Oprah Winfrey Pays Tribute to 'Role Model' Tina Turner After Her Death: 'Her Life Touched Mine'

etonline.com:

Oprah Winfrey posted a reflective tribute to the late Tina Turner on Wednesday, hours after Turner's rep confirmed the legendary singer's death. «I started out as a fan of Tina Turner, then a full-on groupie, following her from show to show around the country, and then, eventually, we became real friends,» Winfrey wrote on Instagram.

She paired the caption with a series of photos of the two women together.«She is our forever goddess of rock 'n' roll who contained a magnitude of inner strength that grew throughout her life.

She was a role model not only for me but for the world. She encouraged a part of me I didn’t know existed,» Winfrey continued.

A post shared by Oprah (@oprah)Turner died peacefully on Wednesday, the singer's rep told ET, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. «Once she claimed her freedom from years of domestic abuse, her life became a clarion call for triumph,» Winfrey continued. «I’m grateful for her courage, for showing us what victory looks like wearing Manolo’s and a leather miniskirt.