Tina Turner Memorialized With 10-Foot Statue in in Her Tennessee Hometown
Written by b87fm on 09/29/2025
A towering statue of Tina Turner now stands tall in Brownsville, Tennessee — the rural community where the “Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll” grew up reports ABC News..
The bronze monument was unveiled at Heritage Park, just steps away from Carver High School where Turner once walked the halls. Sculpted by Fred Ajanogha, the piece captures Tina in motion: wild hair, microphone in hand, index finger extended — embodying the fierce energy she carried on stage for decades.
“I wanted her to feel alive,” Ajanogha said of the design. “Her hair is like the mane of a lion — powerful, untamed — just like her presence.”
The unveiling was part of Tina Turner Heritage Days, the town’s annual celebration of her legacy. Dozens of fans, locals, and relatives gathered for the ceremony, including Karen Cook, who traveled from Georgia with a cousin of Turner’s.
“She’s a great artist, I love her music,” Cook shared. “It’s a big deal and a great thing for the community to have Tina Turner honored in her small town.”
The 7-foot-9 statue, sitting on a 2-foot base, was made possible by about 50 donors. Ford Motor Company, which is building a new electric truck factory nearby, contributed $150,000 toward the project.
@her.after STOP. You are watching history: the world’s first look at the QUEEN OF ROCK N ROLL Tina Turner’s statue. This video should not exist yet. The Tina Turner statue isn’t revealed until the weekend, but history doesn’t wait. Here’s your first look. Living across the street has its benefits đź’‹ #TinaTurner #TinaTurnerStatue #QueenOfRockNRoll #FirstLook #Herafter ♬ som original – tkshpachadinhos
“We are proud to support this statue in the community where Tina Turner’s journey began,” said Ford’s Community Relations Director Gabby Bruno. “In helping to preserve her legacy, we celebrate all in this region who reach for their dreams.”
Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock, rose from rural Tennessee to global superstardom, first with Ike & Tina Turner and later as a solo force with hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Proud Mary.” She passed away in 2023 at age 83, but her influence remains larger than life — now quite literally in her hometown.
