Tribute act 'in denial and shocked to the core' at Tina Turner's death
Totally Tina will be performing at Worcester's Swan Theatre on Saturday and changes are being made to the show.
Last updated 25th May 2023
A Worcester-bound Tina Turner tribute act has said she was in denial and shocked to the core after hearing the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll had died.
Turner, one of rock's most famous voices - with hits including Proud Mary and The Best - died at the age of 83 at her home in Switzerland on Wednesday after a long illness.
On Saturday, Totally Tina will be at Worcester's Swan Theatre and the show will be changed to pay tribute to the icon.
A minute's applause will be held and the audience given chance to remember the music legend.
Justine Riddoch, of Totally Tina, said: "Our inspiration? Yeah she certainly was, to bring her music to her fans is what it has always been about."
She added: "To be honest, we were in denial. I didn't believe it was true, I was shocked to the core, even though I knew from the past couple of years that it was going to happen soon as she wasn't well."
In a career spanning more than 60 years, the American-Swiss singer, who was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, won eight competitive Grammy Awards and has a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St Louis Walk of Fame.
Tributes came from across the entertainment industry, from friends, colleagues and collaborators including Oprah Winfrey, members of The Rolling Stones and Sir Elton John.
In a lengthy tribute posted to Instagram, Winfrey recalled how she had started out "as a fan" of Turner and had followed her "from show to show around the country" as a "full-on groupie" before the pair eventually became "real friends".