Career Timeline of Tina Turner: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Tina Turner, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Tina Turner, the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," was a highly successful singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Known for her powerful vocals, raspy voice, and electrifying stage presence, she broke racial barriers in rock music. As one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, she sold an estimated 100 million records, solidifying her iconic status.
1956: First Performance with Ike Turner
In 1956, Anna Mae Bullock sang with Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm, at the Club Manhattan. This marked the beginning of her musical journey with Ike Turner.
1958: First Recording as Little Ann
In 1958, Anna Mae Bullock made her first recording under the name Little Ann on the single "Boxtop". She was credited as a vocalist along with Ike Turner and Carlson Oliver.
July 1960: Release of "A Fool in Love" as Tina Turner
In July 1960, Anna Mae Bullock was introduced to the public as Tina Turner with the release of the single "A Fool in Love". It reached No. 2 on the Hot R&B Sides chart and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1960: Recording of "A Fool in Love" and Renaming as Tina Turner
In 1960, Anna Mae Bullock recorded "A Fool in Love" after Art Lassiter failed to appear. Disc jockey Dave Dixon convinced Ike Turner to send the tape to Juggy Murray, who was impressed with Bullock's vocals and bought the track. Ike Turner then renamed Bullock "Tina Turner".
1960: Rise to Prominence with Ike & Tina Turner
In 1960, Tina Turner rose to prominence as the lead singer of the duo Ike & Tina Turner, famous for live performances with the Ikettes and Kings of Rhythm.
1961: Success of "It's Gonna Work Out Fine"
In 1961, Ike & Tina Turner's single "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" reached No. 14 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart, earning them a Grammy nomination for Best Rock and Roll Performance.
1962: Release of R&B Hits
Between 1960 and 1962, Ike and Tina Turner released R&B hits including "I Idolize You", "Poor Fool", and "Tra La La La La".
1963: Constant Touring and R&B Singles
Between 1963 and 1965, Ike & Tina Turner toured constantly and produced moderately successful R&B singles.
1964: Release of Tina Turner's First Solo Single
In 1964, Tina Turner's first credited single as a solo artist, "Too Many Ties That Bind"/"We Need an Understanding", was released from Ike Turner's label Sonja Records.
February 1965: Charting Album with Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show
In February 1965, Ike & Tina Turner achieved their first charting album with "Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show", peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot R&B LP chart.
1965: Solo Appearances on TV Shows and Appearance in The Big T.N.T. Show
In 1965, Tina Turner's profile was raised after solo appearances on shows like American Bandstand and Shindig!, while the entire revue appeared on Hollywood a Go-Go. Also in 1965, they appeared in the concert film "The Big T.N.T. Show".
April 1966: Signing with Philles Label
In April 1966, Ike & Tina Turner signed with Phil Spector's Philles label after Tina Turner had already recorded with him.
May 1966: Release of "River Deep – Mountain High"
In May 1966, Ike & Tina Turner's first single on the Philles label, "River Deep – Mountain High", was released. While successful overseas, it only reached No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100.
November 1967: First Female and Black Artist on Rolling Stone Cover
In November 1967, Tina Turner became the first female artist and the first black artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
1968: Signing with Blue Thumb Records
In 1968, Ike & Tina Turner signed with Blue Thumb Records.
1969: Releasing "Outta Season" and "The Hunter" albums
In 1969, Ike & Tina Turner released the album "Outta Season" which produced their charted cover of Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long". They also released "The Hunter" album, where the title track earned Tina Turner a Grammy nomination.
1969: Opening for the Rolling Stones on US Tour
In the fall of 1969, Ike & Tina Turner's profile was raised after opening for the Rolling Stones on their US tour, and gained more exposure through performances on TV shows.
1970: Release of "Come Together" and "Workin' Together" albums
In 1970, Ike & Tina Turner released the albums "Come Together" and "Workin' Together", marking a turning point in their career as they incorporated more rock tunes into their repertoire.
July 1971: Release of Live Album What You Hear Is What You Get
In July 1971, Ike & Tina Turner's live album, What You Hear Is What You Get, was released. It was recorded at Carnegie Hall and became their first certified Gold album.
October 1972: Performance at Star-Spangled Women Fundraiser
In October 1972, Tina Turner and the Ikettes performed at Star-Spangled Women, a political fundraiser for the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1973: Release of "Nutbush City Limits"
In 1973, Ike & Tina Turner's single "Nutbush City Limits", written by Tina Turner, became a hit, reaching No. 1 in Austria, No. 4 in the UK, and the top 5 in several other countries. It was certified silver by the BPI for selling a quarter of a million copies in the UK. Ike & Tina Turner also received the Golden European Record Award for selling over one million records of "Nutbush City Limits" in Europe.
1973: Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism
In 1973, Tina Turner was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism by Valerie Bishop, who worked at Ike & Tina Turner's studio, Bolic Sound.
1974: Release of "Sweet Rhode Island Red" and "Sexy Ida"
In 1974, Ike & Tina Turner had follow-up hits with "Sweet Rhode Island Red" and "Sexy Ida".
1974: Grammy Nomination and Film Role
In 1974, Ike & Tina Turner's album The Gospel According to Ike & Tina was nominated for a Grammy. Tina Turner's first solo album, Tina Turns the Country On!, earned her a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. Tina Turner also filmed the rock opera Tommy in London, playing the Acid Queen and she appeared on Ann-Margret's TV special.
1975: Release of "Acid Queen" album
Following the release of Tommy, Tina Turner released her solo album Acid Queen in 1975. It reached No. 39 on the Billboard R&B chart and included the singles "Baby, Get It On" and a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love".
1975: Appearance in the film Tommy
In 1975, Tina Turner appeared in the film "Tommy".
1976: Headlining and TV Deal
In 1976, Ike & Tina Turner headlined at the Waldorf Astoria New York and signed a television deal with CBS-TV. Ike planned for them to leave United Artists Records for a deal with Cream Records.
1977: Release of "Delilah's Power"
In 1977, After Tina Turner's divorce, United Artists released the album "Delilah's Power" credited to the duo Ike & Tina Turner.
1977: Solo Performances and Tour
In 1977, following her separation from Ike, Tina Turner earned income by appearing on TV shows, formed a new band, and re-emerged with new costumes. She performed in smaller venues, headlined at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and embarked on her first solo concert tour in Australia.
September 1978: HBO TV Special and album release
In September 1978, Tina Turner starred with Tom Jones in an HBO TV special. Around that time, her third solo album, Rough, was released on United Artists with distribution in North America and Europe on EMI Records.
1979: Management and Performances
In 1979, Roger Davies became Tina Turner's manager. Tina Turner also worked as a performer on the Rete 1 TV series Luna Park in Italy and embarked on a controversial tour of South Africa.
1979: Release of "Love Explosion"
In 1979, Tina Turner released "Love Explosion", which included a brief diversion to disco music. It failed to chart, so United Artists and Turner parted ways. She continued performing and headlined her second tour.
October 1981: Performance on Saturday Night Live
In October 1981, Rod Stewart invited Tina Turner to perform "Hot Legs" with him on Saturday Night Live.
March 1982: Performance on the Willem Ruis Show
In March 1982, Tina Turner performed in the Willem Ruis show in the Netherlands, leading to the hit "Shame, Shame, Shame".
November 1983: Release of "Let's Stay Together" Cover
In November 1983, Tina Turner released her cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together", produced by B.E.F., which became a hit in Europe and the US.
May 1984: Release of "Private Dancer" Album and "What's Love Got to Do with It"
In May 1984, Tina Turner released her album Private Dancer, which became a success, and the single "What's Love Got to Do with It". Following the album's release, Turner joined Lionel Richie as the opening act on his tour.
September 1, 1984: Number One Hit with "What's Love Got to Do with It"
On September 1, 1984, Tina Turner achieved her first and only No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "What's Love Got to Do with It".
1984: Comeback with "Private Dancer" Album
In 1984, Tina Turner made a musical comeback with her multi-platinum album "Private Dancer". The single "What's Love Got to Do with It" became her only number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award.
February 1985: Second World Tour and "We Are the World" Contribution
In February 1985, Tina Turner embarked on her second world tour to support the Private Dancer album. During this time, she also contributed vocals to the USA for Africa benefit song "We Are the World".
July 1985: Live Aid Performance
In July 1985, Tina Turner performed at Live Aid alongside Mick Jagger. Their performance involved Jagger ripping her skirt off. She also released a duet, "It's Only Love", with Bryan Adams.
1985: Appearance in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
In 1985, Tina Turner appeared in the film "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome".
1986: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1986, Tina Turner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1986: Release of Autobiography I, Tina: My Life Story
In 1986, Tina Turner released her autobiography, "I, Tina: My Life Story".
1986: Release of "Break Every Rule" album and autobiography
In 1986, Tina Turner released her sixth solo album, Break Every Rule, and her autobiography I, Tina, which became a bestseller. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1986: Publication of "I, Tina" autobiography
In 1986, Tina Turner revealed in her autobiography, "I, Tina", that she was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism in 1973 by Valerie Bishop.
1986: Grammy win for Prince's Trust concert
In 1986, Tina Turner won a Grammy as a performer at the Prince's Trust concert.
1987: Break Every Rule World Tour
In 1987, Tina Turner's Break Every Rule World Tour began, becoming the highest-grossing female tour of the 1980s and setting a Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience at a concert.
January 1988: Record-Breaking Concert in Rio de Janeiro
In January 1988, Tina Turner performed in front of approximately 180,000 people at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest paying concert attendance for a solo artist at the time.
April 1988: Release of "Tina Live in Europe" album
In April 1988, Tina Turner released the album Tina Live in Europe, which won a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
1988: Guinness World Record for largest paying audience
In 1988, Tina Turner held a Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.
1989: Release of "Foreign Affair" album
In 1989, Tina Turner released the Foreign Affair album, which reached No. 1 in eight countries and included the hit single "The Best".
1990: Foreign Affair European Tour
In 1990, Tina Turner embarked on her Foreign Affair European Tour, breaking the record for a European tour previously held by the Rolling Stones.
October 1991: Release of "Simply the Best"
In October 1991, Tina Turner released her first greatest hits compilation, Simply the Best, which sold seven million copies worldwide.
1993: Appearance in Last Action Hero and Film About Her Life
In 1993, Tina Turner appeared in the film "Last Action Hero". Also in 1993, her life was dramatized in the film "What's Love Got to Do with It", based on her autobiography.
1993: Appearance in "What's Love Got to Do with It"
In 1993, Tina Turner's Buddhist chanting was dramatized in the film "What's Love Got to Do with It".
1993: Release of "What's Love Got to Do with It" film
In 1993, the film What's Love Got to Do with It, based on Tina Turner's life, was released. Tina Turner contributed to the soundtrack for What's Love Got to Do with It, re-recording old songs and several new songs. The single "I Don't Wanna Fight" from the soundtrack was a hit. Tina Turner also embarked on her What's Love? Tour.
1995: Release of "GoldenEye"
In 1995, Tina Turner released "GoldenEye", which was written by Bono and the Edge of U2 for the James Bond film GoldenEye.
1996: Wildest Dreams Tour
In 1996, Tina Turner embarked on the Wildest Dreams Tour, which became the second highest-grossing female tour of the 1990s.
1996: Release of "Wildest Dreams" album and tour
In 1996, Tina Turner released the Wildest Dreams album, accompanied by her "Wildest Dreams Tour".
September 1999: Release of "When the Heartache Is Over"
In September 1999, Tina Turner released the song "When the Heartache Is Over" as the leading single from her album, Twenty Four Seven.
July 2000: Retirement Announcement
At a July 2000 concert in Zurich, Switzerland, Tina Turner announced that she would retire at the end of the Twenty Four Seven Tour.
2000: Twenty Four Seven Tour
In 2000, Tina Turner's Twenty Four Seven Tour became the highest-grossing tour of the year in North America.
November 2004: Release of "All the Best"
In November 2004, Tina Turner released All the Best, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
August 2, 2005: Meeting with the Dalai Lama
On August 2, 2005, Tina Turner met with the 14th Dalai Lama in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.
2005: Kennedy Center Honors
In 2005, Tina Turner received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, with tributes from various artists and praise from President George W. Bush.
2005: Platinum Status of "All the Best"
In 2005, three months after its release the album "All the Best" reached platinum status in the US. Also it achieved platinum status in seven other countries, including the UK.
February 2006: Release of "Teach Me Again"
In February 2006, Tina Turner released "Teach Me Again", a duet with Elisa for the film All the Invisible Children. All proceeds from the single were donated to charity projects for children led by the World Food Programme and UNICEF.
February 2008: Comeback Performance at the Grammy Awards
In February 2008, Tina Turner made a public comeback at the Grammy Awards, performing alongside Beyoncé. She also won a Grammy as a featured artist on River: The Joni Letters.
October 2008: Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour
In October 2008, Tina Turner embarked on her first tour in nearly ten years with the Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour. In support of the tour, Turner released a greatest hits compilation, which made the tour a huge success.
2009: Collaboration on spiritual music project "Beyond"
In 2009, Tina Turner co-created a spiritual music project called "Beyond" with Dechen Shak-Dagsay and Regula Curti.
2009: Co-founding the Beyond Foundation
In 2009, Tina Turner co-founded the Beyond Foundation, a global music foundation, with Regula Curti and Dechen Shak-Dagsay.
2009: Retirement from Performing
In 2009, Tina Turner officially retired from performing, marking the end of a long and successful career as a singer and performer.
2009: Retirement After 50th Anniversary Tour
In 2009, Tina Turner retired from performing after completing her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour.
April 2010: "The Best" Returns to UK Charts
In April 2010, due to an online campaign by fans of Rangers Football Club, Tina Turner's 1989 hit, "The Best", returned to the UK singles chart, peaking at No. 9. This achievement made Turner the first female recording artist in UK chart history to score top 40 hits in six consecutive decades (1960s–2010s).
2011: Beyond's Second Album "Children" Charted
In 2011, Beyond's second album "Children – With Children United in Prayer" charted again in Switzerland. Tina Turner promoted the album by performing on TV shows in Germany and Switzerland.
2011: Release of "Children" Album
In 2011, Tina Turner co-released the album "Children – With Children United in Prayer" through the Beyond project, and it charted in Switzerland.
April 2013: Vogue Germany Cover
In April 2013, Tina Turner appeared on the cover of the German issue of Vogue magazine at the age of 73, becoming the oldest person to be featured on the cover of Vogue.
February 2014: Release of "Love Songs" Compilation
In February 2014, Parlophone Records released a new compilation titled Love Songs.
2014: Release of "Love Within" Album
In 2014, Tina Turner co-released the album "Love Within" through projects with Beyond.
December 2016: Announcement of "Tina" Musical
In December 2016, Tina Turner announced that she had been working on "Tina", a musical based on her life story, in collaboration with Phyllida Lloyd and Stage Entertainment.
2017: Release of "Awakening" Album
In 2017, Tina Turner co-released the album "Awakening" through projects with Beyond.
April 2018: "Tina" Musical Opens in London
In April 2018, "Tina", a musical based on Tina Turner's life story, opened at the Aldwych Theatre in London with Adrienne Warren in the lead role.
October 2018: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Release of Memoir
In October 2018, Tina Turner received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and her second memoir, "My Love Story", was released.
2018: Subject of Jukebox Musical Tina
In 2018, Tina Turner became the subject of the jukebox musical "Tina".
2019: "Tina" Musical on Broadway
In 2019, Adrienne Warren reprised her lead role in the "Tina" musical on Broadway.
2020: Collaboration with Kygo and Top 40 Hit in Seven Decades
In 2020, Tina Turner came out of retirement to collaborate with Norwegian producer Kygo on a remix of "What's Love Got to Do with It". With this release, she became the first artist to have a top 40 hit in seven consecutive decades in the UK.
2020: Release of "Happiness Becomes You"
In 2020, Tina Turner released her third book, "Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good", co-written with Taro Gold and Regula Curti. It was chosen by Amazon's editors as a Best Nonfiction book of 2020.
October 2021: Sale of Music Rights and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In October 2021, Tina Turner sold her music rights to BMG Rights Management for an estimated $50 million, with Warner Music handling distribution. Later that month, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, accepting her award via satellite from her home near Zurich, Switzerland.
2021: Appearance in Documentary "Tina"
In 2021, Tina Turner appeared in the documentary film "Tina" directed by Dan Lindsay and T. J. Martin.
2021: Solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2021, Tina Turner was inducted by Angela Bassett into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
2021: Subject of Documentary Film Tina
In 2021, Tina Turner was the subject of the documentary film "Tina".
2023: Beyond Foundation Remains Active
As of 2023, the Swiss Beyond Foundation, co-founded by Tina Turner, remains active and enables the collaboration of musical artists from different parts of the world.
September 2025: Selection for National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame
In September 2025, Tina Turner was selected for induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
October 26, 2025: Induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame
On October 26, 2025, Tina Turner is slated to be inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, having been selected in September 2025.
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