Tina Turner remained in good spirits even after she became sick, her close friend Cher said after her death.
Turner died Tuesday at age 83 after suffering what her manager described as a long illness. Cher also didn’t specify what the superstar singer was battling as she paid tribute on MSNBC’s “The Beat With Ari Melber.”
“She fought this sickness for such a long time, and she was so strong as you think she would be,” Cher said. “But towards the end, she told me once, ‘I’m really ready. I just don’t want to put up with this anymore.”
Cher said she spent time with Turner after she became ill.
“I thought, ‘I need to put this time into our friendship so she knows we haven’t forgotten her,’” Cher revealed. “We all took turns going and spending time with her and it made her happy.”
Cher added, “She was having a good time in spite of the fact that she was really sick and not wanting people to know about it. She had her dialysis machine in her house. That’s how she was doing it.” (While Turner’s exact illness has not been confirmed, dialysis is a treatment used by people whose kidneys are failing.)
Cher was one of numerous stars to pay homage to Turner, along with Mick Jagger, Elton John and Oprah Winfrey, among the others. Beyoncé, who performed with Turner at the 2008 Grammy Awards, commemorated that moment in a tribute on her website.
“My beloved queen,” Beyoncé wrote. “I love you endlessly. I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way. You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will remain forever.”
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