Welsh Singer Bonnie Tyler Dies at 75 After Emergency Surgery in Portugal

Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer known for her distinctive raspy voice and iconic 1980s hits, has died at the age of 75. Her death follows a sudden hospitalization in Portugal about two months earlier, where she underwent emergency intestinal surgery. After the operation, she remained in a coma and only regained consciousness around three weeks ago, but her condition was described as very poor.

Tyler rose to fame with hits such as "Total Eclipse of the Heart," "Holding Out for a Hero," and "It's a Heartache," selling millions of records worldwide. Her career spanned five decades, during which she released 18 studio albums, earned three Grammy nominations, and was honored with an MBE in 2022 for her contributions to music. Prior to her final hospitalization, she had dozens of European tour dates planned for 2026.

Born Gaynor Hopkins, Tyler began her music career in the mid-1970s. Her 1976 single "Lost in France" reached number nine on the UK charts, and her debut album "The World Starts Tonight" was released in 1977. That year, she underwent vocal cord polyp surgery, which left her with the raspy voice that became her trademark. Her 1977 single "It's a Heartache" reached number four in the UK and number three on the US Billboard charts. Her 1978 album "Natural Force" earned a gold record in the US.

In 2013, Tyler represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, finishing 19th with the song "Believe in Me." That year she also released the Nashville-recorded album "Rocks and Honey." She remained active in recent years, releasing the 2019 album "Between the Earth and the Stars," featuring duets with Rod Stewart, Francis Rossi, and Cliff Richard, and the 2021 album "The Best Is Yet to Come." In 2023, she published her memoir "Straight from the Heart." In July 2025, she collaborated with DJ David Guetta and Hypaton on the single "Together," which reached number four on the French airplay chart and earned a gold record.

Tyler's music was popular in Israel since the 1980s, with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" becoming one of the era's signature songs. She performed in Israel for the first time in February 2017 at the Tel Aviv Culture Hall, where she was moved by the sold-out crowd. A second planned show was canceled, likely due to low ticket sales. She returned in January 2020 to perform at a major Microsoft Israel event in Tel Aviv alongside other international artists.