Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, whose unmistakable raspy vocals helped define some of the biggest pop-rock anthems of the 1970s and 1980s, has died at the age of 75. Her family announced that Tyler died unexpectedly at a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she had been receiving treatment for complications from a serious illness. The singer had undergone emergency intestinal surgery earlier this year and, after spending time in a medically induced coma, remained in intensive care before her condition unexpectedly worsened.

Born Gaynor Hopkins in Wales, Tyler first found international success with “It’s a Heartache” before reaching global superstardom in 1983 with Jim Steinman’s epic power ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which topped charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She later scored another signature hit with “Holding Out for a Hero,” while her distinctive voice—developed after vocal cord surgery early in her career—became one of the most recognizable sounds in popular music. Over a career spanning five decades, she released 18 studio albums, earned multiple Grammy nominations, represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2022.

Tyler remained an active recording and touring artist long after her commercial peak, maintaining a devoted international following, particularly across Europe. Her family had issued several health updates in recent months expressing hope for her recovery following surgery, but confirmed Thursday that she had died from complications related to the illness for which she was being treated.

Tyler is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, whom she married in 1973.

Editorial credit: OSCAR GONZALEZ FUENTES / Shutterstock.com