The Eternal Queen of Rock ’n Roll, Tina Turner, Deservingly Immortalized in Bronze Brownsville, Tennessee—just an hour east of Memphis and near Nutbush, the birthplace of legends and loyal Tina Turner devotees—has unveiled a 10-foot bronze statue honoring the one and only Tina Turner during the annual celebration known as Tina Turner Heritage Days.
This isn’t just a tribute—it’s a manifestation. A fixture of reverence for a woman who was, and remains, simply the best.
Designed by Atlanta-based sculptor Fred Ajanogha, the statue captures Tina mid-performance:
“Fred tried to capture her flexibility of movement on stage, how she held the microphone with her index finger extended, and her hairstyle, which he compared to the ‘mane of a lion,’” he shared in a press release.
The statue was sculpted in clay in Atlanta, then cast in bronze by a West Tennessee foundry, taking about a year to complete. The project was funded by over fifty donors, with Ford Motor Company contributing a leading $150,000 as part of its Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee. Who knew Ford always wanted Tina to be their private dancer?
The statue now stands proudly in Heritage Park, just steps from Carver High School, where Tina once attended classes and played basketball. It joins the Tina Turner Museum at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, preserving her legacy through costumes, awards, and memorabilia from her groundbreaking career.
While the unveiling sparked mixed reactions online regarding the statue’s likeness, the intention remains clear: to honor a woman whose voice, movement, and spirit changed music forever.
Explore the full celebration and museum details on the Tina Turner Heritage Days official site.
