Overview
- The 10-foot bronze was unveiled Sept. 27 during Tina Turner Heritage Days in Brownsville and installed near Carver High School and the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center.
- Atlanta sculptor Fred Ajanogha said he aimed to capture Turner’s onstage movement and signature hair, which he compared to a lion’s mane.
- More than 50 donors financed the project, with Ford contributing $150,000 as part of its West Tennessee community efforts linked to its nearby EV plant.
- Fans on Facebook and X criticized the likeness after the unveiling, focusing on the outsized hair and facial features and calling the tribute disrespectful.
- Local officials praised the monument as a fitting honor to Turner’s legacy, and no plans to alter or remove the statue have been announced.