The Tennessee State Museum Presented With Apparel Chosen by Tina Turner

The Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School and the Tennessee State Museum are proud to announce the generous gift of apparel from the internationally-acclaimed entertainer Tina Turner. This iconic look selected for an album promo shoot will be added to the collection of the State Museum and exhibited in the new museum opening in the fall of 2018.

In a ceremony held on September 19 at the Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School in Brownsville, TN, officials from Tennessee State joined Tina Turner’s longtime friend and Executive Personal Assistant Rhonda Graam and Tina Turner Museum Executive Director Sonia Outlaw-Clark, to debut the ensemble which was personally selected by the Tennessee native and international music icon.

“It is an honor for the Tennessee State Museum to receive this gift from Tina Turner for our museum’s collection,” says Tennessee State Museum Executive Director Ashley Howell.  “As one of our state’s most famous entertainers, it is important for us to interpret her legacy as we present Tennessee’s rich music history for future generations. The State Museum values the relationship we have with Tina Turner Museum at the Flagg Grove School and with the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and looks forward to future collaborations.”

The jacket and skirt were created by world renowned fashion designer Rifat Ozbek, a twice-awarded “Designer of the Year” winner by the British Fashion Council.  His designs have been worn by Tina, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Sarah-Jessica Parker, and Kylie Minogue among many others.  The items Tina selected were donned in a photoshoot for her six-time platinum Foreign Affair album with the images above captured by Herb Ritts in 1989. Released on September 13, 1989, the album featured what would become signature hits “The Best,” “Steamy Windows,” and “I Don’t Wanna Lose You.”

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years since we first opened the doors on the Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School here at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center,” said Outlaw-Clark. “West Tennessee is rich in music and cultural heritage and to preserve this world-wide icon right here in Haywood County is a privilege and an honor.  We are happy to work with Ms. Graam and Tina to share her coveted fashions with the Tennessee State Museum.”

Fans can view Tina’s outfit on temporary display at the Tina Turner Museum throughout the 2017 Tina Turner Heritage Days (TTHD) this Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24, before it is sent to the Tennessee State Museum.

The 2017 TTHD will feature tours to Tina’s hometown of Nutbush, TN, a Q&A with former Ikette Miss Robbie Montgomery of the Oprah Winfrey Network’s Sweetie Pie’s and a performance at Tina’s former high school Carver High by Las Vegas Diva Larry Edwards (Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous). More information and tickets can be purchased here: http://www.tinaturnerheritagedays.com/schedule.html.

About the Tennessee State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum was established by law in 1937 “to bring together the various collections of articles, specimens, and relics now owned by the State under one divisional head,” and “to provide for a transfer of exhibits wherever they may be.”

Today, the Tennessee State Museum is housed in the James K. Polk building in downtown Nashville, where it has been for nearly 35 years. Gov. Bill Haslam proposed and the Tennessee General Assembly approved $120 million in the FY-2015-16 budget to build a new home for the Tennessee State Museum on the Bicentennial Mall to maximize the state’s rich history by creating a state-of-the-art educational asset and tourist attraction for the state. The governor also announced that $40 million would be raised in private funds for the project.

A 140,000 square foot facility is being built on the northwest corner of the Bicentennial Mall at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street to tell Tennessee’s story by showcasing one-of-a-kind artifacts, art and historical documents in an interactive and engaging way. More information on the museum can be found at tnmuseum.org

About the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center
The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center offers a refreshing Southern experience showcasing the history and culture of rural West Tennessee. Inside, visitors can learn about the history of cotton, explore the scenic and “wild” Hatchie River and get to know the legendary musicians who call West Tennessee home. Also, located on the grounds is Flagg Grove School, the childhood school of Tina Turner now home of the world renowned Tina Turner Museum, and the last home of Blues pioneer Sleepy John Estes. The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is located along the Americana Music Triangle, the world’s #1 music destination – a preservation project along a 1,500-mile stretch of highway that birthed nine uniquely American genres of music.

About Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School
What’s Love Got to Do with It? Everything – a love of Tina Turner’s music and pop culture legacy, a love of historic preservation, a love of local communities and most of all a love for honoring the memories of those that traversed through the doors of Flagg Grove School. Via a special video that was filmed on the set at an IO commercial in Switzerland, Tina recalled the impact of education on her career.

“Everyone has a dream, but I have to say that your dreams cannot work without education,” says Tina. “It’s essential. It goes hand in hand. These days you must communicate with people. If you want to run your business, you need to have an education or you will have to depend on someone else and that is not always comfortable. I hope that as people walk through the school they see that I set an example for a home town girl that grew up in hard times that made a good life for herself and to follow by example.”

To date, more than 604 million unique media impressions have been acquired on the museum. Designed by renowned interior designer Stephen Sills, the museum sanctioned by Tina features multiple costumes from designers Bob Mackie, Giorgio Armani and Versace, gold record awards and photos from Tina’s personal collection. The exhibit, which is free for all visitors, is located adjacent to the WTDHC at 121 Sunny Hill Cove, Brownsville, TN 38012.

About Tina Turner
It’s Tina Turner…
www.tinathemusical.com.