When the nominees for the 2019 induction class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced, much was made of Stevie Nicks’ nomination. If inducted as a solo artist, Nicks would make history as the first female performer to be a double inductee. (Nicks was inducted as part of Fleetwood Mac in 1998.)
Not that Nicks doesn’t deserve to be inducted for her solo work, but at this point, the Rock Hall should have awarded this double inductee distinction, and it should have been an honor bestowed upon Tina Turner, who celebrates her birthday today (November 26.)
As if there really needs to be any justification as to why Turner should be inducted for her sterling solo career, here are just five reasons.
Her solo career has eclipsed her early work
The world met Tina Turner as part of Ike & Tina Turner. While the duo, who were inducted into the Rock Hall in 1991, had incredible success in the 1960s and ‘70s, it doesn’t even come close to album sales and tour revenue of Turner as a solo artist. Her last major tour in 2008-09 grossed a whopping $130 million for over 80 shows in North America and Europe with over one million tickets sold.
She’s sold more concert tickets than any other solo artist…EVER!
Turner earned this honor in 2000, and Guinness World Records still lists Turner with this honor nearly two decades later.
Acid Queen? Try Crossover Queen!
Over her career, Turner has earned a total of 11 GRAMMY awards in a variety of categories, including R&B, Rock and Pop. She also earned the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and a slew of other career honors that would make most trophy cases blush.
She’s the ultimate survivor story
Rock and roll is about enduring and standing the test of time. Few exemplify that quite like Turner, who overcame a terribly abusive marriage, reinvented herself and against all the odds came out on top.
When all else fails, just look to the catalog
A solo catalog spanning over 25 years and ten studio album littered with iconic hits from “What’s Love Got to Do with It” to “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” to “Typical Male” to “When the Heartache Is Over,” she’s simply the best. (Yes, that is an incredibly corny and cliche way to end this list, but the fact that this list even needed to be written is the biggest crime of them all.)
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.