For sixteen years, Tina Turner endured unimaginable cruelty from her husband, Ike Turner. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, she found the courage to reclaim her life and become a beacon of strength and resilience.
One night, after yet another beating, Tina made a decision that would change everything. Bloodied and battered, she cleaned herself up as best she could. Her face was swollen, and she couldn’t even wear her wig. She wrapped herself in a cape to cover her bloodied clothes, put on sunglasses to hide her bruised eyes, and tied a scarf around her head. Then, she ran. She slipped out of the hotel where the violence had occurred, hid among trash cans, and eventually made her way to a Ramada Inn. With just thirty-six cents and a Mobil credit card, she begged for a room. It was a desperate moment, but it was also the first step toward freedom.
Leaving wasn’t easy. Tina lived in fear for her safety and had to rely on the kindness of friends. She earned her keep by doing housework and struggled just to make ends meet. Things were so bad that Tina Turner—the Tina Turner—had to rely on food stamps to survive. But she was determined to keep moving forward.
Starting over was tough. She faced legal battles with Ike over their finances and career. She took on small gigs, performing in tiny clubs to pay the bills and care for her children. It was a far cry from the fame she had experienced with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, but she wasn’t giving up.
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