Bonnie Tyler, power ballad queen, dies at 75

Tributes flooded in yesterday to Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for her powerful, haunting love song “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, after she died in hospital in Portugal. She was 75.

With her distinctive husky voice, tousled mane of blonde hair and black eyeliner, Tyler was instantly recognisable as the queen of the 1980s power ballad.

Tyler’s family said on Facebook they were “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”.

Downing Street said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “saddened” to hear of Tyler’s death, calling her “one of Britain’s greatest recording artists”, whose music “continues to touch lives”.

Stars from music and film also paid tribute to Tyler.

British rock star Rod Stewart wrote on Instagram that he and Tyler “shared similar styles of vocalising”, calling her “a good pal, a true soul stirrer”.

Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is also Welsh, wrote on Instagram that Tyler, who sang at her wedding, was “an extraordinary woman with vocals to match”.

British pop singer Cliff Richard recalled that Tyler’s “infectious zest for life entertained so many around the world”, while Canadian singer Bryan Adams wrote on X that Tyler “had such a great voice” and thanked her for her “beautiful” version of a song he co-wrote.

Born Gaynor Hopkins in the Welsh town of Neath in 1951 where she grew up with five siblings, Tyler little imagined the success she would have after leaving school at 16.

Tyler’s first major smash hit was “It’s a Heartache” in 1978, and entering the 1980s she turned more towards rock music.

But it was “Total Eclipse”, written by American composer Jim Steinman, which rocketed her to international fame.

She released 17 studio albums and was nominated for three Grammy Awards during her career.

In 2013 she carried UK hopes in the Eurovision song contest with “Believe In Me” only to finish 19th.

She was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.