Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, whose unmistakable, gravelly voice powered one of the biggest ballads of the 1980s, has died aged 75, sending a wave of tributes from across the music and entertainment world.

Tyler’s family said she died unexpectedly on Wednesday night in a hospital in Portugal, where she had been receiving treatment for an illness. The singer, who had a home in Faro, was hospitalised in May for emergency intestinal surgery and had spent time in an induced coma before reportedly showing signs of improvement last month.

Best known for the chart-topping power ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Tyler built a career spanning decades, with other enduring hits including “Holding Out for a Hero” and “It’s a Heartache.” She represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with “Believe in Me.”

Tributes flow from across the industry

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose cousin Robert Sullivan was married to Tyler, said she was devastated by the news, describing Tyler as an extraordinary performer whose sharp sense of humour matched her remarkable voice. Zeta-Jones shared a photo of the pair together taken the night before her wedding, reflecting on how close Tyler had become to her family over the years.

Sir Cliff Richard, who once recorded a duet with Tyler, remembered her infectious enthusiasm for life and said the news had been a shock to wake up to. Sir Rod Stewart, who shared a similar vocal style with Tyler, called her a true soul-stirrer and a good friend, noting he still performs her hit “It’s a Heartache” on tour.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who grew up admiring Tyler as a teenager, praised her for never losing her distinctive Welsh accent despite her global fame, calling it a mark of how grounded she remained throughout her career. Welsh broadcaster Carol Vorderman said Tyler held a special significance in Wales, particularly among women, describing her as nothing short of a legend in her homeland.

Boney M’s original lead singer, Liz Mitchell, recalled a friendship that began when both acts rose to fame in the same era during the late 1970s, saying the pair had stayed close over the decades that followed. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams also paid tribute, thanking Tyler for her recording of his song “Straight From the Heart.”

A voice shaped by hardship, and an accent that never wavered

Born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen, Wales, Tyler grew up in public housing as one of six children in a coal-mining family. She began performing in nightclubs under various stage names before signing with RCA Records in the 1970s, eventually breaking through with “It’s a Heartache” and cementing her place in music history with “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in 1983.

Tyler continued recording and touring well into her later years, releasing 18 studio albums over the course of her career and earning three Grammy nominations along the way. In 2022, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her contribution to music.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, and her wider family, who have asked for privacy as they grieve.

with PA