Who Are Tina Turner's Children And What Happened To Them?
Tina Turner the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," had four sons over the course of her life, two of whom were adopted. Her eldest son, Craig, was born when she was 18 years old, fathered by musician Raymond Hill, per Closer Weekly. After Tina and Hill split, she began what's perhaps her most famous relationship with Ike Turner, bandleader with the Kings of Rhythm, whom she later married. Before their contentious split in 1978, they had Ronnie, their only child (via Smooth Radio). She also adopted two of Ike's children from an earlier relationship: Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner.
In late 2022, the youngest son of the legendary soul and R&B singer, Ronnie, died at the age of 62, according to NBC News. It was later revealed Ronnie was recently diagnosed with cancer, as the Daily Mail reports. This was the second such tragedy to affect the Turner family. In 2018, Tina's son, Craig (Ronnie's half-brother), also died. Ike Turner Jr. is still in the music industry, and Michael Turner was last reported to be in a convalescent home in 2018.
Craig Turner
Craig Raymond Turner (above, far right), Tina Turner's eldest son, died in 2018 by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in California at just 59 years old (per The Guardian). Sadly, Craig Turner was old enough to remember the domestic violence rife in his mother's relationship with Ike. When Craig was a child, Tina also attempted suicide (via USA Today). She later described her oldest son as emotional and prone to sadness. In 2018, Tina recalled Craig comforting her at low points in her rocky first marriage. Before his death, Craig worked in real estate in Beverly Hills and lived in an apartment his mother bought for him in California.
After Craig's death, Tina posted on Twitter, "My saddest moment as a mother. 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 will always be my baby." That same year, Tina told BBC News that before he died, Craig revealed he had entered into a romantic relationship. He had plans to introduce his new partner to his mother on his birthday.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Ronnie Turner
Tina Turner's youngest biological son, Ronnie Turner, was pronounced dead by the Los Angeles Police Department in December 2022, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It was later determined that he died from complications from colon cancer (per Hello!). After surviving cancer once, it returned suddenly, based on Daily Mail reporting. He died roughly three weeks following the diagnosis after he was found with breathing difficulties outside his home. Attempts to perform CPR on Ronnie were unsuccessful.
Ronnie experienced addiction and legal issues as a young adult but ultimately followed his mother's and father's footsteps into show business. As a musician, he performed in the group Manufactured Funk and also made an appearance in the 1993 Tina Turner biopic "What's Love Got to Do With It" (per The Guardian). At the time of his death. he was married to Afida Turner (pictured). She later revealed on Instagram that Ronnie's health declined rapidly after this cancer returned. Alfida called her husband a terrific musician and an amazing soul. They had no children (via Page Six).
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Ike Turner Jr.
Of all of Tina Turner's children, her eldest adopted son, Ike Turner, Jr. — born in 1958 to Ike Turner, Sr. and Lorraine Taylor — is most closely linked to the music industry. He has a 2006 Grammy Award to his credit as the producer of his father's album, "Risin' With The Blues" (via Grammy.com). Playing music from the age of 13, Ike Jr. teamed up with a former Ike Turner Revue backup singer, Randi Love, in 2017, based on Oklahoma Eagle reporting.
In 2018, Ike Jr. released a single, "Freaky," performing with Sweet Randi Love & Love Thang Band. The same year, he revealed to the Daily Mail that his adopted mother estranged herself from the two children she adopted while married to Ike Sr. In that same interview, Ike Jr. said, "Tina raised me from the age of 2. She's the only mother I've ever known ... But I haven't talked to my mother since God knows when — probably around 2000. I don't think any of my brothers have talked to her in a long time either."
Michael Turner
In 2018, Ike Jr. gave an update on Michael Turner to the Daily Mail: "Michael is in a convalescent home in Southern California and needs medical support. I've been to see him quite a few times. He's doing great." At that time, Ike Jr. added that the only contact Tina had with her adopted son, Michael, was through financial support.
Previously, while speaking to Sunday Mercury, Michael revealed that he experienced addiction issues as an adult (per People). "I know in my heart if I called Tina or my father, Ike, right now they would come and help me but I just can't do it," he said. "Tina was really good to me and I love her but I can't live with anybody. I gotta be free to do what I want to do."
According to Fox News, Michael — along with Ronnie and Ike Jr. — were devastated to be mostly left out of their mother's HBO Max "Tina" documentary.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).