Tennessee Unveils Tina Turner Statue … But Fans Say the Face Misses the Mark
Brownsville, TN – The Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll may be gone, but in Tennessee, Tina Turner’s presence will never fade. On Saturday, the small town of Brownsville unveiled a 10-foot bronze statue of the legendary singer, just miles from the rural community of Nutbush where she grew up before conquering the world stage.
The unveiling was part of the annual Tina Turner Heritage Days, a celebration of her roots in rural West Tennessee. Dozens of fans, donors, and locals gathered to watch as the bronze figure — complete with Tina’s trademark wild mane of hair, microphone in hand, and body angled as if in mid-performance — was revealed to applause and cheers.
But while the unveiling brought tears of joy for many, online reaction has been much more complicated.
Viral Backlash: “That Face Ain’t Tina”
Photos of the statue quickly went viral on social media, and many fans are blasting the likeness for being a poor representation of Turner’s beauty.
“It’s giving lion but not Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll,” one fan wrote on X. Another added: “With all the money spent, THIS is the face they gave Tina Turner? She was stunning, and this doesn’t capture her at all.”
Memes comparing the statue’s face to unflattering caricatures circulated widely, with critics saying the tribute does injustice to the singer’s glamour and iconic presence.
Artist’s Vision vs. Public Reaction
The statue was designed by sculptor Fred Ajanogha, who said he tried to immortalize Turner in motion, emphasizing her hair and stage energy.
“I wanted to capture her flexibility of movement, how she held the microphone, and her hairstyle, which I compared to the mane of a lion,” Ajanogha explained.
While the body’s stance was widely praised for showing Tina’s signature dynamism, the face has sparked a wave of online debate. Some argue that it resembles Turner only faintly, while others defended the artist’s vision, noting that bronze sculpture often struggles with fine detail.
A Hometown Tribute
Controversy aside, the town of Brownsville — a community of about 9,000 residents east of Memphis — is proud to honor their hometown hero. Tina attended high school just steps from where the statue now stands.
“This is a big deal and a great thing for the community to have Tina Turner in her small town,” said Karen Cook, who traveled from Georgia to attend the ceremony alongside a cousin of the late singer.
About 50 donors helped fund the statue, including Ford Motor Company, which contributed $150,000 as part of its investment in the nearby Stanton electric truck factory.
Legacy Lives On
The statue joins the Tina Turner Museum, located at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. The museum is housed inside the Flagg Grove School, a one-room building where Turner once studied.
Turner’s story remains one of the most inspiring in music history: from her turbulent partnership with Ike Turner to her triumphant 1980s comeback with “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” She went on to win 12 Grammy Awards, star in films, and inspire generations of performers across genres.
Even if fans debate the statue’s resemblance, no one doubts the power of Tina’s cultural legacy.
The Conversation Around Representation
For many, the controversy over the statue’s face highlights a larger issue: how public memorials of Black women are commissioned and executed. Fans online have called for revisions or even a new work, saying Turner deserves a tribute that matches her beauty, strength, and impact.
As one fan posted: “Tina Turner gave us perfection every time she hit the stage. She deserves the same in bronze.”
For now, the statue stands tall in Brownsville — a permanent reminder of Tina’s journey from Nutbush to the global stage, even as the debate over her likeness rages online.