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By Marni Rose McFall and Toby Meyjes

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The Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, whose hits include power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart , has died "unexpectedly" at the age of 75, her family has said.

A statement shared on the pop icon's official website and her Facebook page read: "Bonnie's family and team are 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. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy."

Tyler, whose catalogue also included It's a Heartache and Holding on for a Hero , had been placed in an induced coma after emergency intestinal surgery in May. But a statement, released on June 15, said she was no longer in a coma but remained "very unwell".

Tyler had been in hospital in Portugal since May after undergoing emergency surgery.

She is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, Robert Sullivan.

She is best known for her 80s hit Total Eclipse of the Heart that this year passed one billion streams on Spotify.

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Jul 09, 2026 at 08:07 AM EDT

Bonnie Tyler’s critical accolades

Over the course of her career, Tyler was honored with critical accolades. In 2022, she was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, for her services to music.

She was nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for Here She Comes and Faster Than The Speed of Night, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Total Eclipse of the Heart .

In 2013, she represented Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest and performed the song Believe In Me. She placed 19th out of 26 countries and said after that she "really enjoyed my Eurovision experience. She became the first and only representative of the United Kingdom to receive a Eurovision Song Contest award that year.

Jul 09, 2026 at 07:44 AM EDT

Bonnie Tyler’s music in popular culture

Tyler had many smash hits, but usage of her songs in film and television helped to cement her icon status in popular culture, with IMDB crediting 188 instances of Tyler’s songs being used in soundtracks.

Tyler recorded Holding Out For A Hero for the soundtrack to the 1984 film, Footloose. The song was later covered by Jennifer Saunders for the 2004 film, Shrek 2, and was used in the soundtrack for the critically acclaimed television show Euphoria .

Total Eclipse of the Heart has also been used widely, appearing in the soundtracks for the 2024 film The Last Showgirl, the 2023 film Bottoms, starring Ayo Edebiri and in 2024, it was used in the season finale of the first season of the popular television show Rivals .

Jul 09, 2026 at 07:13 AM EDT

Bonnie Tyler’s website crashes after her death is announced

The official Bonnie Tyler website has been down following the announcement of her death due to the website receiving too many requests, as there has been an influx of visits from shocked fans following the news of her passing.

It is currently unclear when the website will be available again.

Jul 09, 2026 at 07:00 AM EDT

Tributes pour in for Bonnie Tyler

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Tyler, with a Downing Street spokesperson describing her as “One of Britain’s greatest recording artists. The Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorweth also paid homage to Tyler, describing her as a “true icon,” and saying he was “deeply saddened” to hear of her passing.

The broadcaster and media personality Carol Vorderman said that Tyler was “extraordinary.” “I am a Welsh woman, and believe me in Wales Bonnie Tyler is regarded as a legend – particularly amongst women,” she wrote on Instagram.

Cliff Richard said that he is mourning a “wonderful friend gone too soon,” and that her “infectious zest for life entertained so many around the world. Former Genesis singer Ray Wilson said, “She was such a lovely person and a real legend."

Jul 09, 2026 at 06:25 AM EDT

The story behind ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’

Per the BBC, Tyler first heard the track when the American composer and producer Jim Steinman played it for her on piano,

“He sang the song all the way through and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this song is amazing. I can’t believe Jim is giving it to me.” she is reported as saying.

At first, she thought no one would play the song, as it was eight minutes long, but the radio version, which came in at four minutes, was a runaway success, spending four weeks at number one in the U.S.

In January 2026, the track hit 1 billion streams on Spotify, and it is the platform’s most-streamed song by a Welsh artist.

Jul 09, 2026 at 06:13 AM EDT

Singer had been in hospital since May

Tyler had been in hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she had a home, since May after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery. She was placed into an induced coma in the intensive care unit to aide her recovery.

On May 12, a statement said doctors were "still positive that she will make a full recovery" and hit out at what they described as "lurid and untrue rumours now circulating in the media".

In June, an official statement said Tyler had awoken from a coma, though remained "very unwell" and in intensive care.

Jul 09, 2026 at 06:01 AM EDT

Welsh pop icon whose epic power ballad changed her life

Tyler was born Gaynor Hopkins in Neath, Wales.

She grew up with a love for music, and for years would carry records in carrier bags to her aunt's home, where she would play with her cousins. She was discovered in a Swansea club by the talent scout, Roger Bell.

She was dubbed “the female Rod Stewart” after finding fame.

Her career spanned fifty years.

Her first single, Lost In France , was released in 1977.

Five years after her first single came out, she released Total Eclipse of the Heart, the epic power ballad that would go on to change her life.

Jul 09, 2026 at 05:55 AM EDT

Family ‘heartbroken’ at Bonnie Tyler death

In a statement posted to Facebook, Tyler's family said they were "heartbroken" at her death.

The statement said the pop icon "unexpectedly" passed away in hospital in Portugal, where she had been since May after undergoing emergency surgery.

"We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy," the official statement added.

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