Billboard.com
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, whose unmistakable raspy vocals powered classics including “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” has died at the age of 75.
Tyler died in a hospital in Portugal on Wednesday night (July 8) after complications from an illness she had been receiving treatment for, according to a statement released by her family. She had been hospitalized in May for emergency intestinal surgery and had reportedly been recovering before her unexpected death.
Born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen, Wales, Tyler rose to international fame in the late 1970s before becoming one of the defining voices of 1980s pop-rock. Her breakthrough came with 1977’s “Lost in France” and the UK hit “It’s a Heartache,” but it was 1983’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” that cemented her global legacy.
Written and produced by Jim Steinman, the theatrical ballad spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the era’s most memorable songs.
Tyler followed the success of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” with another signature hit, “Holding Out for a Hero,” featured on the ‘Footloose” soundtrack in 1984. Throughout her career, she earned three Grammy nominations, represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with “Believe in Me,” and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022 for services to music.
Despite never again matching the commercial heights of her biggest hit, Tyler remained an active recording and touring artist for decades. Her later work included collaborations with Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard and Vince Gill, while her songs continued to appear in films, television and popular culture.
Tributes from fellow musicians and fans quickly poured in following news of her death, celebrating Tyler’s distinctive voice and lasting influence on generations of pop and rock artists.
Tyler is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan.
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