Bonnie Tyler Revealed Her Biggest Regret—Four Decades After Turning Down a Massive Movie Soundtrack
Bonnie Tyler Revealed Her Biggest Regret—Four Decades After Turning Down a Massive Movie Soundtrack
Lucille BarillaThu, July 9, 2026 at 12:05 PM UTC
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Bonnie Tyler stood as one of the greatest and most unmistakable female voices in the history of the music industry. With her signature, husky delivery, the legendary singer defined the sound of a generation.
The entertainer died at the age of 75 on July 8 in a hospital in Portugal. In a statement posted to her official website, her death was "a result of the illness that she was being treated for. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now, ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”
Yet despite a career filled with chart-topping triumphs, there was one pivotal behind-the-scenes moment she could never quite shake. It was a single choice made at the absolute height of her fame, and lingered with her for over four decades.
In a 2025 interview with The Telegraph, Tyler expressed her regret about turning down the opportunity to record a theme for the 1983 James Bond Film Never Say Never Again. She called it her worst decision.
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"I’d love to do a [James] Bond theme because I turned one down for Never Say Never Again. My God, I was so excited when they asked me, but then I heard the song, and I didn’t believe in it," she explained.
Tyler added, "So, please, if anybody’s reading this, I wish they’d ask me again because I want a Bond song." Sadly, the singing superstar never had the opportunity fulfill her wish.
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The theme for Never Say Never Again was sung by Lani Hall and composed by Michel Legrand with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The song did not hit the Billboard charts.
Despite missing out on the opportunity to be a part of the James Bond stable of singers, Tyler had a pretty remarkable career.
She won the World Song Festival in Japan in 1979. She represented the United Kingdom and won the Grand Prix International award for her performance of the song "Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean."
Coming in second place was Cissy Houston, gospel singer and Whitney Houston's mother. Tyler shared a photo with Whitney backstage on Facebook, writing, "Cissy Houston represented the US, and Whitney was there. She asked for my autograph backstage; she was only about 15 or 16 and so sweet."
The legendary Welsh vocalist transformed the landscape of pop-rock with her raspy, emotionally charged delivery, skyrocketing to global fame on the back of her breakout 1977 single, "It's a Heartache." She permanently redefined the sound of the 1980s with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and the high-energy anthem "Holding Out for a Hero."
Deadline reported that Bonnie Tyler was placed in a medically induced coma in late April, 2026, after emergency surgery for a perforated intestine. The outlet reported, "A spokesperson later said she was out of the coma, but remained very unwell in hospital, with doctors predicting a slow recovery. Her health issues meant tour dates for this summer were cancelled."
This story was originally published by Parade on Jul 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
