Bonnie Tyler, the husky-voiced Welsh singer who earned several worldwide pop hits including 1978’s “It’s a Heartache” and 1983’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” died Wednesday night (July 8, 2026). Her family announced the news at approximately 5:10 a.m. ET on Thursday. Tyler, who turned 75 on June 8, passed in a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she had been since emergency appendix surgery was performed around May 6. The singer had suffered cardiac arrest earlier that month following emergency intestinal surgery.

The brief statement on July 9 noted, “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”

On June 15, the family posted on her website and Facebook page noted that Tyler was no longer in a coma, “but remains very unwell and in intensive care” in a hospital in Portugal. That post added, “although her condition is improving it is a slow process. Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time.”

The note continued: “We would like to thank everyone for the huge outpouring of love and support from all over the world that we have received for Bonnie and want to tell you that she is aware of, and very grateful for, your good wishes.”

The previous update, on May 12, followed reports the previous week that the singer had been placed into a medically induced coma.

Reports indicate that the popular singer had first felt unwell while performing in London in March. After an examination, she is said to have recovered well enough to travel to Portugal, where she maintained a home. Upon feeling “severe abdominal pain,” Tyler, was taken to the hospital in Faro where the emergency surgery was performed. Various reports on May 11 add that Tyler suffered cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated. The singer’s social media team wrote on May 8 that she was then “put into a medically induced coma to aid her recovery.”

That full post noted, “Thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and well wishes we’ve received for Bonnie over the last few days. It truly means the world.

“Bonnie has been put into an induced coma by her doctors to aid her recovery. We know that you all wish her well and ask for privacy at this difficult time please. We will issue a further statement when we are able to.”

That next update arrived shortly after 7 a.m. on May 12, when her family issued an update. “As of this morning Bonnie remains seriously ill but stable in hospital in Faro, however her doctors are still positive that she will make a full recovery.

“Bonnie’s family are very disappointed at the many lurid and untrue rumours now circulating in the media and would like to make it clear that Liberto Mealha does not represent them in any way whatsoever and is not in contact with them regarding Bonnie.

“When there is any further news of Bonnie’s condition then we will issue another statement but ask that the media cease to speculate or publish wild rumours, which simply serve to upset her family, friends, and many fans, and ask again for privacy and decency at this difficult time.”

Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins on June 8, 1951, was brought up in Skewen, a small U.K. village near Swansea.

In 1977, she recorded a song written by her managers Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, “It’s a Heartache.” It was released as a single in the U.K. and became a worldwide smash, topping the chart in several countries. It was issued in America in March 1978, reaching #3 on June 17, 1978, giving the singer her first U.S. hit. “Maybe my husky voice was what that song, and my career, needed,” she said.

[Referencing her voice, Rod Stewart posted a tribute to Tyler. “We shared similar styles of vocalising. She was a good pal, a true soul stirrer. I sing “It’s a Heartache” every night on tour. I’ll miss you darling Bonnie. Sir Rod.”

Two of rock’s great vocalists, Roger Daltrey and Paul Rodgers, also shared their thoughts. From “the Guv’nor”: “So sad to hear the news today… A wonderful woman and a fantastic singer.” And Rodgers wrote, “We toured together. She was a sweet spitfire of a woman and a great singer.”]

After a period with no follow-up success, she changed record labels and was teamed with Jim Steinman for 1983’s Faster Than the Speed of Night, which included “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” similar in style to Steinman’s best-selling operatic collaboration with Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell, from several years earlier.

The single was released in the U.K. that February and on June 12 in the U.S. On Oct. 1, 1983, it reached #1 on the Hot 100, where it remained for four weeks.

A year later came another big collaboration with Steinman. “Holding Out For a Hero,” often referred to by its lyric, “I Need a Hero,” and written by Steinman with Dean Pitchford, was recorded for the smash 1984 movie musical, Footloose. Though the track reached #2 in the U.K., it peaked at just #34 in the U.S., one of six hits from the soundtrack (that topped the album chart for two months).

Related: Our Spotlight Feature on Tyler

In the category of “who knew?” came this tribute from Catherine Zeta-Jones: “My heart is broken with the news that our dearest Bonnie Tyler has passed away. Bonnie was married to my cousin and has been such a part of my life. She sang and rocked it at my wedding. An extraordinary woman with vocals to match. A one of kind artist, who so easily could have been a comedian because she was one of the funniest people I ever met. Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many. Sleep tight beautiful lady. We shall forever ‘Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides’ of Wales for you. ”

Dear Bonnie Tyler passed today, she had such a great voice and I’ll always be grateful of her beautiful version of Straight From The Heart. ♥️ Thanks Bonnie. RIP

— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) July 9, 2026

From Leo Sayer, “Bye bye Bonnie. You were so special, such a beautiful singer, and great company for me whenever we shared a stage or a TV studio. Being with you was total fun and I’ll always remember you with joy in my heart.”

Tyler’s recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.