produced it, her voice was on it, and there was a sense that her voice could power a pop hit outside of the r and b world. and then when she went out on her own to have these amazing hits, you know, the first album, private dancer, was almost a statement that, you know, i'm here, and i survived this, and you know, songs like, you know, i can't stand the rain, and private dancer and you better be good to me. you know, and then to go on to have, you know, of course the big single that everyone remembers, what's love got to do with it, that was the title of the film that angela bassett started. and, again, you know, sort of embodying her story in a song, and, you know, the hits just go on and on. >> the hits. >> and, you know, it just goes on and on. she had so many great songs, but i think, you know, when she

first began to establish the solo career to have hits that also seemed to communicate her life story, it just gave an added residence, and led people to embrace her even more as those songs hit the charts. >> the queen of rock 'n' roll, tina turner has died at the age of 83. eric deggans, thank you very much. that does it this hour. our coverage continues with alex witt right now. very good to be with all of you. i'm alex witt in for katy tur. we are staying with this story. one of rock 'n' roll's most famous voices has died. tina turner passing away at the age of 83. according to a statement from her spokesperson, just listed this afternoon, she died following a long illness. she was at her home in switzerland. turner's career, of course, spanned more than 60 years ago. she has put out instant hits

like "river deep," "mountain high," she won a told of eight grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 2018. she had a musical on broadway that was done all about her life. it was a tumultuous life she had with ike turner. she certainly rose above and she was able to create memorable moments over these many many years, as we would listen to her songs. perhaps one of the best known being what's love got to do with it. it's a wonder when you think about someone like tina turner and her magnificent presence, stupendous talent, dancing, singing, performing, what was in her mind when she would write the words to the songs like these. extraordinary. reverend al sharpton is joining me right now. and rev, this is truly an icon that has passed. i can think of many many songs and the memories that go with it that tina turner really helped

narrate parts of my life. >> no doubt about it. i mean, i think that we sometimes overuse the term icon. but you're certainly not overusing it to describe her. she was a trend setter. that lasted over a half century. how many people do we hear last two or three years that we think they're good. she lasted 60 years, never stopped, despite personal challenges, despite all kinds of controversies that would come up, she just kept doing it, and on top of that, ran a business. she controlled what she wanted to do, what she was involved in, what she would not be involved in, musically and otherwise. as you know, i was close, had a father-son relationship with james brown, and james brown would always talk about how tina turner was in charge of herself. she was admired by other artists. michael jackson talking to me

about it. she became a template, a real example for other artists, how to protect their artistry, as well as their business. and on top of that, she never stopped entertaining the public. she probably is one of the most imitated artists of all time, and that's a tribute to greatness. when others that are good want to imitate your greatness. >> absolutely true. and yet there's no one quite like the original. there will be nobody like tina turner going forward, but rev, she's a woman, despite her many countless musical accomplishments, her extraordinary talent that was on display. there was a very very difficult side to her life. there are those that would categorize her relationship with ike turner, although it was able to create incredible music, there was a level of abuse to it. i believe she had used that word as well. what do you know about what she overcame and what she stood for when she left that situation?

>> i think that, you know, all of us have read the stories of some of us, as i said, i was close to artists that knew of the allegations of abuse. she talked about it. i think the part of her legacy, aside from her musical genius is overcoming that abuse, not being defined by being a victim. and not being stopped. not only did she overcome it as a woman, she overcame it as an artist. she would not let a man not only brutalize her, but stop her career. so i have two daughters. if there ever was a woman that says not only don't you accept abuse, don't accept people deciding the beginning and end of how your talent can be used. she became bigger than life after that. we cannot only remember her scars, but we can remember how she turned her scars into stars. >> absolutely, that's a

wonderful way to say it, rev. when you think about her music. i should think that so many in the music world necessarily didn't try to emulate her because, again, she was so incredibly unique with her performance. she was, to your word, iconic. but there have got to be so many that look at her and think, i want to do what she did on my own scale. don't you think that was certainly true within the musical world for the last 30, 40 years? >> no doubt about it, and some of those that became great, like i said, i would talk with michael jackson about it, who absolutely adored her. i think she gave people in the music world that may have been talented themselves, and certainly i don't know anyone that was more talented than her. she gave them the belief in themselves that they could do something different and have the courage to go ahead and expose their talent their way.

there was nobody like tina turner before tina turner, which gave people the confidence that you can try your original impulses because she was an original. you can look at tina and say she reminds me of so and so. no, she was the original, and then those that may have tried to come and imitate her, none of them succeeded in being her. but as important, she inspired others, do you, i did me. and i survived, and i thrived, and i never became irrelevant in 60 years on that stage or more, and you can do the same thing, and i think she inspired untold artists to believe in their own talent, their own way. >> which means that her loss is being profoundly felt throughout the music world, throughout different parts of this country. the entire world, frankly, where did she hold the most kreds, do you think, as a person, as a woman, is it within the

african-american community? do you think that there will be tremendous sorrow being expressed? again, across all facets of music loving fans and admirers of her. she did make a pointed reference about being a black woman, and how she was able to rise about. it was depicted in a documentary i saw about her. >> i think black women, black people are generally certainly more her past, but i think she became a global figure. tina turner was one of the first pop artists that was not just considered just a black artist. she became pop, but never lost who she was, and i think that she showed the world that i can do rock 'n' roll and still remain being a black woman, so i think that she will be mourned

globally. she will have a special place in the hearts of blacks, but she'll have a special place in the hearts and minds of everybody because she entertained globally and as many people that were not black as she did black. and all were entertained, and i think in many ways, her artistry freed a lot of black artists to say, you don't have to be confined to just one area. you can be good and appreciated by all, and i think tina turner pioneered that particularly for black women, there were very few black woman in the rock 'n' roll era, soul era, that broke out of the jim crow status in the music world on the stage. tina turner was one of the first that did it, and sustained it. >> i love the fact that you're preaching to the congregation, again, as i said, she was someone i grately admired and i have so many sound tracks to my life that she helped to put the

music to all sorts of memories i have. that documentary that i mentioned, i wish i could remember the name of it, or probably something simple like tina because that's all you would need to know who you are talking about. but i remember seeing the quiet moments, and i'd love you to talk about sort of the artistry, the many artists that you have known, and the quiet moments that are there sort of behind the curtain in the private time. she had difficult quiet moments, particularly these later years with her life in switzerland. >> very much so. the quiet moments that these artists and some of whom i've been around, when the crowd is not cheering, and when they're not banging on the door to get the autograph. and you have to deal with who you really are, and who you've become and try to make sense of the journey. it's such a rapid pace when you're out there, every night a

different city. every night a different crowd sharing. but when all of that is gone, and you have to be alone by yourself, some artists end up not being able to handle that. and that leads to all kinds of demons taking over from drugs to temporary associations and relationships. tina turner was able to be strong enough to withhold herself from being succumbed to those kinds of things, and i think that what makes her so admired is that she was able to handle the stage in front of hundreds of thousands, and she was able to handle her own private time, her solace when she would descend to switzerland, and i think she never undid her legend. >> and some of the video we're showing all of you right now, everybody, is from that broadway musical that i had mentioned. she was there for opening night,

and she was just absolutely spectacular looking in the glittery gold gown, welcome to thunderous applause. let me give you a read from her official facebook page. this is a statement that has been offered by her publicist. it reads, it is with great sadness that we announce the pasing of tina turner. with her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. today we say good-bye to a dear friend, who leaves us all her greatest work, her music. our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. tina, we will miss you dearly, and that is on behalf of peter lindbergh, her publicist. what do you think happens now? how do you think she will be remembered? i should think there will be all sorts of tributes, ceremonies, awards, not that she needed anymore, my goodness, she racked up so many in her lifetime, based on her talent and

performances. >> all that and more she deserves. there will be tributes, awards, there will be all kinds of organic celebrations. i can see people all over the world coming out and trying to do the tina turner dance and playing "what's love got to do with it", she's one of those artists, and there are only a few that have done it that her services, her memorials will be for years to come. we'll never stop celebrating the life of tina turner because tina turner celebrated our lives and our music. we can mark where we were with her hits. so how do you try and minimize a person with that kind of contribution to one or two events. it will be an event for her for the rest of our lives. because she helped to choose a sound track to many of our lives. and as long as we remember our own growing up and our own

dealings, we'll remember tina turner was a sound track to a lot of what we engaged in in life. >> i think you're so 100% right. she is somebody, as i'm going to read off just a note of a couple of particulars, details about her life. she was something that certainly the united states have every right to claim. she was born in brownsville, tennessee, began singing as a teenager there. met ike turner very young. rose to fame in the 1960s, performing with him in kings of rhythm, embarked on a solo career. that happened in 1978, and of course "private dancer" is the album that turned things around for her as a solo artist. 1984, that went multiplatinum, a hit globally. she became one of the best selling artists of all time. she acted as well. i mean, think about the talent this woman exhibited. her dancing was phenomenal. many many dancers, still try to

emulate her style today. she was a singer first and foremost, acted in tommy, acted in mad max beyond the thunder dome, but really when you think about her, you think about how much she did in terms of her music, selling 100 million records, 12 grammy awards, 3 grammy hall of fame awards. she was also the first black artist to be on the cover of rolling stone, but having said all of that, yes she was a true american woman but she belongs to the world. the fact that she passed away in switzerland, rev, she left the united states to, you know, restart her home base there. what do you think her legacy is there in europe? because the fact is she's an iconic american woman. >> i think she -- her legacy there is that she was global, and she could go in europe and be just as iconic, just as

recognized and respected. though she broke through racial barriers in this country, of her native land. there were barriers in europe, that her fame and talent challenged and brought down where she was absolutely adored, so i think that's what made her a global figure is that she refused to have boundaries, and her talent and her gifts and music was one that defied the boundaries of any one nation or any one particular region of the world. >> yeah, absolutely. well said there, rev. stay with me as we welcome to the conversation, nbc news correspondent, rehema ellis. i know that she had been suffering for some time with her health, but doing that for the most part privately so. when the word came down some 35, 40 minutes ago, my jaw dropped, and i had a broken heart. how about you, when you first heard the news, what did you think? >> i was thinking the same thing, alex, and i can't help but smile as i'm watching the

pictures of tina turner. she sways down the streets of singing, and that's the image that i will always have in my mind of tina turner. this woman with the heels, long legs, dresses, and this wild hair, she gave permission to so many other entertainers to be exactly like she was, and to go beyond that. we were just talking with chris witherspoon, the music critic, just a few minutes ago, and he was commenting on the scope and the range that this woman had in terms of her appeal. because she did something that women and black women certainly had not done up until that time. as a solo artist, you talk about the fame that she gained as a soloist, that she won a dozen grammy awards, that this come was not just a singer but an actor as well. and goodness knows she was a dancer. she even, we're told, she taught mic jagger how to dance.

can you believe that? >> i do actually. >> she taught mic jagger how to dance. why not? she had that kind of sassiness about her, and it came out of a lot of pain and turmoil, this woman who came from the daughter of sharecroppers in rural tennessee, and someone that, when you look at on the face of it, you might think that how would she be someone who could rise to the kind of fame and recognition and glory that became the identity of tina turner. it was because of the spirit that was all about tina turner. i had the wonderful benefit of seeing her in one of her last concerts at madison square garden. this woman changed outfits so many times. she strutted across the stage and by the end of the performance, the audience was more worn out than tina turner was. she gave a thrilling, absolutely thrilling performance, and you knew that you were in the company of greatness.

that's the kind of performer that tina turner was, and i have to say that, it's also important for people to know this woman was a buddhist, and she credits buddhism for helping her come out of the turmoil that she experienced in the latter part of her marriage with ike turner, that she was almost defeated by that marriage, had it not been for her religion and her practice of buddhism, it is what strengthened her and go on and become and continue to be the kind of performer that she started out to excel, to go beyond that, and to reach the kind of heights that have all of us right now thinking about her, and just remembering what a wonderful outstanding and thoughtful performer she was, that she gave it all. >> yeah. >> when tina turner went on stage. she didn't leave anything left

to the imagination, i wonder could she have performed a little bit more. she gave it all out. >> buddhism, how that really helped her through. i'm sure the rev will applaud that, knowing how much religion was a tent pole in her life at that point. let me also comment, everybody, on really how shocked so many of us are. when you hear that she's gone. i mentioned in her latter part of her life, she was suffering from an undisclosed illness. she did so quietly, and didn't talk so much about it. hearing that she had passed today at the age of 83 at her home in switzerland came as a shock. not only a shock in the studio but to the white house. karine jean-pierre, the press secretary for president biden was asked about it. had not heard. let me read you a little bit about what peter alexander has submitted. tina turner was a music icon who had many stages and amazing moments in her career. i'm very sad to hear the news. i was a huge fan.

weren't we all? of tina turner. as you can see from my reaction, that's the first i'm hearing of it, it's a massive loss to the communities that loved her and certainly to the music industry, and her music will live and continue to live on but i'm very sad, it's terrible news, our hearts go out to her family and friends on their profound loss. again, that is from karine jean-pierre, the white house secretary. just getting this news that we're all getting as well. i know you mentioned chris witherspoon, we would love to bring you into the conversation as well. your thoughts on all of this? both from the musical talent and that which has been lost today and beyond? >> yeah, i mean, listen, i'm really soft. i'm listening to all the other folks talk about tina turner's legacy. one of our greatest exports, they are our stars. we don't have the royal wedding

or a lot of great things, but i think we look at the impact globally with their music, with their stories, and talk about a story. i mean, what she went through coming from tennessee from her gospel roots to working with ike turner, the abuse she endured and the fact that she made this comeback in the music industry, that really was the biggest comeback ever in music back with her album "private dancer" in 1984. nobody really saw that coming. a lot of the executives had turned their back on her. but she found a way to kind of make a new sort of sound, emerging r and b and rock together. she's one of the first artists to sell out arenas and right now, you think about the two big tours happening, beyonce, taylor swift, they will be probably paying tribute to tina at some point tonight or tomorrow on their tours because tina opened doors for them to do what they're doing. and for really, i think, giving

that power to artists that can bring together all different types of walks of life, diverse audiences together in those big arena settings. i think back to whenever beyonce paid tribute at the kennedy center honest, it was absolutely incredible to see her with the two tinas in her life. so much of beyonce's act, the heels, the legs, it is tina turner 2.0, and i think we'll be seeing for decades, the impact of tina's legacy play out. >> as we started out this hour talking about the countless hits that she had, i think there was so many of them. a favorite of mine and i think of many of you watching will be this iconic sound. we're going to play a little bit of "what's love got to do with it," here it is, everybody. you'll know it ♪ what's love got to do with it got to do with it ♪ ♪ what's love but a secondhand

emotion ♪ ♪ what's love got to do with it who needs a heart when a heart can broken ♪ ♪ >> you know, i always love listening to the words, whether it's a story that's been written or a film screen play or the words of a song, about how she had a hard time getting song writers to work with her. she's over the age of 40. i believe a lot of songs in the album were her trying to push the envelope a bit of what her sound could be like, and i think for tina, if you look at the biography that came out shortly before her album, she talked

about what she went through, what she endured and how her life had to be so much bigger than love, it had to be about her connection to her fans, her audience, whitney houston, prince when he died, i think a lot about how people when they grieve artists, they don't grieve because they knew them. i don't cry because tina turner and me were friend and had coffee. we cry because they helped us know ourselves better. the songs she did like the one we just talked about, those songs, they become anthems for how we live our lives, how we love. that was tina on her best day. >> i love the way you said that, chris, it's so true. i'm going to pivot to you, is there one song?

>> one of the things i'm thinking about, alex, is the song "private dancer" and the fact that we knew little about the illness that she was experiencing. in some ways she privately danced through that illness with just her loved ones around her. not sharing that with all the people, all the fans who loved her all around the world, but she had to go through that herself. and it makes me think that there are other people who can probably relate to that, that sometimes their grief and suffering is not something that's done publicly, but it's done privately, as she was a private dancer in that wonderful song about what it was, i'm not quite sure, maybe it was after she had broken up with ike, and she had to privately go out there and make a way, make a name for herself, as chris mentioned. she was over 40 years old, and they were wondering, you know, how can this woman be that rock 'n' roll sensation at the age of 40. and it is so fantastic. so spectacular, that she proved

to everybody exactly how she could do it. she did it the tina turner way. >> she did, and we are not going to see the likes of tina turner again. beyonce to the points that have been made on the broadcast here, she emulates her, and has her own style. there won't be another beyonce as well, but tina turner was the first. let me ask our control booth quickly. it's a big news day, of course the passing of tina turner at the age of 83 after a long illness. we're keeping a close eye on the white house. we know the president is scheduled to speak if he's on time in another three, four minutes. he will be speaking there by the staircase in the white house. and he's going to be addressing a tragic day that this is on another level, the one-year anniversary of the uvalde shooting. he's going to be talking about his efforts to get gun reform, you know, passed and all of

that. as i was mentioning earlier, let's go back and play what we heard directly from karine jean-pierre, the white house press secretary when our peter alexander asked her to react to the news of tina turner's passing. she had not heard, this was her reaction. here it is. >> tina turner was an icon. a music icon who had many stages and many amazing moments in her career. very sad to hear the news. i was a huge fan of tina turner. as you can see from my reaction, that is the first that i'm hearing of it. and it is a massive loss. massive loss to the communities that loved her and certainly to the music industry, and her music will continue to live on. very sad news. our hearts go out to her family. and her friends on their loss. >> again, that impromptu statement from karine

jean-pierre upon hearing the news from peter alexander. rev, how do you think the news of tina turner's passing is going to ricochet throughout homes in this country, throughout homes around the world? i mean, do you think there will be a sense of profound sadness or celebration of a life beautifully lived, overcoming so much, and leaving us with so much to remember her by. >> i think it's going to be a mixture of both. like those of us that are talking to you, alex. we're mixing sadness with inspiration. you know, i remember in '84 when she came back with "private dancer," i was heading the community affairs for michael jackson's tour. he said i want you to cover the whole tour. said he needs to get more community involvement, and that was the year she came back, and i think that a lot of people

underestimate that not only did she have as she openly talked about the domestic abuse with ike, a lot of people felt that ike was the impetus for her success, and i think she proved for a woman and therefore all women that she was not made by a man. she was made by her own talents and she gave confidence to a lot of women artists, and a lot of women in other fields, that they did not have to have a man to push them forward because there was this misogynist view that she couldn't make it, that ike had made it, told her how to do what she did, and she proved to the world that he didn't. that he may have put her on a stage, but she mastered that stage, and i think it was because of all of that that we had an extra inspiration inside of us from her because we saw what she went through, and it identified the things that we

maybe never told anybody that we went through so when she saw "what's love got to do with it," we knew what love did to her, and all of us had gone through our own experiences. so i think if she had lived a smooth life without any kind of trials and situations, her singing and performing certain ways wouldn't have been as personally effective as it was. but we knew that she was singing and dancing about a life she lived and it gave us the strength to say, if tina can do it, we can do it. >> an authenticity to her that will be sorely lost by so many. thank you guys both so much. we're going to pivot and go to the president of the united states. president biden is going to be heading to that podium in just a moment. there you see jill biden by his side as well. we know that the two of them will be there. mike memoli, i know you're up and ready to go on this.

what a profound day, not only within the white house, but for people who are mourning the loss of tina turner. that is profound sadness. there isn't a particular kind of sadness that must be emanating throughout the white house on this tragic one-year anniversary of the uvalde school shooting? >> that's right. this is a somber day, somber anniversary for a president who knows that experience well, somebody who has experienced such a significant loss in his own life. you saw them looking at the candles on the pedestals, honors those who lost. let's listen to the president. >> i realize this is a really tough day for all the families. remembering is important but it's also painful. one year ago today robb elementary school in uvalde, texas, turned into another killing field in america. a few days later, jill and i

traveled there and stood before those 21 crosses that were outside of the school. on each cross, a name, like in these candles behind us. 19 children, 9, 10, 11 years old, and two devoted educators. and 17 more injured. we spent hours with the grieving families who were broken. and never ever quite be the same. to the families of the children and the educators, we know that one year later, it's still so raw for you. a year of missed birthdays and holidays, school plays, soccer games, just that smile. a year of every day joy is gone forever, the bend in his smile, the perfect pitch of her laugh. at a vigil a few months later,

one of the moms said when i lay in bed and turn on my side envisioning her staring back at me, i want so badly to be part of an alternative reality that just doesn't exist. this is my reality. because my 10-year-old daughter was murdered in her 4th grade classroom. standing there in uvalde, jill and i couldn't help but think that too many schools, too many every day places have become killing fields in communities all across every part of america. and in each place, we hear the same message, do something. for god sake please do something. we did something afterwards, but not nearly enough. we still need to ban, in my view, ar-15 firearms. assault weapons, once again. you know, they have been used

time and again in mass killings of innocent children and people. we need to ban high capacity magazines, with the ability to shoot 20, 30, 40, 50 bullets without reloading. today, guns remain the number one killer of children in america. guns. over the last year since uvalde, our country has experienced a staggering 650 mass shootings and well over 40,000 deaths due to gun violence. we can't end this epidemic until congress passes gun safety laws and keeps weapons of war off the streets and out of the hands of dangerous people, until states do the same thing. how many more parents will live their worst nightmare before we stand up to the gun lobby to

establish universal background checks, to establish national red flag laws, require safe storage of firearms and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. the only major corporate entity that's immune to liability. even a majority of responsible gun owners support these common sense actions to save lives and keep our community safe. it's time to act. it's time to act. it's time to make our voices heard, not as democrats or republicans, but as friends. as neighbors, as parents, as fellow americans and i'm being deadly earnest when i say that. you know, for a long time, it's been hard to make progress. there will become a point our voices so load, our determination so clear that it can no longer be stopped.

we will act. you know, a year after visiting the school, that same day, we attended sacred heart catholic church, in the pews family and friends held each other tightly. as the arch bishop spoke he asked the children in attendance to come up on the altar and sit with him as he spoke on the altar. there wasn't enough room for everybody to go on the altar. a mom and young son sat next to us, they had us in the first pew, they sat next to us. as we left the church, a grandmother quietly passed us a note, a handwritten letter, and here's what it read, erase the invisible line that is dividing our nation. come up with a solution and fix what's broken and make the changes that are necessary to prevent this from ever happening again.

my fellow americans, you know, you almost feel the pain. we've lost children. we have to do this to save our children for the nation we love to erase that invisible line i stand here today as earlier this morning we were talking about planning a memorial service this weekend, celebrating the anniversary of the death of our son beau. well, guess what, everyone's pain is different. we like many of you have some understanding what it's like to lose a child. on more than one occasion. for those who have lost a loved one in uvalde to the moms, the dads, the brothers, the sisters,

the grand moms, the grand pops, this is what i know. one, they'll never be gone from your heart. they'll always be part of you. and i know this as well. as unbelievable as it sounds, i promise you, the day will come when you pass that ice cream store or pass that park or pass that thing that brings back the memory of your son or daughter. it's going to bring a smile to your lips before you think of them before it brings a tear to your eye. that's when you know you're going to make it. and our prayer for you from the bottom of our heart is that day will come sooner than later. sooner than later. god willing it will come. so that's for you to know you're going to make it. god bless those 21 blessed souls lost on this day in uvalde, and

neigh god bless their families. we're thinking of you. >> any update on the debt talks, mr. president, please. >> and there you heard the president with the first lady standing by his side, doing something he does very very well, he plays the role of consoler in chief, and it is because he draws from within. he understands the pain of loss. he mentioned the upcoming anniversary of his son beau who died from brain cancer some years ago. it's been a good, eight, nine, ten years, but he does hold that promise that one day he'll be able to smile again. that is something that probably many of the families that are suffering through this horrific anniversary there in uvalde, texas, are unable to even conceive of at this point. but the president says they will get there, and he should know. he has lived through it. mike memoli joining me once

again. the president did touch on the accomplishment of summer last year. and he was able to get the bipartisan safer communities act passed, but he said it was just basically a drop in the bucket. some significant things did happen. when you look at the enormity of the gun control problem in this country, there's a lot of work left to do. >> yeah, alex, that was really something that struck me was the president down playing his own accomplishment, something as we know, and something that we have been tracking this issue for so long, how difficult it is to get any legislation passed relating to gun safety. it was a significant accomplishment, but in the president's view, in the context of this tragic anniversary, not nearly enough, and really as somebody who has covered the white house for the better part of now 16 years, really, it's been striking the degree to which these somber anniversaries marking these massive gun massacres we've seen too often in this country have really

begun to become a call to action. the president, yes, honoring those who were lost, but beginning and spending a majority of his remarks here talking about the need to do more, to pass a ban, again, on assault rifle, to end immunity for gun manufacturers for these kinds of crimes. it really is striking, and it's something that the gun safety community really agrees with, that they think that these moments can't be let to be other marks on the calendar. they need to be calls to action, and then you're right, alex, to point to the role we have talked about so often as the president as the consoler in chief. he began his remarks, saying remembering is important, and also painful. the anniversary is next tuesday, the 8th anniversary of the loss of his son beau, an occasion in which the president and his family will return to delaware, just as they have done the last seven years to mark the anniversary, just as he's also done in the 50 years since he lost his wife and daughter in the accident in december of

1972. these anniversaries are somber for him and sacred as well, and one that he knows and shares the painful experience with those families in uvalde today as well. >> i am reminded, having covered the sandy hook school shooting in december of 2012. and the difficulties of that and the question that you thought in the immediate after math of that with the mansion/toomey bill, did not pass with an april vote. i remember going up to both senators, privileged to go to the white house correspondents dinner, and i begged them to put it back up there and push for it, and keep going. here we are. the question has to be asked, if not now, when. i'm joined by guad venegas, nbc news correspondent who's unfortunately having to join me from uvalde, texas, where i imagine it is a remarkably difficult day there for the families. i know you've spoken with some of them. how are they even beginning to get through this day. what are they telling you?

>> reporter: a very emotional day for everyone in uvalde, friends and family members of the victims, and also members of the small community. we're in the town square where a memorial remains after a year with photos and articles that belonged to the victims that died, and other articles to remember them. it's difficult just to walk up and see those photos, those images and hear the stories. this is for individuals that are members of the community. you can imagine how difficult it has been for family members. we have been speaking to some of them since last year to see how they were dealing with the issues and what i can say today, people are together, alex, because they want to be there for each other with the moral support a year later, but there's also a general sense of anger and frustration, when we speak to the families. we still don't have a concluded investigation. the investigation into what happened, the law enforcement's response. it's been more than a year. the district attorney says they still don't have a time line for that, and every time we speak to family members, they want law

enforcement to be held accountable. and they want to know exactly what happened. they always mention the word transparency. these are things they have not gotten. there is a lot of frustration when we speak to family members. this was the case a year ago. this is the case now. my colleague tom llamas, spoke to the lot of family members to see how they were feeling, not just about what has been done after the shooting, and also as president biden mentioned, the emotions that someone goes through when they lose a family members. here's part of that conversation. >> there's no calmness, there's no peace. there's no justice, there's no transparency. it's chaotic. yet, you look out and everyone normalizes what's happening around them. and they're -- i see them. they think the way i used to. this will never happen to me.

and some day it just might. >> reporter: you know, president biden just mentioned that it will be sooner than later for someone going through that. it's very difficult. some people say some of the family members have said it feels like it was an eternity ago. it's been difficult to get through this year. others say it feels like it's only been one day, and just a few days ago, they were speaking to their son or daughter that they lost. president biden spoke about legislation calling for action. here in texas, the conversations we've had with family members, and members of the community since last year will usually lead up to them saying they would like to see one change or at least, alex, most of the people i spoke to will bring up the one thing that seems to be the common factor here, is that they would like to see at least here in uvalde, they would like to see the law changed from 18 to 21 as minimum age for an individual to obtain one of these assault rifles like the one used in the shooting in

uvalde. there was a bill in the texas state legislature that looked promising but now it has been stalled. and when we talk to the individuals here, they don't completely understand how a bill will go through either the state senate or house of representatives and what can stop a bill or push it forward. they just feel like their elected officials have not looked out for their best interest, at least a lot of parents we have spoken to have said that to us. many have asked for some type of reform here at a state level, and texas, but we of course know that every time governor abbott is confronted about this, he will usually shift the attention to mental health and other issues but we have not seen gun reform here in texas. something that the family members keep bringing up when they speak to a lot of the news media outlets, and then, again, that investigation, they're asking for that to be concluded because they want to know who is responsible for that police response, right? they keep bringing that up and saying we still don't know who should get fired and who is the

person or the agency to blame for those 77 minutes it took for officers to enter the area where the shooter was at and confront him. so that is the feeling here, as today, one year after a lot of the emotions and a lot of the energy is going to be focused on healing on a day of events, there is a mariachi playing here, an event at a local church, where they release butterflies and a candlelight vigil, is scheduled to take place tonight, organized by the families, open to the public, and of course, this is something that can unite the town of uvalde as they work together to heal and get past these difficult times, alex. >> they certainly have a long road ahead. let me draw attention to one photo i saw from the associated press, and it showed a 10-year-old little girls and she was dancing wile singing, listening to taylor swift, which she did with her friend, and she was dancing at her grave.

it's this kind of thing. it's hard for us to cover it. it's hard for us to continue hearing it. thank you both for bringing all of the salient points to us. we're going to take a short break, everybody. i'll get myself cleaned up and we'll be back with a little bit more about the iconic life of tina turner. e bit more about the iconic life of tina turner. (woman) with verizon's new myplan, i get exactly what i want. and only pay for what i need. (man) now i'm in charge... ...of my plan. (vo) introducing myplan from verizon. you get exactly what you want and only pay for what you need. and it all starts at just $30. it's your verizon. somedays, i cover up because of my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. now i feel free to bare

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♪ you're simply the best ♪ ♪ better than all the rest ♪ ♪ better than anyone ♪

♪ anyone i ever met ♪ ♪ i hang on every word you say ♪ ♪ tear us apart ♪ ♪ baby i would rather be there ♪ >> as we listen to that song, there's so many who think she may have written that for someone but she was the best. that was one of tina turner's many hits. she passed away peacefully today in her home in switzerland, she was 83 years old. i'm joined by anthony curtis, a contributing editor to rolling stone magazine, former that is. tell me what crossed your mind first when you heard about the passing of tina turner? >> we knew she was ill. but the first thing that occurred to me is that another

titanic force in rock music has passed. you can't say too much about everything that tina turner achieved at every level of her career. it's just a huge loss. >> titanic, that's a terrific word to apply to the loss. what do you think it is about her that will make her stand out in all of our memories? i think into infinity. she was so remarkable. what is it about her? her tenacity? her uniqueness? her ability to do so many facets of performing, from singing, dancing, acting, just the energy she put forth on the stage. i know a colleague told me earlier she had seen her in concert and she left nothing on the stage there for you, she felt like she could continue going on. that was so tina. >> all of the above. there was a sense in which -- tina was an artist who always

seemed on stage to be teetering on the edge of going out of control but always maintaining a supreme level of control. and that was what she achieved, you know. after i think we all know the story of her how her marriage to ike turner fell apart, under very, very difficult circumstances of abuse. but, you know, she came back stronger than ever. you know, she had the support of all the artists that she influenced like mick jagger and david bowie. but tina believed she could be as big as they were, and she became as big as they were, filling stadiums, winning grammys, having huge hit records. she was important symbolic cli for so many women in particular, as important as she was as an artist. it's a rare achievement to have that kind of meaning for people and in people's lives. >> you mentioned mick jagger.

it was shared on the broadcast earlier that she helped teach him to dance. >> oh, yeah. >> really? >> without a doubt. >> you think about mick jagger and the way he dances around, as i think about it, there is a tina-esque air to it. >> jagger wasn't above making a move here and there, i think tina turner opened for the rolling stones in england and then the united states in 1969. that helped bring tina to the attention of white audiences. but also, you know, jagger was studying her. he understood how important she was and, you know, she was a model for him. >> anthony we're joined right now as well by the executive editor of variety, gem aswad. joining the conversation as we've been talking about tina

turner, the first thing that crossed your mind when you heard about her passing. anthony suggested you in the industry knew she was suffering from an illness but she played that quietly and in a dignified manner. that aside what is it about tina turner that you think what a loss? >> we were surprised, but you know, i had heard she was ill. the first reaction is another legend gone. but she was exceptional because she broke down so many doors for women. i'm having a hard time -- female performers. i'm having a hard time not repeating anthony because he said so much good stuff there. one thing i would add, she was an incredible multigenera singer, started as an r&b singer, became a rock singer, ballad singer, pop singer.

she was also obviously an incredible dancer and she -- it's hard to say this in a way that doesn't sound tasteless. she embraced her sexuality in a way that a lot of artists hadn't to that point. on one of the tours that anthony talked about, the rolling stores made a film of that tour, the 1969 tour called "give me shelter". in it, that's footage of mick jagger watching footage of tina turner and he basically says something like, isn't it great that there's finally a female performer who's acting like a man. you know, on stage and all that, because she was embracing her sexuality. and you know, at the time, she was having. >> a very unhappy home life, to put it mildly. being married to ike turner was no day at the beach. but the second chapter of her story, she got with managers and

producers who understood what she would be able to do in the next chapter. i was thinking like she relaunched her career on mtv, she was one of the first older performers to do so. she did it in a way where she was like your cool older aunt or even like a young grandmother saying like i know what you're going through, i've been through this. i know. you know. >> she knew. >> you look at the "what's love got to do with it" video and that's what she's saying. >> you're right. thank you both for sharing your thoughts on this significant day with the passing of rock icon, the legend tina turner at the age of 83 at her home in switzerland. that's it for me, i'll see you noon eastern saturday, "deadline: white house" starts right now. ♪♪ >> hi there,