British singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for her hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” has died at the age of 75, according to a statement on her website.
Tyler died “unexpectedly” at a hospital in Portugal, where he was receiving treatment, his family said in the statement.
“Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that she passed away unexpectedly last night at a hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness for which she was being treated,” they added.
“For now, we ask for privacy as we deal with this tragedy,” the statement notes.
The singer has enjoyed a career spanning nearly half a century, during which she dominated genres such as pop and rock with her husky, powerful voice, with such hits as “It’s a Heartache” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
Tyler had recently undergone intestinal surgery at Faro Hospital in Portugal’s Algarve region, where she had been living for several years to enjoy a milder climate than in her native Wales.
The artist was rushed to the hospital in May for that emergency surgery, after which she was placed in a medically induced coma to aid her recovery.
Last month, a spokesperson for the singer reported that she had already come out of her coma, although he described her condition as very serious, so she remained in the intensive care unit at that hospital.
Shortly afterward, those close to him reported a positive turn in his condition and said that the doctors were “convinced” he would recover, although they cautioned that the process would be slow.
As a result, Tyler canceled several dates on his summer tour so that he could return to the stage later this year to perform at other concerts that had already been scheduled.
Her legacy, which includes 18 studio albums, earned her three Grammy nominations between 1984 and 1995, as well as three Brit Awards in 1977, 1984, and 1986. And although she never won them, her unmistakable style establishes her as one of the most distinctive songwriters of recent decades.
In 2003, she took the bold step of recording a bilingual duet of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” with French singer Kareen Antonn; the song, titled “Si demain… (Turn Around),” reached number one on the French charts, according to Agencia EFE.
