Late singer Bonnie Tyler opened up about her health just four months before her death at age 75.
“I’m fit enough at the moment, touch wood, and I’m really enjoying doing the shows,” the “Total Eclipse of the Heart” hitmaker told Hello! Magazine in March. “I’m still rocking on that stage with my wonderful band, and if you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything.”
At the time, Tyler was promoting the launch of her Jubilee Tour in honor of the 50th anniversary of her breakthrough single, 1976’s “Lost in France.” She was supposed to kick off the milestone concerts in Malta in May but was sidelined with emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal earlier that month.
Tyler spoke to the outlet about her physical regimen ahead of the tour, revealing that she tried to stay active even while on the road.
“I do home Pilates, only 20 minutes a day — it’s something I can do in my hotel rooms,” she said in March. “I have had problems with my knees; I didn’t have new knees, I had what they call washouts [a knee procedure], which turned out to be very successful. So, hopefully that will last for a long time.”
In May, Tyler’s spokesperson confirmed the Jubilee Tour was on hold due to the musician being hospitalized for an intestinal issue.
“I’m very sorry to announce that Bonnie has been admitted to hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she has a home, for emergency intestinal surgery,” her rep said at the time. “The surgery went well and she is now recuperating. We know that all of her family, friends and fans will be concerned about this news and will be wishing her well for a full and swift recovery.”
Days later, her spokesperson confirmed that Tyler was “seriously ill but stable in hospital in Faro,” though her doctors believed at the time that “she [would] make a full recovery.”
“When there is any further news of Bonnie’s condition then we will issue another statement but ask that the media cease to speculate or publish wild rumors, which simply serve to upset her family, friends, and many fans, and ask again for privacy and decency at this difficult time,” the statement concluded.
Unfortunately, Tyler’s health took a turn for the worse and the “It’s a Heartache” singer died at age 75 on Wednesday, July 8.
“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 that she was being treated for,” her family said in a Facebook post. “We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”
While Tyler scored numerous hits in the U.K. and Europe, she was best known in the U.S. for her 1983 No. 1 single, “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” She also scored a Top 10 hit in the U.S. with 1978’s “It’s a Heartache” and recorded “Holding Out for a Hero” for the Footloose soundtrack in 1984.
She was married to property developer Robert Sullivan for 53 years. They had no children.
