she built a career spanning five decades and remained a well-recognised figure in British music and popular culture long after her chart peak.
She had been seriously unwell for some time, having undergone emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal in May, after which she was placed in an induced coma and later remained in intensive care. She was married to Robert Sullivan for more than 50 years, and their family includes a well-known connection to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones through marriage.
Her death has drawn tributes from across music, entertainment and politics, including fellow singers, members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister, reflecting how widely her songs and public profile were known well beyond Wales.
More coverage
- Billboard — Bonnie Tyler, u2018Total Eclipse of the Heartu2019 Singer, Dies atu00a075
- Pitchfork — Bonnie Tyler Dies at 75
- American Songwriter — Family of Bonnie Tyler Heartbroken Over u201cTotal Eclipse of the Heartu201d Singeru2019s Unexpected Death
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Originally published by BBC Entertainment as “Total Eclipse of the Heart singer Bonnie Tyler dies aged 75”.