The Heartbreaking Death Of Tina Turner's Son
Tina Turner is one of the most iconic singer-songwriters of her generation, and on March 27, HBO will release the documentary Tina, which will chronicle both her rise to fame and her tumultuous personal life. One of the most heartbreaking things Tina Turner has endured occurred in 2018, when her oldest child, Craig, died by suicide (via USA Today).
In July 2018, Turner shared a photo on Twitter of herself on a boat with friends and family as she scattered Craig's ashes in the Pacific Ocean. "My saddest moment as a mother," she wrote. "On Thursday, July 19, 2018, I said my final goodbye to my son, Craig Raymond Turner, when I gathered with family and friends to scatter his ashes off the coast of California. He was 59 when he died so tragically, but he will always be my baby."
Later that year, Turner opened up about Craig's death and how she was coping.
Tina Turner said her faith helped her get through the tragedy
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, published in Oprah magazine in October 2018, Turner shared that shortly before his death, Craig had told her he was "really happy" and had entered a new relationship and redecorated his home.
However, looking back, Turner told Oprah that she believes her son called her to say goodbye. "[D]uring our last talk, he said, 'I just want to hear your voice and that laugh.' He had never said something like that. I think that was his goodbye to me, but I didn't realize it at the time," she shared. "I'm still trying to find out why he did it. Maybe something from his childhood followed him through life and was still weighing on him, and he just couldn't handle it anymore. I don't know."
Turner added that her Buddhist faith was helping her cope with the horrible loss. "According to Buddhism, you come back to earth and do life again until you get it right," she said. "I believe his next life will be easier. I think he's in a good place."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).