What's Age Got To Do With It? Tina Turner makes spectacular comeback at 68 (and the dress is as short as ever)

By Liz ThomasLast updated at 4:29 PM on 06th October 2008

She may be old enough to be Madonna's mother, but Tina Turner proved she was the queen of pop with a triumphant return to stage.
Eight years after her farewell tour the star kicked off her comeback in front of a crowd of 20,000.
Miss Turner, who is 69 next month, showed she was in remarkable shape with a series of thigh-skimming dresses and skin tight trousers.

There was not a trace of cellulite as she jumped around the stage with her trademark pins on show.
In contrast to Madonna, whose overly muscular body has raised eyebrows, the soul legend has opted for a more natural look.
One fan said: 'I just cannot believe she is pushing 70. She looks and sounds fantastic.'
The star sang hits such as What's Love Got to Do With It, Private Dancer and Steamy Windows.
She also performed classic cover versions including It's Only Rock'n'Roll, Help and Addicted To Love.

Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey were in the audience at Chicago's United Centre.
Miss Turner said she came out of retirement because of demand from fans, and the insistence of close friend Sophia Loren.
She said: 'Everywhere I went people were asking me when I was going back on tour. The demand never stopped. People want to see you live. Even Sophia Loren asked me: 'When are you going back to work? You were born with a gift. You have a responsibility. She made me feel like it was a duty.'
'I wouldn't want to diminish my credibility, so if I was ever going to do it, now is the time. I'm in shape, and once I saw some of the costumes and I started getting excited.' In an energetic show the only suggestion that age may be catching up with the star, was the inclusion for the first time of an interval.

What's Age Got To Do With It? Tina Turner makes spectacular comeback at 68 (and the dress is as short as ever)
By Liz ThomasLast updated at 4:29 PM on 06th October 2008
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She may be old enough to be Madonna's mother, but Tina Turner proved she was the queen of pop with a triumphant return to stage.
Eight years after her farewell tour the star kicked off her comeback in front of a crowd of 20,000.
Miss Turner, who is 69 next month, showed she was in remarkable shape with a series of thigh-skimming dresses and skin tight trousers.

Triumphant comeback: Tina Turner dazzled the audience at a concert in Chicago on Saturday
There was not a trace of cellulite as she jumped around the stage with her trademark pins on show.
In contrast to Madonna, whose overly muscular body has raised eyebrows, the soul legend has opted for a more natural look.
One fan said: 'I just cannot believe she is pushing 70. She looks and sounds fantastic.'
The star sang hits such as What's Love Got to Do With It, Private Dancer and Steamy Windows.
She also performed classic cover versions including It's Only Rock'n'Roll, Help, and Addicted To Love.

Name in lights: The singer performed in front of a 20,000 strong crowd
Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey were in the audience at Chicago's United Centre.
Miss Turner said she came out of retirement because of demand from fans, and the insistence of close friend Sophia Loren.
She said: 'Everywhere I went people were asking me when I was going back on tour. The demand never stopped. People want to see you live. Even Sophia Loren asked me: 'When are you going back to work? You were born with a gift. You have a responsibility. She made me feel like it was a duty.'
'I wouldn't want to diminish my credibility, so if I was ever going to do it, now is the time. I'm in shape, and once I saw some of the costumes and I started getting excited.' In an energetic show the only suggestion that age may be catching up with the star, was the inclusion for the first time of an interval.

Lady in red: Tina looked in better shape that ever
She explained: 'I've always given a full rock 'n' roll show and plowed straight through. Instead of running around so much, I'm making it a little easier on myself. I might need a break.'
It has been eight years since she announced she was quitting music to retire and live in Switzerland with partner Erwin Bach, a German record company boss. After 44 years performing, her farewell tour in 2000 and made more than £55 million over 89 shows. She said at the time: 'It's time to hang up my dancing shoes. I can't sing without jumping around and it's getting harder. I'm happy I can do it one last time so people can remember me at my best rather than as a caricature. My dream is to have an empty diary. I just want to have no schedule at all for what seems to be the first time in my life. That is what I want.' This not the first comeback for the soul legend, who made her name singing with ex husband Ike in the sixties and early seventies on hits such as River Deep, Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits. While initially they seemed like a golden couple behind the scenes she suffered years of abuse, the full extent of whic was revealed in her autobiography I, Tina. She famously walked out on the marriage with just a few pence in her pocket, but struggled to find work. Miss Turner refused to comment when her ex-husband died last year aged 76, she revealed the pair had not spoken in more than 35 years. After years in the musical wilderness, she resurrected her career in the mid 1980s and won a new generation of fans with hits such as What's Love Got to Do With It and Simply the Best.
Her critically acclaimed 1986 album Private Dancer sold more than 12 million copies. When she retired she had sold more than 75 million albums and insisted she wanted to be out of the limelight. She said of her decision to return to touring now: "I never wanted to be out here all my life, but my music doesn't sound dated. It's still standing strong. Like me." Miss Turner will play 36 dates in America before coming to Europe early next year. She will play venues in London and Manchester in March. Billboard magazine's touring editor Ray Waddell said: "Tina is one of those perennial draws. She is known as one of the most dynamic live performers ever. And there has to be a sense that there won't be that many more opportunities to see her fabulous legs in high heels stalking the stage." She is the latest veteran performer to make to go on a comeback tour.