Tina Turner's 50-year career was one of the most prolific in music history. Take a look back at her life in photos

Born Anna Mae Bullock on Nov. 26, 1939, Tina Turner came from humble beginnings. Her parents were struggling sharecroppers, who split up when she was 11 years old and left Tina and her sister, Alline, to be raised by their grandmother in Nutbush, Tennessee.

However, Turner found her way to the top, winning eight Grammys, critical acclaim and the adoration of fans through the course of her lengthy career.

On what would have been her 86th birthday on Nov. 26, 2025, take a look back at the late superstar's life in photos.

After her grandmother died when she was 16, Tina followed her mother to St. Louis. It was there where she got involved in the music scene and met her future husband, Ike Turner.

In 1965, during a performance with his former band, Kings of Rhythm, Ike called on the then-17-year-old Tina to sing onstage. Enamored by her innate stage presence and raspy vocals, Ike was keen to develop her budding talent and allowed her to hang around the band.

Preparation met opportunity when the singer who was booked to record "A Fool in Love" didn't show up for the recording session, and Tina rose to the occasion.

"A Fool in Love" was an instant hit and Ike realized he needed Tina in his troupe. He changed her name to Tina Turner and she became the lead vocalist for what became known as Ike & Tina Turner Revue.

Though Ike and Tina's relationship was platonic at first, with Tina admitting in the HBO Max documentary, Tina, she viewed him as a big brother, their connection gradually escalated to romance and they got married in 1962.

But their union was no sweeping love story. For one, the pair got married in Tijuana in a ceremony the "Proud Mary" singer found out about the same day.