Bonnie Tyler has woken from an induced coma but remains in intensive care after emergency intestinal surgery last month, her family has confirmed.
The 75-year-old Welsh singer, known worldwide for her 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, was rushed to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, in May after experiencing a medical emergency. Doctors placed her into a temporary state of deep unconsciousness to aid her recovery following the procedure.
“Bonnie Tyler is out of an induced coma but remains 'very unwell' in intensive care after emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal.”
A statement posted on Tyler's official website says she is no longer in a coma but is still “very unwell”. “Although her condition is improving it is a slow process,” the statement reads. “Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time.”
The update came after the singer's family expressed distress over what they called “lurid and untrue rumours” circulating about her health.
As a result of her condition, all of Tyler's remaining summer performances have been cancelled or postponed until next year where possible. “We are sorry to tell everyone that we will be cancelling, or postponing until next year where possible, all of our remaining shows this summer,” the statement said. “This will affect every current show until the end of August. At present we are still hopeful that our shows in the autumn will go ahead.”
Tyler’s team apologised for the disruption, adding: “We hope to see you next year instead.”
The singer, born Gaynor Hopkins, grew up in a council house in Neath, South Wales. She was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a Swansea club and released her first single, Lost in France, in 1977. Five years later, Total Eclipse of the Heart spent two weeks at number one in the UK and four weeks at the top of the US charts. The song passed the billion streams mark on Spotify in 2025.
Tyler earned Grammy nominations for the single, the album Faster Than the Speed of Night, and the single Here She Comes. She also represented the UK at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, finishing 19th out of 26 acts. In 2023 she was appointed MBE for services to music.
The statement thanked fans for their “huge outpouring of love and support from all over the world”, adding that Tyler was aware of the messages and “very grateful”. The family has asked for privacy and said further updates will follow when there are significant developments.
Despite her current ordeal, the singer, who splits her time between Portugal and South Wales, previously said she has no plans to retire. “I started singing when I was 17 and I never thought I'd still be doing it at this age,” she told the Sunday Mirror’s Notebook magazine. “I've slowed down a little bit, but I know now that I will never retire.”