TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, whose powerful vocals made songs such as Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out for a Hero global hits, has died at the age of 75.
A statement posted on Tyler's verified Facebook page said the singer died unexpectedly in a hospital in Portugal on Wednesday after being treated for an illness, as reported by New York Daily News.
"Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness she was being treated for. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy."
Her death came nearly two months after reports emerged that she had been hospitalized following health complications. According to previous updates, Tyler underwent emergency intestinal surgery and later suffered cardiac arrest, leading doctors to place her in a medically induced coma.
By mid-June, updates on her official website said she was no longer in a coma but remained in intensive care in Portugal. Several scheduled performances in Germany were subsequently canceled or postponed.
Tributes Pour In
According to reports compiled by the BBC, tributes from fellow musicians, actors, and political leaders quickly followed news of her death.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams paid tribute to Tyler, writing: "always be grateful of her beautiful version of Straight From The Heart. Thanks Bonnie. RIP."
Actor Catherine Zeta-Jones, who described herself as a longtime friend with family ties to Tyler, said her "heart is broken".
"Our Queen Bonnie….. you were such a part of my life," Zeta-Jones wrote on Instagram, sharing a photograph taken the night before her wedding, where Tyler performed.
She described Tyler as an "extraordinary woman with vocals to match".
"A one of kind artist, who so easily could have been a comedian because she was one of the funniest people I ever met.
"Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also honored the singer, calling her an "iconic figure" and "one of Britain’s greatest recording artists".
A Career Spanning Decades
Born in Wales, Tyler rose to prominence in the late 1970s with the hit It's a Heartache. However, it was the release of Total Eclipse of the Heart in 1983 that catapulted her to international stardom.
The song topped charts worldwide and earned Tyler the first of three Grammy nominations. She later received additional nominations for her album Faster Than the Speed of Night and the single Here She Comes.
Her song Holding Out for a Hero, featured on the soundtrack of the 1984 film Footloose, became another enduring classic and remains one of her best-known recordings.
Tyler released 18 studio albums throughout her career and represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Believe in Me, finishing in 19th place.
She also made history as the only singer born in Wales to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, cementing her status as one of Britain's most successful recording artists.
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