Tina Turner died on Wednesday at the age of 83 following a “long illness,” according to her family. The iconic vocalist gained prominence in the 1960s and is known as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The following are the most shocking findings from “Tina,” a 2021 HBO documentary on her troubled life.

Tina Turner said that her first husband, Ike Turner, “tortured” her during their marriage.

While Tina Turner has previously spoken about her violent marriage with Ike Turner, we now get to hear her discuss the event in her own words in HBO’s 2021 documentary “Tina.”

Tina’s 1981 interview with People about her life and abuse is really aired throughout the documentary.

After meeting, Tina and Ike began working together in 1957 and married in 1962. Throughout the relationship, Ike had complete control over her music and emotionally and physically assaulted her. Tina has repeatedly spoken out against domestic abuse since her divorce in 1978.

“My ex-husband was a physically abusive individual.” In a recording that appeared in the People documentary, Tina said, “I went through basic torture.” “I was living a deathly life.” “I didn’t even exist.”

Tina said that Ike was afraid of the singer leaving him once she got famous, so he tried to control her. Tina said that Ike would then physically assault her and have sex with her.

“He beat me up with a shoe stretcher,” Tina explained. “And then he forced me to go to bed and have sex with me, and I was all swollen, and that was the start of the torture.”

Tina stated that she remained for so long because she was devoted to Ike.

Tina later stated in the documentary that she had loathed Ike “for a long time,” but “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” She discovered her ex-husband was “a sick person” when he died in 2007.

Tina Turner was named after a TV character.

Tina was born Anna Mae Bullock and retained that name until she met Ike in 1956.

Ike gave Bullock the moniker “Tina Turner” when they released their first hit album, “A Fool in Love,” so that they could be linked together as Ike and Tina Turner.

Tina stated in the documentary that Ike was motivated by his love for “Sheena: Queen of the Jungle,” a 1950s TV show based on a comic of the same name about an orphan growing up in an African jungle.

During their divorce in 1978, the famed singer particularly requested that she retain the name. Tina claims that Ike battled to maintain the name, but she prevailed in court.

Phil Spector offered Ike a bribe to prevent him from interfering with the “River Deep Mountain High recording.”

While they were working together, Ike produced several of Tina’s early tracks.

However, as they were recording their breakthrough song “River Deep Mountain High” in 1996, Phil Spector, whom music critic Kurt Loder called in the documentary “the greatest pop producer of that period,” wanted to work with Tina by herself.

Tina’s tour manager at the time, Rhonda Graam, stated in the documentary that Spector bribed Ike to remain away from the recording studio while they were working on the song.

“Spector didn’t want Ike in the studio,” Graam explained. “So he paid Ike X amount of money to have him taken care of so that he wouldn’t interfere with Tina.” That was the first time they allowed Tina the opportunity to sing differently.”

According to Rolling Stone, Spector gave Tina $20,000 upfront.

“I was really excited about singing a different type of song,” Tina says in the documentary. “I was looking forward to getting out of the studio on my own. It was liberating to try something new.”

While the song has since gained popularity, it was not a hit in the United States at the time.

Tina grew up in a difficult household.

Tina’s childhood is also explored in the documentary. The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll was born in Tennessee in 1939 to Floyd and Zelma Bullock in the little hamlet of Nutbush.

Tina claimed that her parents battled “from the beginning” but that her mother “always fought back.”

Tina recalls her mother leaving the house one day. When her father found out, he “panicked” and departed as well. Tina and her elder siblings were forced to become self-sufficient and fend for themselves as a result.

“That’s when I realized how much I loved her, because I also started to hate her at the time,” Tina recalled of her mother. “That’s when you realize the difference between love and hate, because I felt she left, which is fine, but I wanted her to come back for us, so I waited.” She’s never done it.”

Tina attempted suicide by taking sleeping pills.

The documentary follows Tina and Ike’s relationship as they attempt to make a hit album. Tina said that Ike began assaulting her physically and using narcotics more often. He would also grow angrier more rapidly.

Tina told the doctor about a time when she was given a prescription for sleeping drugs and nearly died after ingesting the entire bottle.

“I felt [like], this is it, no more,” Tina added. “I was unable to make it to the stage. I recall him pushing his fingers down my neck, attempting to make me vomit, and eventually knocking me out.”

“I was insanely afraid of that man,” she remarked, referring to Ike.

The video broadcasted an interview Ike gave in 2000, discussing Tina’s attempted suicides.

“At first, Tina attempted suicide two or three times, I believe for attention,” Ike explained. “She was dissatisfied with what I was doing. Being with all these ladies made me a womanizer. And I believe the true reality is that she was attempting to be someone she wasn’t.”

“She was trying to be what she thought I wanted, not what she really was,” he continued. She was attempting to satisfy me, and as a result, she was in a lot of pain. And I believe she had a very terrible life as a result.”

Tina’s discovery of Buddhism contributed to her decision to leave Ike.

In the documentary, the “Proud Mary” singer discusses her decision to divorce Ike and how her interest in spirituality aided her decision.

Valerie Bishop, whom Tina met through Ike, introduced her to Buddhism. “Buddhism was a way out, and it changed your attitudes towards the situation that you’re in,” she stated in the documentary. “The more you chant, the more mentally liberated you become.”

Tina stated that after learning about Buddhism, she understood she needed to make a difference. She started fighting back and struck Ike. Then, on July 3, 1976, as the couple was staying in a motel in Dallas, Texas, Tina packed her belongings and left while Ike was sleeping.

After checking into another motel, Tina nearly collided with a car on the highway. She then fled to Los Angeles and planned to petition for divorce.

Tina had to pay for all of her canceled shows after her divorce.

Tina and Ike were on tour as a pair when they separated, so they had to cancel their gigs. Tina was soon in debt due to the escalating litigation over the canceled shows as well as the fact that she was never paid the money she had earned throughout her marriage to Ike.

She had to perform in every location she could find in order to pay her expenses and maintain her children.

Graam stated that she began booking her appearances on TV shows in order to gain more money. However, because their connection was so public, the singer was constantly asked about Ike.

Tina initially despised “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” but was convinced to perform it by her management.

While Tina’s 1984 single “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” is one of her best songs, the rock singer admitted in the documentary that she disliked the song at first.

“I was into rock and roll.” “I wasn’t… that was a pop song,” she explained.

Tina’s manager, Roger Davies, was confident that the song had the potential to be a “big song,” so she agreed to meet with the producer, Terry Britten, and they modified the tune.

Turner, according to Britten, even told him she didn’t like the song and only came because of Davies.

Tina stated that her mother, Zelma, did not like her.

In the documentary, Tina recounted her connection with her mother, Zelma, whom she reconciled with after abandoning her as a youngster.

“Ma was not kind,” Tina stated. “Of course, she was happy when I became famous because I bought her a house.” I performed a variety of things for her. My mother was her name. I was attempting to make her feel at ease because she did not have a spouse. Even though she was alone, she didn’t like me.”

“Even after I became Tina, Ma was still a little bit, ‘Who did that?’ and ‘Who did this?” she continued. and I told her, ‘I did it, Ma.’ I was excited to show my mom what I had done. I owned a home. ‘I don’t believe it,’ she replied when I had acquired the automobile. You’re my child. ‘I know you didn’t…’ or anything along those lines. She wasn’t interested in me. She didn’t want to be around me, despite her desire for my achievement.”

Tina and her second husband met at the airport.

Tina married Swiss producer Erwin Bach, 67, in 2013 after 27 years together.

Bach describes how they met at the Düsseldorf airport and developed a romance in the documentary.

“Her manager, Roger, had asked me to pick up Tina,” Bach explained. “I had a good time on the bike. I had fun driving the artist. Actually a superstar for us, where you’re usually a little worried, but I wasn’t. I was only doing my job.”

Tina’s pulse raced when she heard Erwin had the “prettiest face.” Tina claimed that when Bach discovered she was interested in him, he traveled to America, and she made a pass on him.

“He was just so different,” she explained. “You’re very laid-back. So convenient. So unassuming. That was the start of our romance.”