Bonnie Tyler, best known for her iconic hit Holding Out for a Hero, has died at the age of 75, according to a statement published on her official website. The announcement 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.”
Back in May, the beloved performer, who hailed from Skewen in south Wales, was placed into an induced coma following emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal. In June, her spokesperson provided an update confirming she had come out of the coma but remained “very unwell and in intensive care”. Three years prior to her tragic passing, Bonnie spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk, revealing that she and fellow music legend Meat Loaf – real name Michael Lee Aday – had remained on good terms before his death in 2022, despite the rock icon previously being “p****d off” with her for securing what would go on to become her greatest hit, Total Eclipse of the Heart.
The Welsh singing sensation claimed that Meat Loaf – real name Michael Lee Aday – and celebrated songwriter Jim Steinman had fallen out when Steinman offered the legendary track to her rather than the rocker, after he lost his voice during the 1980s.
During the 2023 interview, Bonnie laughed as she fondly recalled how the Bat out of Hell hitmaker would regularly remind her that the song had originally been written with him in mind.
She spilled: “Meat Loaf was a bit p****d off about it. He was fine. He used to say, ‘Bonnie that song should’ve been for me!'”. Recalling her response, she said: “‘Well he didn’t give it to you, he gave it to me, so… tough’.”
Reflecting on their exchanges, she added: “It was always friendly banter.”
Previous reports had indicated that Steinman had originally offered the track to Meat Loaf, only for him to reject it. Bonnie, however, clarified the situation, disclosing she was given the song after the musician lost his voice.
Speaking on 2GB Sydney in 2021, she said: “He also fell out with Jim Steinman at that time – they got back together in the end, but at that time they fell out.
“But Jim Steinman started writing that song for a musical and then he didn’t do anything else about it.”
Bonnie showed there were no hard feelings between herself and Meat Loaf when she delivered a heartfelt tribute to him after his death. The American singer passed away following an illness at 74, leaving Bonnie “shocked and saddened”.
In a tribute shared with People! Magazine at the time, she added: “It was hearing his Bat Out Of Hell album, an all-time classic, that inspired me to want to work with the late Jim Steinman.
“I was privileged to later have an album with Meat Loaf and Jim, Heaven and Hell. He was, as you might imagine, a larger-than-life character with a voice and stage presence to match and is one of those rare people who truly was a one off talent and personality.
“I will miss him as will his millions of fans all over the world. Rest In Peace.”