Cher Used to Visit Sick Tina Turner & Made Her Laugh amid 'Long Illness' - She Got a Present from Her before Death

• Tina Turner died at 83 following an extended illness at her home in Switzerland.
• The singer's long-time friend, Cher, visited her before her death and got a present from Tina.
• The late star told Cher that she was "really ready" to die.

In May 2023, the heartbreaking news that the world lost one of its legends, Tina Turner, made its rounds. The music icon was 83 when she gave up the fight against a long illness in her hometown in Switzerland.

She had a six-decade-long career that earned her eight Grammy Awards. Cher was Tina's long-time friend, and after the news broke of her friend's death, she honored her through a telephonic interview with MSNBC's "The Beat With Ari Melber."

The iconic songstress noted how everyone was sad about the loss but that her late friend had fought her sickness for a long time. The late musician, known for her fiery dance moves and equally fiery hair, was the Queen of Rock.

She passed away on May 24, 2023, at her home near Zurich. The circumstances that led to her death were outlined by Cher, who revealed some of the last words she shared with Tina before her death.

Cher Opens up about Tina's Death and Their Friendship

During her "The Beat" interview, Cher shared how she selflessly traveled miles to visit Tina during her long illness and how strong the late star was throughout it. However, towards the end of her life, she told Cher:

"'I'm really ready; I just don't want to put up with this anymore.'"

The late singer's friend absentmindedly noted how they were best friends, and it was funny because Tina didn't swear! Cher explained how she started visiting her friend in Switzerland to put the time in for their friendship.

The idea was to make sure her friend knew she wasn't forgotten, so the "If I Could Turn Back Time" singer and others took turns spending time with the late musician to make her happy. Someone privy to their relationship noted how their laughter was the funniest thing because they had distinct laughs!

Tina had been very happy in Switzerland, and the first time Cher visited her, the late singer was lying down wearing sunglasses and looking at a lake. The "What's Love Got To Do With It" singer confessed she couldn't spend too much time with Cher, but they were laughing hysterically five hours later!

At one point, Tina wanted to show her friend everything she'd bought for her house, which had no services. The "Believe" vocalist said her pal was having a great time despite her being really sick, and she didn't want people to know about her ailment.

The late artist even had a dialysis machine at her house for her treatment. Cher paid tribute to Tina, calling her one of the great artists in their generation, and no one matched up to her or even came close.

The "Strong Enough" songstress thought her friend gave other women strength and encouraged young people. Cher said she gave Tina power at times as she did to her before adding this about their bond:

"I think we were perfect friends for each other. Truthfully. I swear like a sailor, and she never did."

Speaking about her character, the "I Got You Babe" singer said her late friend was a "force" who faced things dead on. Tina was described as not having won all her battles but brave enough to have fought each war.

The late star fought for everything she believed in and grew up in an era where she picked cotton because she had nothing. Cher's friend built herself up from nothing to where she was.

The "Dancing Queen" singer shared how she knew Tina when she was still with her first husband, Ike Turner, who was abusive to her. The contrast between the person the artist was with Ike and who she became after she left him; astounded Cher.

The late musician "thrilled" her friend by becoming free, and her new life was like she'd taken a big, fresh, deep breath. When Tina died, she was married to her second husband, Erwin Bach.

In 2016, when Tina was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, she chose to use homeopathic remedies instead of traditional methods and faced the possibility of total kidney failure. Unlike the late Ike, Bach showed how self-sacrificing he was by offering to donate his kidney.

The legendary musician [Tina Turner] recalled how Craig [Turner] decorated the apartment she'd bought for him.

The late singer wondered if people would think his donation was a transition between them. Some people believed Bach married the artist for her fame and money because he was a younger man, but he ignored the rumors.

Cher, who didn't know that the last time she saw her friend would be the last, also revealed that just like Bach, Tina was a giving person. The last time they were together, the rock 'n roller gifted Cher a pair of her shoes with very high heels.

Sadly, life served her good and bad times, including the pain of losing two people that were dear to her. During the last few years of her life, Tina hardly made public appearances and lived a quiet life.

How Tina Lived in Her Last Years: Her Last Public Outing and the Loss of Her Sons

In 2018, Tina opened up about her son, Craig Turner, dying by suicide in July at age 59 in his Los Angeles home. She explained that she didn't understand what had pushed him to the edge because he seemed fulfilled personally and professionally.

Craig had even found himself a new girlfriend before his death. The late singer told his mother that he'd never met a woman he felt that way about, and for his birthday that August, he was going to bring her to meet Tina.

The legendary musician recalled how Craig decorated the apartment she'd bought for him, gotten a new job in California, and was happy. She reckoned his loneliness probably made him take the route he did.

On December 8, 2022, Tina was left heartbroken again when she lost another son, Ronnie Turner, who died at 62 from past health issues. The last time she was seen in public was in 2019, when she seemed frail while needing help walking.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

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