Bonnie Tyler, 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' Singer, Dies At 75

Music

Jul 13

Singer and Songwriter, Bonnie Tyler has died at age seventy-five on July 8th 2026. She underwent emergency surgery to treat a perforated intestine in May, and due to complications, never fully recovered.

Born in Neath, Wales, a coal miner’s daughter, Bonnie Tyler learnt to sing in the local church choir. In 1975 her band was spotted by a talent scout in Swansea, and a few months later she was signed to RCA Records. She wasn’t a runaway success, with her first single and first album both failing to chart in the UK. Finally, It’s a Heartache was released in 1977 and reached number ten on the US billboard chart, as well as number four in the UK, but topped the charts in ten countries including Canada and France. International tours followed cementing her place as a worldwide artist.

Her biggest hit came in 1983. Total Eclipse of the Heart sold over thirteen million copies and earned Tyler a Grammy nomination. The following year Holding Out for a Hero featured on the Footloose soundtrack (and then later went to appear in Shrek 2), however Tyler did infamously turn down the chance to record a James Bond theme.

In 2013 Bonnie Tyler was recruited to write and perform the British entry for Eurovision after a long string of bad results. Tyler’s song Believe in Me unfortunately wasn’t able to turn the tide, and 19th out of 26 countries.

Several celebrities have come out on social media to mourn Bonnie Tyler, including fellow Welsh star, Catherine Zeta-Jones (who is related to Bonnie Tyler’s husband). “An extraordinary woman with vocals to match. A one of kind artist, who so easily could have been a comedian because she was one of the funniest people I ever met. Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many. Sleep tight beautiful lady.”

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