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," achieved fame as the lead singer of Ike & Tina Turner before launching a highly successful solo career after a difficult marriage and subsequent divorce in 1976. As a singer, songwriter, and actress, she became a global cultural icon. Her powerful vocals, energetic stage presence, and resilience cemented her place as one of the greatest and most influential performers of all time.
1956: First Performance with Ike Turner
In 1956, Anna Mae Bullock sang with Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm, for the first time after grabbing the microphone during a break.
1958: First Recording as Little Ann
In 1958, Anna Mae Bullock made her first recording under the name Little Ann on the single "Boxtop".
July 1960: "A Fool in Love" Release
In July 1960, Tina Turner was introduced to the public with the release of the single "A Fool in Love".
1960: Renamed Tina Turner and "A Fool in Love" Recording
In 1960, Anna Mae Bullock recorded "A Fool in Love", was renamed Tina Turner, and her stage persona was created by Ike Turner.
1961: Grammy Nomination for "It's Gonna Work Out Fine"
In 1961, Ike & Tina Turner's single "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Rock and Roll Performance.
1962: Release of R&B Hits
In 1962, Ike and Tina Turner released R&B hits including "I Idolize You", "Poor Fool", and "Tra La La La La".
1964: Release of 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.
February 1965: Charting Album Release
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: Phil Spector Invitation
In 1965, music producer Phil Spector invited Ike & Tina Turner to appear in The Big T.N.T. Show after attending their show on the Sunset Strip.
April 1966: Signing with Philles Label
In April 1966, Ike & Tina Turner signed to Phil Spector's Philles label after Tina Turner had already recorded with him.
May 1966: "River Deep – Mountain High" Release
In May 1966, Ike & Tina Turner's first single on Phil Spector's label, "River Deep – Mountain High", was released.
November 1967: 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: Release of Outta Season Album
In 1969, Ike & Tina Turner released the album Outta Season and Tina Turner received a Grammy nomination.
1969: Opening for the Rolling Stones
In the fall of 1969, Ike & Tina Turner opened for the Rolling Stones on their US tour, raising their profile in their home country.
1970: Release of Come Together and Workin' Together Albums
In 1970, Ike & Tina Turner released the albums Come Together and Workin' Together, which marked a turning point in their careers as they incorporated more rock tunes.
July 1971: Release of What You Hear Is What You Get Album
In July 1971, Ike & Tina Turner released their live album, What You Hear Is What You Get, which was recorded at Carnegie Hall and became their first certified Gold album.
October 1972: Star-Spangled Women Performance
In October 1972, Tina Turner and the Ikettes performed at Star-Spangled Women, a political fundraiser for George McGovern, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1973: "Nutbush City Limits" Hit Single
In 1973, Tina Turner's single "Nutbush City Limits" became a hit, reaching No. 1 in Austria, No. 4 in the UK, and the top 5 in several other countries, earning them the Golden European Record Award.
1974: Follow-up Hits
In 1974, Ike & Tina Turner had follow-up hits including "Sweet Rhode Island Red" and "Sexy Ida".
1974: Grammy Nominations and Filming "Tommy"
In 1974, Ike & Tina's album, "The Gospel According to Ike & Tina", received a Grammy nomination. Ike got a solo nomination for "Father Alone." Tina's solo album, "Tina Turns the Country On!", was also nominated. Additionally, Tina filmed the rock opera "Tommy" in London, playing the Acid Queen.
1975: Tommy Film Appearance
In 1975, Tina Turner acted in the film Tommy.
1975: Release of "Acid Queen" album
In 1975, Tina Turner released her solo album "Acid Queen", which 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".
1976: Headlining at the Waldorf and TV Deal
In 1976, Ike & Tina headlined at the Waldorf Astoria New York and signed a television deal with CBS-TV. Ike also planned a record deal with Cream Records.
1976: TV Show Appearances
In 1976, Tina Turner appeared on TV shows like The Hollywood Squares, Donny & Marie, and The Sonny & Cher Show to earn income.
1976: Divorce and Band Disbanding
In 1976, Tina Turner's tumultuous marriage to Ike Turner led to a divorce and the disbanding of their duo.
1978: Release of "Rough" album
In 1978, Tina Turner released her third solo album, "Rough", on United Artists with distribution in North America and Europe.
1979: Management and TV Performances
In 1979, Roger Davies became Tina Turner's manager after seeing her perform. She also worked in Italy on the Rete 1 TV series Luna Park. Later that year, she toured South Africa during apartheid, a decision she later regretted.
1979: Release of "Love Explosion" album
In 1979, Tina Turner released her album, "Love Explosion", which included a brief diversion to disco music. It failed to chart, leading to her departure from United Artists Records.
October 1981: Performance with Rod Stewart
In October 1981, Rod Stewart invited Tina Turner to perform "Hot Legs" with him on Saturday Night Live.
March 1982: Performance in the Netherlands
In March 1982, Tina Turner performed in the Willem Ruis show in the Netherlands, which resulted in 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 charts.
May 1984: Release of "Private Dancer" Album and "What's Love Got to Do with It" Single
In May 1984, Tina Turner released her "Private Dancer" album, which became her most successful album. Also in May, the single "What's Love Got to Do with It" was released. She also opened for Lionel Richie's 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: Launch of Private Dancer Album
In 1984, Tina Turner launched "one of the greatest comebacks in music history" with her multi-platinum album Private Dancer.
February 1985: Grammy Wins and World Tour
In February 1985, Tina Turner won three Grammys, including Record of the Year for "What's Love Got to Do with It", and embarked on her second world tour to support the "Private Dancer" album.
July 1985: Performance at Live Aid
In July 1985, Tina Turner performed at Live Aid alongside Mick Jagger, in a performance that became iconic. She also released a duet, "It's Only Love", with Bryan Adams.
1985: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Film
In 1985, Tina Turner acted in the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
1985: First Woman with Cumulative Concert Sales
Starting in 1985, Tina Turner became the first woman to have cumulative concert sales from tours exceeding $450 million.
1986: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1986, Tina Turner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1986: Release of "Break Every Rule" Album and Autobiography
In 1986, Tina Turner released her sixth solo album, "Break Every Rule", and published her autobiography, "I, Tina", which became a bestseller. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1986: Grammy Award
In 1986, Tina Turner won a Grammy as a performer at the Prince's Trust concert.
1986: I, Tina: My Life Story Publication
In 1986, Tina Turner's autobiography, I, Tina: My Life Story, was published.
1987: Break Every Rule World Tour Start
In 1987, Tina Turner began her Break Every Rule World Tour.
January 1988: Record-Breaking Concert in Rio de Janeiro
In January 1988, Tina Turner performed in front of approximately 180,000 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, setting a Guinness World Record at the time for the largest paying concert attendance for a solo artist.
April 1988: Release of Tina Live in Europe Album
In April 1988, Tina Turner released the "Tina Live in Europe" album, which won a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
1988: Guinness World Record
In 1988, Tina Turner held a Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.
1988: Break Every Rule World Tour Concludes
In 1988, Tina Turner's Break Every Rule World Tour became the highest-grossing female tour of the 1980s and set a Guinness World Record.
1989: Release of "Foreign Affair" Album
In 1989, Tina Turner released the "Foreign Affair" album, which reached No. 1 in eight countries, including the UK, and included the hit single "The Best".
1989: Release of "The Best"
In 1989, Tina Turner released the hit song "The Best".
1990: Foreign Affair European Tour
In 1990, Tina Turner embarked on her Foreign Affair European Tour, which broke the record for a European tour previously set by the Rolling Stones.
October 1991: Release of "Simply the Best" Compilation Album
In October 1991, Tina Turner released her first greatest hits compilation, "Simply the Best", which became a major seller worldwide, especially in the UK.
1991: Star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame
In 1991, Tina Turner received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
1993: Last Action Hero Film and Autobiography
In 1993, Tina Turner acted in Last Action Hero and her life was dramatized in What's Love Got to Do with It.
1993: Release of "What's Love Got to Do with It" Film and Tour
In 1993, the semi-autobiographical film "What's Love Got to Do with It" was released. Tina Turner contributed to the soundtrack, and embarked on her What's Love? Tour.
1995: Release of "GoldenEye"
In 1995, Tina Turner released "GoldenEye", written by Bono and the Edge of U2, for the James Bond film of the same name.
1996: Wildest Dreams Tour Start
In 1996, Tina Turner launched her Wildest Dreams Tour.
1996: Release of "Wildest Dreams" Album and Tour
In 1996, Tina Turner released the "Wildest Dreams" album, accompanied by her "Wildest Dreams Tour".
1997: Wildest Dreams Tour Conclusion
In 1997, the Wildest Dreams Tour concluded as the second highest-grossing female tour of the 1990s.
September 1999: Release of "When the Heartache Is Over"
In September 1999, Tina Turner released "When the Heartache Is Over" as the leading single from her final solo album, "Twenty Four Seven".
1999: "River Deep – Mountain High" inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
In 1999, "River Deep – Mountain High" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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: Cumulative Concert Sales Success
By 2000, Tina Turner was recognized as the first woman to have cumulative concert sales from 1985 tours exceeding US$450 million.
2000: Twenty Four Seven Tour
In 2000, Tina Turner's Twenty Four Seven Tour was the highest-grossing tour of the year in North America.
2003: "Proud Mary" inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2003, "Proud Mary" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
November 2004: Release of "All the Best" Compilation
In November 2004, Tina Turner released "All the Best", which became her highest-charting album in the United States.
2005: Kennedy Center Honors
In 2005, Tina Turner received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, with tributes from various artists.
2005: "All the Best" Album Success
In 2005, Tina Turner's album, "All the Best" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum in several countries.
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", with proceeds donated to charity.
February 2008: Grammy Awards Performance
In February 2008, Tina Turner made a public comeback at the Grammy Awards, performing with Beyoncé and winning a Grammy for her feature on "River: The Joni Letters".
October 2008: 50th Anniversary Tour
In October 2008, Tina Turner embarked on her first tour in nearly ten years with the Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which became a major success.
2009: Co-created Beyond Project
In 2009, Tina Turner co-created a spiritual music project called Beyond with Dechen Shak-Dagsay and Regula Curti.
2009: Co-founded the Beyond Foundation
In 2009, Tina Turner co-founded the Beyond Foundation, a global music foundation, with Regula Curti and Dechen Shak-Dagsay.
2009: Official Retirement from Performing
In 2009, Tina Turner officially retired from performing, marking the end of a legendary career.
2009: Retirement After Anniversary Tour
In 2009, Tina Turner retired 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, Tina Turner's 1989 hit, "The Best", returned to the UK singles chart, peaking at No. 9, making her the first female artist to score top 40 hits in six consecutive decades.
2011: Beyond's second album Children charted again in Switzerland
In 2011, Beyond's second album Children – With Children United in Prayer charted again in Switzerland. Turner promoted the album by performing on TV shows in Germany and Switzerland.
2011: Co-released album Children
In 2011, Tina Turner co-released "Children", the second album of spiritual music through projects with Beyond.
2012: "What's Love Got to Do with It" inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2012, "What's Love Got to Do with It" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
April 2013: Appeared on the cover of German Vogue
In April 2013, at the age of 73, Tina Turner appeared on the cover of the German Vogue magazine, becoming the oldest person to be featured on the cover of Vogue.
February 2014: Love Songs Compilation Released
In February 2014, Parlophone Records released a new compilation album titled Love Songs by Tina Turner.
2014: Co-released album Love Within
In 2014, Tina Turner co-released "Love Within", album of spiritual music through projects with Beyond.
December 2016: Announced Tina the 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: Co-released album Awakening
In 2017, Tina Turner co-released "Awakening", album of spiritual music through projects with Beyond.
April 2018: Tina the musical opened at the Aldwych Theatre in London
In April 2018, Tina the musical opened at the Aldwych Theatre in London with Adrienne Warren in the lead role.
October 2018: Received Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and released memoir
In October 2018, Tina Turner received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and her second memoir, My Love Story, was released.
2018: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, Tina Turner received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2018: Tina Musical Debut
In 2018, the jukebox musical "Tina" debuted, dramatizing Tina Turner's life and career.
2019: Tina musical opened on Broadway
In 2019, Adrienne Warren reprised her role in Tina the musical on Broadway.
2020: Collaborated with Kygo on a remix
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".
2020: Released "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.
October 2021: Sold Music Rights and Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In October 2021, Tina Turner sold her music rights to BMG Rights Management for an estimated $50 million. Later that month, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
2021: Appeared in the Documentary Film Tina
In 2021, Tina Turner appeared in the documentary film Tina directed by Dan Lindsay and T. J. Martin.
2021: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist
In 2021, Tina Turner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
2021: Tina Documentary Release
In 2021, a documentary film also named "Tina" about Tina Turner was released.
May 2023: Reported record sales as of May
As of May 2023, Tina Turner had reportedly sold around 100 to 150 million records worldwide.
2023: The Beyond Foundation Remains Active
As of 2023, the Swiss Beyond Foundation, co-founded by Tina Turner, remains active and continues to facilitate musical collaborations worldwide.
