Tina Turner revealed heartfelt reason behind her favourite song before death aged 83
Posted by  badge Boss on May 25, 2023 - 06:26AM
The song that was named by Turner is one of her most beloved hits (Picture: Pete Still/Redferns)

’s has sent shockwaves across the music industry, sparking tears among .

As devastated members of the public , many are discussing their favourite performances she ever put on, as well as her most iconic songs.

From Proud Mary to The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It and Private Dancer, and performances such as when she took to the stage with Beyoncé at the in 2008, there are plenty of standout memories to choose from.

However, while reminiscing on her career recently with Metro.co.uk before her death, Turner revealed which of her songs she personally cherished the most.

When asked by John Nathan whether there was a particular track from her catalogue of classics that meant more to her than the others, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll didn’t seem to hesitate before answering: ‘I think it would be Nutbush City Limits.’

‘I wrote the song on my own. I’m very proud of it and I wrote it about my home town which is where this whole journey started,’ she continued, having been speaking to mark five years of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on London’s West End at the Aldwych Theatre.

Turner graced the stage at the opening of the musical about her life in New York in 2019 (Picture: John Lamparski/Getty Images)

After being born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, Turner and her family lived in the community of Nutbush in Haywood County of the US state.

Nutbush City Limits, which was written by Turner and paid homage to her early life, was performed by her with her abusive ex-husband Ike Turner, and released in August 1973.

The track became a hit across the globe, and also inspired a popular line dance to accompany the song, which first emerged in the 1970s.

Nutbush City Limits remained a staple of Turner’s repertoire even after her split from her husband, as she continued to perform it as a solo artist.

Turner re-recorded it in 1991 as a ‘90s version’, before also re-recording it two years later for the soundtrack to accompany the biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It, starring Angela Bassett in the lead role.

In 1993, Turner re-recorded the track as a re-working of the original studio arrangement for the What’s Love Got to Do with It soundtrack album.

One fan paid tribute to her after her death by tweeting: ‘”Nutbush City Limits” was written and performed by Tina Turner. She took great pride in honoring her hometown, always including it in her sets.

‘This is the way I want to remember her, elevated on a crane, FEARLESS, full of life and energy. The epitome of the QUEEN OF ROCK.’