Tennessee

At Tennessee museum, fans remember Tina Turner’s talent, strength, influence

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2023

At Tennessee museum, fans remember Tina Turner’s talent, strength, influence

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — Standing in a Tennessee museum, near exhibits of shimmering dresses worn by Tina Turner, Lisa Lyons wiped tears from her cheeks as she remembered the impact the singer and actress had on her life.

Lyons recalled watching Turner’s performance in the film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” as Auntie Entity, the tyrannical leader of a post-apocalyptic civilization.

“She was fierce, and she was strong, and she was powerful, and that has stayed with me,” said Lyons, who, like Turner, is Black. “As a little girl of color who didn’t have that type of role model in real life, it has stuck with me all these years.”

Turner, 83, died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, according to her manager. Her Grammy-winning singing career includes the hit songs “Nutbush City Limits,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” from “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” Her film credits also include “Tommy” and “Last Action Hero.”

Lyons, 56, said she heard about Turner’s death on Wednesday and drove to the museum in Brownsville, west of Jackson, where Lyons lives.

When it comes to her musical legacy in a region known for its blues, rock and roll, R&B and soul music, Turner was the “cream of the crop,” Lyons said.

“She is the standard. She is the goal to aspire for,” Lyons said. “She did it and she did it well, and she did it on her own terms.”

The Flagg Grove School, the childhood school of Tina Turner, at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Brownsville, Tenn. Singer and performer Tina Turner’s manager says she died Tuesday, May 23, 2023, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. Credit: AP/Adrian Sainz

The museum opened in 2014 inside the renovated Flagg Grove School at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Memphis. Turner attended school in the one-room building as a child growing up in nearby Nutbush, one of the small, rural towns that dot the farms and fields of West Tennessee.

The building was on farmland owned by Benjamin Flagg, who saw a need for a school for the area’s black children and began building it in 1889. The school is representative of the schoolhouses for African-American children that sprang up in the rural South after the Civil War.

The school closed in the 1960s and was used as a barn before the dilapidated building was moved by tractor-trailer from Nutbush to Brownsville.

The museum contains a setup of the classroom, including the original blackboard and wooden desks used by Turner and her fellow students. It also contains photos of Turner, and the Armani, Versace and Bob Mackie dresses Turner wore on stage during the energetic performances for which she was known.

Lisa Lyons, 56, poses for a photo inside the Tina... — Lisa Lyons, 56, poses for a photo inside the Tina Turner Museum at the Flagg School at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Brownsville, Tenn. Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ‘70s and triumphed in middle age with the chart-topping “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” has died at 83. Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Kuesnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, according to her manager. Credit: AP/Adrian Sainz

On Wednesday, Turner fans went to the museum to pay their respects. Some of them had already planned to visit before news of Turner’s death broke, while others made a special trip after they found out.

Sherry Raggett and her husband, Tom, had already planned to visit the center as the final stop of a museum tour that took them from their home in the Memphis suburb of Collierville to a few places in Kentucky and Nashville, then back to west Tennessee.

Sherry Raggett called Turner “a wonderful person” and praised her for “her strong influence on women and how they can overcome so many things.”

“I grew up listening to her, and she was a fantastic entertainer,” Tom Raggett said. “I loved every minute watching her.”

The heritage center’s director, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, said she met Turner in 2019 in New York during the opening of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.”

“It was such an honor to be in her presence, but it was also such a feeling of ease,” Outlaw-Clark said. “Even though she was an international icon, a superstar, I still felt that she was a hometown girl. It was like meeting a neighbor.”

Outlaw-Clark said the center was hoping to honor Turner this weekend during its annual Exit 56 Blues Fest and during another event in September that takes place on the anniversary of the museum’s opening.

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Tennessee

Titans Sign DB to Active Roster

Published

4 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

The Tennessee Titans are making a slight change to their 53-man roster.

According to team reporter Jim Wyatt, the Titans are signing veteran defensive back Daryl Worley to the 53-man roster after being elevated from the practice squad on three separate occasions this season.

Worley wouldn’t have been able to be elevated from the practice squad again this season because he already reached the maximum three times. He has played a key role in each of the last three games for the Titans with a depleted secondary, so adding him from the practice squad isn’t much of a surprise.

In the team’s Week 12 win against the Houston Texans, Worley played in all but three defensive snaps and recorded four tackles with one pass defensed.

Considering the fact that L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie are on injured reserve, though the latter is on pace to be activated soon, the Titans needed a veteran to shore up the secondary, and Worley has played that role well.

Now, he’ll get to finish out the season with the Titans in hopes of getting a new contract in the offseason.

Worley and the Titans will face off against the Washington Commanders in Week 13.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee

Titans Working to Make Major Change for Will Levis

Published

12 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Titans Working to Make Major Change for Will Levis

The Tennessee Titans are still trying to figure out if they have their long-term quarterback or not. Will Levis has shown flashes of being a big-time talent, but he has also had major consistency issues and has been a turnover machine at times as well.

Figuring out what they’re going to do at quarterback will be the biggest decision that the Titans need to make throughout the rest of the season and into the offseason.

With that in mind, Levis has shown major progress over the last few games.

Since coming back at full health from a shoulder injury, Levis has had three straight solid games. He is starting to look the part of a potential franchise quarterback once again.

That being said, Tennessee is working with Levis to make one major change. They want him to take less sacks.

Brian Callahan, the Titans’ head coach, spoke out about what he wants to see from his second-year quarterback.

“Less hunting of magic plays and big plays and more taking it as it comes, sort of playing each play as it presents itself and when you get a chance to be aggressive, be aggressive,” Callahan said. “When there’s a chance to make a play with your feet, make a play with your feet.”

Over his past three games, Levis has completed 53 of his 78 pass attempts for 748 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Those numbers show the progress he has already made since his return to the field. If he can continue developing his game, reducing his number of turnovers, and taking less sacks, there is a legitimate chance that he could end up being Tennessee’s long-term quarterback.

Only time will tell, but the Titans have plenty of reasons for optimism. Levis had a rough start to the season, but is rebounding nicely.

All of that being said, it will be interesting to see how he plays throughout the rest of the season and what decision Tennessee chooses to make about his future.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee

How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball vs. Middle Tennessee: TV channel, live stream

Published

19 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball vs. Middle Tennessee: TV channel, live stream

The Iowa State women look to get back on track before returning to Iowa when they face Middle Tennesee on Saturday during the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off.

The game is part of a series of games held over the Thanksgiving holiday, as the Cyclones (5-2) faced defending national champion South Carolina on Thursday.

Iowa State, ranked 15th in the nation, has dropped two of three since starting the year with four straight wins. They fell to Northern Iowa earlier this month before rebounding with a win over Drake prior to departing for Florida.

The Cyclones never got on track vs. South Carolina, scoring the first three points before seeing the No. 4 Gamecocks go on a 19-0 run to end the quarter. They trailed 35-9 at the half before playing USC even in the third.

Audi Crooks, a sophomore, leads Iowa State in scoring at just under 22 points per game. Addy Brown, who was held scoreless vs. South Carolina, adds 16 and a team-high nine rebounds a night.

Middle Tennessee (6-1) picked up a 54-49 win over Purdue of the Big Ten on Thursday. They have won four straight since a close loss at Tennessee.

Here are the details on how to watch Iowa State vs. Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 30:

Who: Iowa State vs. Middle Tennessee in women’s basketball action

When: 12:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, November 30

Where: Suncoast Arena | Fort Myers, Florida

Live Stream: Stream Iowa State vs. Middle Tennessee live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

TV Channel: Women Sports Network

Betting Odds: Not available

Our Prediction: Iowa State 76, Middle Tennessee 72

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