Tina Turner, celebrated worldwide as the "Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll," is one of the greatest icons in music history. With her distinctive voice, energetic performances, and a career spanning several decades, she influenced generations of fans. She passed away on May 24, 2023.
Now, a statue has been built in her honor in her hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee. But instead of generating excitement, the monument has disappointed many fans – in their opinion, the design of the statue does not properly acknowledge the exceptional artist.
A 10-foot statue of rock n' roll queen Tina Turner was unveiled in the rural Tennessee community where she grew up.Read more: https://t.co/sSIFwmHsf7 pic.twitter.com/lGnfJFlFks
— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2025
Why So Much Hair?
During the annual "Tina Turner Heritage Days" celebration in a park in Brownsville, Tennessee, the bronze statue was revealed. Mayor William Rawls underscores the city's determination to honor her legacy with a tribute of monumental significance.
"It is my honor and privilege, along with the rest of the community, to facilitate this tribute to an international music icon who I believe we can all agree was simply the best." – Mayor William Rawls
The statue shows Turner with her iconic wild hair and a microphone in hand, as though she's mid-performance. It was sculpted by the artist Fred Ajanogha, who wanted to emphasize Tina Turners hair, which reminded him of a lions‘ mane.
The statue reveal was shared in a video on Facebook, whereupon fans criticized the creation. Many people said that her hair in particular is simply too much, and her face looks a little off.
"What's art got to do with it?" – Brother André Marie, M.I.C.M. on X
"The person who carved her statue either had a really bad day or wasn’t paid well." – Curious 1 on X
"The hair reminds me of the 80s McDonalds fry guys." – The Blessed Salt on X
What do you think of the statue? Let us know in the comments!