Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, singer Sir Cliff Richard and showrunner Russell T Davies are among the stars to pay tribute to Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler who has died aged 75.

The singer, best-known for her chart-topping power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart, died unexpectedly in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated for an illness, her family said.

Tyler was hospitalised in May in Faro, where she had a home, for emergency intestinal surgery.

She had been placed in an induced coma for a period but was reportedly improving last month.

Bonnie Tyler performing at the Tollwood Festival in Germany in 2023. Photo: AAP 

Chicago star Zeta-Jones, who is also Welsh, said her “heart is broken” after hearing that the singer died on Wednesday. Sir Cliff, who sang a duet with Tyler on the song Taking Control, grieved the loss of his “wonderful friend” in a Facebook post.

Zeta-Jones, 56, said Tyler was a big part of her life after marrying Zeta-Jones’ cousin, Robert Sullivan, in 1973. She shared a photograph of the pair together on Instagram, taken the night before Zeta-Jones married fellow actor Michael Douglas.

“She sang and rocked it at my wedding,” Zeta-Jones wrote.

“An extraordinary woman with vocals to match. A one of kind artist, who so easily could have been a comedian because she was one of the funniest people I ever met.

“Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many. Sleep tight beautiful lady. We shall forever Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides of Wales for you. Sending my love to Robert and the family.”

Sir Cliff said “Bonnie’s infectious zest for life entertained so many around the world”, and she was a good friend to all.

“It is shocking news to wake up to this morning and I send my love to her family at this very sad time,” he said.

Sir Rod Stewart said in a post on Instagram: “We shared similar styles of vocalising. She was a good pal, a true soul stirrer. I sing It’s A Heartache every night on tour. I’ll miss you darling Bonnie.”

Meanwhile, Doctor Who showrunner Davies praised the “fabulous” singer who he said he had “loved” since he was a teenager.

“I never met her, though I must’ve lived a mile or so from her house – and that house was the stuff of legend. She was adored,” Davies wrote on on Instagram.

“I think it’s quite a Welsh thing to lose your accent when you leave home. But NOT BONNIE!

“My God, that magnificent Skewen rasp never buckled, and I think that says a lot about how strong she was. What a gorgeous girl. Night, cariad (darling). Thank you for the music.”

Liz Mitchell, the original lead singer of Boney M, said: “She burst onto the scene at exactly the same time as Boney M in the second half of the 1970s, and our paths crossed often, in TV studios and theatres across Europe.

“We became very good friends, and regularly met up for dinner over the following decades. She was a lovely person with a fantastic voice, and I’ll miss her very much.”

Welsh broadcaster Carol Vorderman remembered the “extraordinary” singer, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, in a video on Instagram. Vorderman said Tyler was considered a legend, particularly among women.

“It’s difficult to explain if you don’t live in Wales that Bonnie represented something to us, and she will be very, very sorely missed,” Vorderman said.

Rocker Bryan Adams, known for hits such as (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, remembered “dear Bonnie Tyler” in a post on X.

“She had such a great voice and I’ll always be grateful of her beautiful version of Straight From The Heart. Thanks Bonnie. RIP,” he wrote.

Tyler represented Britain in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Believe In Me.

Tyler is survived by Sullivan. The couple had no children.