“It’s not just Tennessee,” pointed out Elle Denneman, the president of the International Tina Turner Fan Club. More than 200 crowded the Delta Heritage Center for the museum dedication, including family members, politicians, museum specialists, music performers, Turner’s business associates, news media and her fans. Video congratulations came from Melissa Etheridge, The Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, Fred Cash of The Impressions, Ann Wilson of Heart and Robin Roberts of Good Morning America. “There is no finer lady and no finer person,” he commented. Bill Haslam declaring “Tina Turner Day.” Turner was a babysitter for Fitzhugh when he was a child. Craig Fitzhugh read a proclamation from Gov. The Lewis Family Singers sang “God’s Been Good to Me,” which interpolated “Amazing Grace.” Rep. At the school, “Me and Tina sang ‘Standing in the Need of Prayer,’” Mann added, performing the gospel classic a cappella. She was a classmate of Turner’s at the Flagg Grove School. “This is a real blessing to our town, our county, our country,” said Lollie Beard Mann at the ceremony. “I come from good stock,” the 89-year-old Syler stated. “The family is very grateful I am most grateful to my cousin, Tina Turner, for her support.” Syler’s and Turner’s fathers were brothers. “All I can say is, ‘Hallelujah!’” said Murrell Syler. The “schoolhouse” now houses the Tina Turner Museum. So is the “gin house,” Nutbush’s cotton gin. The church is still there, historic Woodlawn Baptist. She immortalized her hometown in her self-penned 1973 hit “Nutbush City Limits.” The song’s lyric begins, “A church house, gin house/A schoolhouse, outhouse/On Highway Number 19/The people keep the city clean/They call it Nutbush.” The road was renamed “Tina Turner Highway” in 2002. Tina Turner was raised as Anna Mae Bullock in the rural community of Nutbush, TN, which is 10 miles northwest of Brownsville on Route 19. “Brownsville has a connection to the whole world through our homtown girl, Annie Mae Bullock,” said Mayor Bill Rawls. The new museum is located on the campus of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, TN. She is the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development. “Tennessee is the global music destination of choice,” said Susan Whitaker at the opening ceremony. Tennessee staked another claim as America’s premier music state with the dedication of The Tina Turner Museum on Friday, September 26. Ribbon cutting at The Tina Turner Museum.

Arrows Across Eons by Katherine Carlson