Bonnie Tyler, the legendary Welsh singer best known for her powerhouse anthems “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” has died at the age of 75, according to huffingtonpost.co.uk.
Her family and management confirmed she passed away on Wednesday night at a hospital in Faro, Portugal, following complications from emergency intestinal surgery.
Tyler, whose legal name was Gaynor Hopkins, had been admitted to the Portuguese hospital in May for emergency abdominal surgery. Following the operation, medical staff placed her into an induced coma to assist her recovery. While her spokesperson reported last month that she had emerged from the coma, she remained seriously unwell in intensive care.
The standard of Welsh chart success was permanently altered by Tyler, who became the first Welsh artist to score a number one hit single in the United States with “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Written by Jim Steinman, the 1983 track was originally conceived for a musical adaptation of Nosferatu and went on to become her defining global hit.
Born in South Wales, the vocalist first achieved international recognition in the late 1970s with breakthrough singles “Lost in France” and “It’s a Heartache.” Over a career spanning five decades, she released 18 studio albums, earned three Grammy and three Brit Award nominations, and represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
The singer, who maintained a home in Portugal, had planned to embark on a major European tour this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her recording career. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her enduring services to the music industry.
•Featured image: Bonnie Tyler performing in 2013 via Associated Press