British singer Bonnie Tyler, who became known for “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” has died at the age of 75. She also sang the hugely popular songs “Holding Out for a Hero” and “It’s a Heartache.”

Her family described her death as unexpected, despite the fact that she had been hospitalized in serious condition for the past few months in a hospital in Portugal. Specifically, a statement published on the singer’s website said:

“Bonnie’s family and team are deeply saddened to announce that Bonnie passed away unexpectedly last night in a hospital in Portugal, as a consequence of the illness for which she was receiving treatment. We will issue a further statement soon, but for now we ask for respect for our privacy as we deal with this tragedy.”

In May, Bonnie Tyler was rushed to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, for emergency intestinal surgery and was placed in an induced coma to aid her recovery. In an update provided last month, a representative said that she had come out of the coma but remained in a very serious condition in the intensive care unit.

At the time, they said that her condition was improving and that doctors were “confident” she would recover, although the progress would be “slow.” They also canceled or postponed dates from the singer’s summer tour, but expressed hope that some of them could take place later in the year.

Despite the doctors’ optimism, just a few hours ago Bonnie Tyler passed away at the hospital where she was being treated in Portugal.

The Welsh singer and songwriter Bonnie Tyler, with her distinctive raspy voice, became widely known after the release of her album “The World Starts Tonight” in 1977 and the songs “Lost in France” and “More Than a Lover.” Her 1977 single “It’s a Heartache” reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

In the 1980s, Tyler turned toward rock music, collaborating with songwriter and producer Jim Steinman. He wrote her biggest hit, “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” the first single from her 1983 album “Faster Than the Speed of Night,” which reached the top of the British charts. Steinman also wrote another major hit of hers from the 1980s, “Holding Out for a Hero.” Other successful releases from that period included “Here She Comes” from the soundtrack of the 1984 film “Metropolis” and “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man),” with lyrics by Desmond Child and production by Steinman.

During the 1990s, she achieved success in Europe with Dieter Bohlen, who wrote and produced her hit “Bitterblue.” In 2003, Bonnie Tyler re-recorded “Total Eclipse of the Heart” together with singer Kareen Antonn. Their bilingual duet, titled “Si demain… (Turn Around),” reached the top of the French charts.

In 2013, she released the album “Rocks and Honey,” which included the song “Believe in Me,” with which she represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden. After reuniting with producer David Mackay, she released the albums “Between the Earth and the Stars” (2019) and “The Best Is Yet to Come” (2021).

Tyler’s career earned her three Grammy Award nominations and three Brit Award nominations, among other distinctions. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for her contribution to music. Her singles “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “It’s a Heartache” have each sold, according to estimates, more than 6 million copies and are considered among the best-selling singles of all time.

Childhood and early steps in music

Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, was born on June 8, 1951, in the village of Skewen, Neath, Wales. Her father, Glyndwr Hopkins, was a coal miner and had served in World War II. The singer grew up with her three sisters and two brothers. Her siblings had different musical interests, which brought her into contact with artists such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and the Beatles.

She attended Rhydhir Comprehensive School in Neath, Wales. She left school at the age of 16 without a qualification and began working in a grocery store. The singer and her family were deeply religious. Her first public performance took place when she was a child, in a chapel, where she sang the Anglican hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”

In April 1969, Tyler took part in a local talent competition, which her aunt had entered her into, and came in second place behind an accordion player. Following her desire to pursue a career in music, she worked as a backing singer for the band Bobby Wayne & the Dixies, before forming her own group, Imagination. During the same period, she changed her name to Sherene Davis in order not to be confused with Welsh folk singer Mary Hopkin.

Personal life

Bonnie Tyler married Robert Sullivan in July 1973, at the age of 22. Her husband, a former judo athlete who had represented Great Britain at the 1972 Olympic Games, later became involved in the real estate industry. The couple remained together for more than five decades, keeping their personal life away from the public eye.

The singer and her husband did not have children. She had revealed that they tried to start a family when she was 39 years old, but the pregnancy did not continue. In interviews, she spoke about this difficult experience, while noting that she had always been surrounded by a large family, with many nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Bonnie Tyler and Robert Sullivan spent much of their time in Portugal, where they maintained a residence in the Albufeira area of the Algarve, alongside their life in Wales.

The collaboration with Sofia Arvaniti

In 1992, Sofia Arvaniti released “Πεθαίνω στην ερημιά / The Desert Is in Your Heart” with Bonnie Tyler. Around two years ago, the singer had spoken to Espresso about her collaboration with Bonnie Tyler, stating that Michalis Rakintzis introduced her to the world-renowned artist.

As she had said:

“With Michalis Rakintzis, another album followed, in which something extraordinary happened: He put me in contact with the internationally renowned pop singer Bonnie Tyler for a song, the duet ‘Πεθαίνω στην ερημιά / The Desert Is in Your Heart,’ which I consider a remarkable moment in Greek discography. I would say the same even if I had not been the one who sang it.”

Sofia Arvaniti had spoken very highly of this collaboration, saying:

“What stayed with me is that she is a professional with a cheerful and straightforward personality, and she is very responsible in her work. She sang the song incredibly, sat down and worked on it extensively. She did some rehearsals in our presence at the studio, and it was truly a delight to watch Bonnie Tyler rehearse your song. It was a fantastic experience working with her, just as fantastic an experience as the one last year, when I saw her at a concert at the Sunny Festival. When her team informed her that I was there and that I wanted to meet her in her dressing room, she welcomed me with open arms, while she also mentioned me from the stage, saying that she would like us to do another song together. She truly is a very generous person.”