Grammy-nominated Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for her powerful raspy voice and the 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, has died at the age of 75. She passed away Wednesday night at a hospital in Portugal, according to a statement shared through her social media accounts.
Hospitalization in Portugal
Tyler had been living in Faro, Portugal, where she was hospitalized in early May for emergency intestinal surgery.
After the procedure, she was placed in an induced coma for several weeks while doctors supported her recovery. Earlier updates from her team said she remained seriously unwell in hospital, even after coming out of the coma.
Best Known for Total Eclipse of the Heart
Tyler became internationally famous for Total Eclipse of the Heart, released in 1983.
The song became a major No. 1 hit, including on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped define her career as one of the most recognizable voices of the 1980s.
Grammy Recognition
Total Eclipse of the Heart and its album, Faster Than the Speed of Night, earned Grammy recognition in 1984.
The album helped cement Tyler’s reputation as a dramatic pop-rock performer with a distinctive vocal style and emotional stage presence.
Early Success With It’s a Heartache
Before her 1980s breakthrough, Tyler had already found major success with It’s a Heartache.
The song became a No. 1 hit in Canada in 1978 and also reached the top five on the Billboard chart, introducing her voice to a wider international audience.
From Wales to Global Stardom
Born in Wales, Tyler was the daughter of a coal miner and rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most memorable rock-pop singers of her generation.
Her husky voice became her signature sound and helped her stand apart in a career that spanned decades.
Bonnie Tyler’s death marks the loss of one of the most distinctive voices in pop and rock music. From It’s a Heartache to Total Eclipse of the Heart, she built a lasting legacy through emotional songs, powerful vocals and international chart success. Her music remains closely tied to the sound of the late 1970s and 1980s.