Angela Bassett shares Tina Turner's powerful final words to her in emotional tribute: 'I am humbled'

Tina Turner, one of the top recording artists of all time, passed away on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83. Turner, who rose to fame in the 1960s, died at her house in Switzerland, her publicist announced. Celebrities and fans across the globe paid tribute to the icon, including Angela Bassett who shared that she has carried a piece of Tina Turner in her spirit since 1993, reports TODAY.

Bassett was the one who portrayed Turner in the 1993 biopic, "What's Love Got To Do With It." The role won Bassett her first Academy Award nomination. 

"It's impossible to say goodbye to someone who was as impactful as Turner," Bassett wrote on Instagram. "How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world? Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like."

Bassett also revealed the powerful final words Turner spoke to her. “Her final words to me—for me—were, ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’ I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honored to have known Tina Turner. I am humbled to have helped show her to the world,” she revealed.

In April this year, Turner wrote an essay for TIME in honor of Bassett, who was among the magazine's 100 most influential people of the year. The artist wrote that she was skeptical at first whether Bassett could sing and dance like her. However, when she saw Bassett, Turner recalled, she thought, "She's perfect." 

"That’s your gift, becoming your character with conviction, truth, dignity and grace, even when it’s painful, and takes everything you have and more. It’s not just acting, it’s being. Whether you’re Tina Turner or the Queen of Wakanda, we believe in you because you believe in yourself. You honor all the women you play, just as you honored me. And you’re still perfect," Turner wrote about the star.

In her statement following Turner's passing, Bassett encouraged people to remember their "inner Tina." "So today, while we mourn the loss of this iconic voice and presence, she gave us more than we could have ever asked," she said. "She gave us her whole self. And Tina Turner is a gift that will always be 'simply the best.' Angels, sing thee to thy rest... Queen."

Adrienne Warren, who portrayed Turner in "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical," also shared a montage of videos and photos on Instagram to remember the iconic artist. She captioned the post, "Today we lost our Queen of Rock and Roll, an inspiration, an ICON. Today I lost a teacher and a mentor. Rest, my friend. I love you, Anna Mae Bullock. Thank you.”

Many other celebrities paid tribute to Turner as well. Beyonce called her the "epitome of passion and power." Oprah Winfrey also shared photos with Turner on Instagram and wrote, “She is our forever goddess of rock ‘n’ roll who contained a magnitude of inner strength that grew throughout her life. She was a role model not only for me but for the world. She encouraged a part of me I didn’t know existed.”