A List Of Female Performers Who Would Be Nothing Without Tina Turner

    These women have all been directly influenced by the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.

    Andrea Reindl
    by Andrea Reindl

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    In case you haven't heard, HBO Max released a documentary March 27 called Tina.

    Tina Turner blowing a kiss to the camera
    HBO

    The documentary is raw and powerful and highlights not only Tina Turner's incomparable talent but also her strength and resilience in the face of trauma.

    Tina Turner dances onstage
    Rhonda Graam / HBO

    Tina — aka the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll — is an icon, a trailblazer, and a consummate performer who has inspired many.

    Beyonce and Tina Turner perform
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images

    Here is a list of famous female performers who have been directly influenced by Tina:

    1. Beyoncé

    Beyonce standing onstage with her hand on her hip
    Michael Caulfield / WireImage

    Beyoncé is, without a doubt, the female performer who has been most heavily influenced by Tina. From her high-energy choreography to her masterful performances onstage and her glamorous aesthetic, Queen Bey embodies the essence of Tina Turner.

    Beyoncé herself has been up front about how much the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll has influenced her image. As she put it during her 2005 tribute to Tina Turner at the Kennedy Center Awards, "Every now and then, when I think of inspiration, I think of the two Tinas in my life — that’s my mother, Tina, and of course, the amazing Tina Turner." The duo even teamed up for a joint performance at the 2008 Grammys.

    2. Jennifer Lopez

    Jennifer Lopez sings into microphone
    Ethan Miller / Getty Images

    According to Jennifer Lopez, she grew up listening to Tina Turner and considers her an inspiration. Which makes sense, considering that J.Lo is just as famous for her dancing as Tina is. Jennifer even posted a tribute to Tina on her Instagram page, wearing an outfit that was a throwback to a dress Tina wore in the '80s.

    3. Janet Jackson

    Janet Jackson singing
    Gustavo Caballero / WireImage

    Powerhouse performer Janet Jackson lists Tina as a massive influence and inspiration for her, both personally and professionally. “For me — and I imagine for millions of others — Tina now stands as an enduring symbol of survival and grace. Her music is a healing thing.”

    4. Janis Joplin

    Janice Joplin performs with the Full Tilt Boogie Band onstage
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

    Before Tina was a mainstream success, Janis Joplin was her biggest fan. She would often go to see Ike & Tina Turner perform. Janis was greatly influenced by Tina's throaty belt and modeled her voice after her. When Tina heard Janis's new way of singing, she apparently said to her, "Honey, you can’t continue to sing like that or you’ll have no voice."

    5. Fergie

    Fergie performs onstage
    Brian Ach / Getty Images

    After seeing Tina in concert at a young age, Fergie was inspired to pursue a career in music herself. “I saw Tina Turner, second row, with my dad,” Fergie told Rolling Stone in 2006. “She pointed at me. That was big. I love how she was energetic and raw. Those early impressions tell you how things are supposed to be. I’ve taken a lot of that with me.”

    6. Rihanna

    Rihanna with blonde hair on the red carpet
    Jason Merritt / Getty Images

    Rihanna and Tina have a lot in common. Not only did they experience intimate partner abuse in the public eye, but they also rebuilt their careers to be stronger than ever when people doubted that. Not only that, but Rihanna has modeled her aesthetic after Tina's — especially when she sported a shaggy blonde mane in 2012.

    7. Fantasia Barrino

    Fantasia sings in bodysuit at Essence festival
    Josh Brasted / FilmMagic

    Fantasia's raspy, soulful vocals are incredibly similar to Tina's, and indeed, Fantasia admits that she was heavily inspired by her. She has performed numerous tributes to Tina, including renditions of "Proud Mary" and "A Fool in Love."

    8. Lady Gaga

    Lady Gaga dances in leather outfit
    Mondadori Portfolio / Getty Images

    Before Tina Turner, female singers were much more demure — they didn't dance hard enough to sweat. Once Tina showed the world what a female performer was capable of, they wanted more. Lady Gaga wouldn't be performing no-holds-barred shows if it weren't for Tina laying the groundwork years earlier.

    9. Pink

    The singer Pink sings into microphone
    Joey Foley / Getty Images

    Pink's career is what Tina's might have looked like if she came of age in the 21st century. Not only have both women shared the same manager (Roger Davies), but both women also fearlessly blended pop and rock to create immense mainstream success. They also built their stardom off the power of their vocals — something not all pop stars do.

    10. Janelle Monáe

    Janelle Monae sings in black and white outfit
    Natasha Moustache / WireImage

    In her 2018 profile in Rolling Stone, Janelle Monáe revealed that Tina is a personal hero. She even has the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll's photo as a screensaver on her computer. And it makes sense. Like Tina, Janelle is a Black performer who doesn't fit into the music industry's preferred boxes of R&B and pop.

    11. Joan Jett

    Joan Jett performs in pink leotard
    Paul Natkin / Getty Images

    Tina Turner and Joan Jett are similar in their edgy, rock appearances, complete with shaggy rock star haircuts. Although Joan is just a generation behind Tina, Tina walked so Joan could run. Because of Tina's trailblazing, Joan was able to become one of the most preeminent female rock stars of all time.

    12. Kelly Clarkson

    Kelly Clarkson sings into microphone
    NBC / Getty Images

    Kelly Clarkson has listed Tina as one of the primary influences on her "soulful urban pop" sound. Tina was even one of the inspirations for Kelly's 2011 album, Stronger.

    13. Bonnie Tyler

    Bonnie Tyler performs in sequined outfit
    David Redfern / Redferns

    If there's one thing Tina is, it's the patron saint to raspy-voiced singers. And who's more raspy-voiced than "Total Eclipse of the Heart" singer Bonnie Tyler? "Tina Turner was a big influence on me to become a singer," Bonnie has been quoted as saying. "A role model and, in a way, she gave me back my confidence in choosing my material."

    14. Tracy Chapman

    Tracy Chapman plays her guitar
    Gary Clark / FilmMagic

    Without Tina, there would be no Tracy Chapman. Like Tina, Tracy is the rare Black woman who achieved massive success in the largely white, male-dominated world of rock. And just like Tina, Tracy's true love is blues music.

    15. Miley Cyrus

    Miley Cyrus dressed in leather onstage
    Denise Truscello / Getty Images

    Miley Cyrus may not know it herself, but her vibe has been heavily influenced by Tina's legacy. Like Tina, Miley blends elements of rock, R&B, and pop to make a unique sound. And just like Tina, Miley fashioned herself into a raspy-voiced rock goddess.

    16. Joan Osborne

    Joan Osborne wears a Rock for Choice t-shirt
    Paul Natkin / WireImage

    "One of Us" singer Joan Osborne has said that she tried to "emulate" Tina's voice when she first got into music.

    17. Ciara

    Ciara dances
    D Dipasupil / Getty Images

    When it comes to physicality, high-energy dance moves, and great legs, Ciara might as well be Tina's Mini-Me. The pure athleticism of Ciara's dance-heavy performances is especially reminiscent of how Tina owned the stage in the '60s and '70s and beyond.

    18. Jennifer Hudson

    Jennifer Hudson sings
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images

    Many people consider Jennifer Hudson to be a direct musical descendant of Aretha Franklin's, but there are definitely some Tina influences in her music. Just like Tina's, Jennifer's music is rooted in Black gospel and blues traditions and is fueled by powerhouse vocals.

    19. Nina Kraviz

    Nina Kraviz performs, reading from a small book
    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    The Russian DJ and music producer says that Tina is her biggest musical influence. "Nothing is embedded in my childhood memory as strongly as the unstoppable effervescence of Tina Turner, which she carried out on a pair of the strongest and most amazing legs in pop music," she told the Guardian in 2018. "At times, it seems as if they are performing on their own."