'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' singer Bonnie Tyler dies aged 75

Legendary Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has died at the age of 75. She achieved international fame in the 1980s, with the release of the hit single ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’.

Welsh music icon Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75. Best known for her songs ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’, ‘Holding Out For A Hero’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’, Tyler died after being hospitalised in Faro, Portugal, where she had owned a home since 1988.

She began to experience abdominal back pain in April and was rushed to hospital for emergency intestinal surgery. However, she began to suffer complications and a reported serious infection. She was placed in an induced coma and last month, Tyler’s spokesperson said she was out of the coma but remained “very unwell and in intensive care”.

A statement published on her official website today reads: “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.”

Born on 8 June 1951, Tyler – whose legal name was Gaynor Hopkins – first shot to fame in the late 1970s thanks to singles like ‘Lost In France’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’.

She rose to international fame with her iconic 1983 power ballad ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ and the 1984 hit ‘Holding Out For A Hero’, featured in the Footloose movie soundtrack.

Both ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’ have estimated sales of over 6 million units each, and are among the best-selling singles of all time.

Tyler represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and was awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her services to music in 2022.

She said at the acceptance ceremony a year later: “I never ever thought I would have something like this, my mother and father would be so proud. To be nominated for a Grammy was wonderful, but to be given an MBE for something I absolutely love doing is a highlight of my career.”