NEXT CHAPTER TINA TURNER Simply TheTHE POP DIVA FINDS THEBest JOY IN LIFE AFTER at OVERCOMING ABUSE EN ROUTE TO THE TOP ddy Hampton Ar- staged next year by director Phylli- she was in debt and considered a has- mani thought he was da Lloyd (Mamma Mia!). “To have my been, is actually Tina’s source of great- in for an afternoon of story nurtured by such an amazing est pride: “She found things within campy fun with Tina creative team is thrilling,” says Tina, 77. herself she didn’t know existed.” Turner when they Adds a friend, “This has been 77an emo- As a solo artist, Tina became a su- went to see Mommie tional journey for Tina.” perstar with 1984’s Private Dancer and EDearest in 1981. “Then I looked over That journey began with Anna Mae won 11 Grammys. After her last tour at Tina and she was crying,” her long- Bullock, the child of a broken home in 2009, she’s laid low in Zurich, of- time friend and former personal assis- who sang in the church choir in Nut- ten riding bikes with Erwin Bach, 61, tant tells Closer. Tina’s abuse-scarred bush, Tenn. She met Ike at an East St. a German record executive she met marriage to Ike Turner had ended five Louis nightclub and began recording in 1985 and married in 2013. Says a years earlier, but seeing the story of with him at 19. The Ike and Tina Turn- friend, “After all the chaos, she’s made Joan Crawford’s abusive relationship er Review produced hits like “Riv- the life she’s always dreamed of.” with daughter Christina, says Armani, er Deep, Mountain High.” But it was a One of Tina’s only regrets is she “reminded her of Ike.” grueling existence, touring 300 days “never had a daughter she could dress Since then, Tina has let go of her an- a year. “Ike called the shots,” Robbie up and take shopping,” says Armani. ger about her past, but she hasn’t for- Montgomery, a backup singer who was Of her two sons with Ike, Tina is close gotten the pain she endured on her “close as sisters” to Tina, tells Closer. to Craig, 58, but less so with Ronald, road to the top. Now her life is being After suffering from beatings, Tina 56, who has a history of drug arrests. turned into Tina — The Musical, set left Ike in 1976. “He can have every- But she doesn’t dwell on the past. to be thing except my name,” she said dur- “She’s worked hard enough to look ing their bitter divorce. (Ike died of a forward,” Armani says. “She can take cocaine overdose in 2007.) A time and enjoy the beauty of life.” friend says the tough peri- — Nancy Bilyeau, with reporting by High od after their split, when Katie Bruno and Melissa Roberto FROM MAIN: R/R; GETTY; MPTV; R/R; GETTY (2) and Low Notes ◀ “I regret not having had more time ◀“Ike’s problem with my kids,” was he was a says Tina with musician who (clockwise wanted to be a from bottom star,” says Tina left) stepsons (in 1964) of her Michael & Ike ex-husband, who Jr. and sons was jealous of the Craig and attention she got. Ronnie in ’72. 22 May 1, 2017 CLOSER document2422088742276951796.indd 22 4/12/17 1:19 PM “People think my life has been tough, but it’s been a wonderful journey.” — Tina Turner FROM MAIN: R/R; GETTY; MPTV; R/R; GETTY (2) ◀Tina’s 1984 ◀The 1993 album, Private biopic What’s Dancer, sold Love Got 20 million to Do With copies It? earned worldwide Oscar nods and won four for Angela Grammys, Bassett (as “With Erwin and me, even at including Song Tina) and night, I don’t feel like I have to and Record of Laurence look pretty in bed,” Tina reveals the Year. Fishburne’s of her laid-back dynamic with turn as Ike. her husband (in 2015). document2422088742276951796.indd 23 4/12/17 1:19 PM.