Despite being part of an illustrious R&B duo with Ike Turner, Tina Turner's personal life was a testament to survival through horrific abuse and trauma, pushing her to the brink of suicide.

Ike and Tina's stormy relationship began in 1956 after Ike heard her sing B.B. King's "You Know I Love You," resulting in her joining his band. Born Anna Mae Bullock, Ike rechristened her "Tina" - a name that would become synonymous with a distinctive soulful voice and a string of chart-topping hits.

As she revealed in her 2018 autobiography, "My Love Story," Tina married Ike in a rushed ceremony in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1962. She resigned to his impulsive decisions, knowing any protest could instigate physical violence.

The shocking reality of her married life became apparent when Ike took her to a brothel on their wedding night, forcing her to watch a live sex show. As Ike's drug abuse escalated, so did his volatile temper and relentless infidelity. "Sex with Ike had become an expression of hostility — a kind of rape — especially when it began or ended with a beating," Tina painfully remembered. "What had been ugly and hateful between us before became worse with every snort of cocaine."

Tina’s autobiography provides harrowing details of the abuse she endured, like when Ike hurled hot coffee at her, resulting in third-degree burns. She bore the brutal consequences of his rage, including a broken jaw and countless black eyes, which took a toll not only on her physical health but also on her professional career and mental well-being.

Ike refuted the severity of the abuse, stating in a past interview, "Sure, I've slapped Tina... There have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. But I never beat her."

In 1968, Tina nearly succumbed to despair, contemplating suicide as her only escape. However, she eventually wrested control from Ike, divorcing him in 1978 and starting anew with nothing. She eventually found solace with her second husband, Erwin Bach, who proved his love by donating a kidney to Tina during her health crisis.

Ike passed away from a cocaine overdose in 2007 at the age of 76. In her final interview with The Guardian, Tina reflected on her legacy, wishing to be remembered "as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. As a woman who showed other women that it is OK to strive for success on their own terms."

Tina Turner, the legendary "What's Love Got to Do With It" singer, passed away on Wednesday at 83 after a prolonged illness.