Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse of the Heart icon and singing legend, dies aged 75
The Welsh power ballad favourite was also known for her hits It's a Heartache and Holding Out for a Hero.
Jakubaszek/Redferns/Getty Images
- Molly Moss
Published: Thursday, 9 July 2026 at 10:35 am
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, who was best known for hits like Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out for a Hero, has died at the age of 75.
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The news was confirmed by her family, who wrote in a post on the star’s official website on Thursday (9 July) that she had "unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for".
The statement continued: "We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy."
In May, Tyler was taken into hospital for emergency intestinal surgery and placed into an induced coma to aid her recovery.
Last month, a statement on the star’s website revealed she was "no longer in a coma but remains very unwell and in intensive care".
Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, grew up in a council house in Neath, and was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a Swansea club.
With her instantly recognisable raspy voice, Tyler rose to global stardom in the late 1970s, most notably with her single It’s a Heartache, which reached the top five in both the UK and US charts.
Bonnie Tyler. Victoria Sirakova / Getty Images
Her success carried on into the '80s with the release of her bestselling album Faster Than the Speed of Night and its now-iconic lead single Total Eclipse of the Heart, which topped charts around the world.
And 43 years later in January 2026, the song cemented its place as one of the most famous ballads of all time by passing the billion streams mark on Spotify.
"The first time I heard it was when Jim Steinman just played it on the piano in New York," Tyler previously recalled of the song.
"He sang the song all the way through and I was like, 'Oh my God, this song is amazing. I can't believe Jim is giving it to me.'
"When I recorded the song, I thought no one is going to end up playing this because it's so long. The original version is eight minutes long."
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Total Eclipse of the Heart and Faster Than the Speed of Night both received Grammy nominations, as did her 1984 single Here She Comes.
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She also represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, coming 19th out of 26 acts, and was made an MBE for her services to music in 2023.
Authors
Molly MossTrends Writer
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
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