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Kevin Bacon has broken his silence on iconic singer Bonnie Tyler's death over four decades after they both worked on Footloose.
The actor, 68, called her 'one of the great voices of rock' after learning of the tragic news that the music icon died at the age of 75 on Thursday, the same day he turned 68.
Bacon starred in the 1984 musical movie, for which Tyler sang Holding Out for a Hero on the official motion picture soundtrack.
'I could not imagine chicken racing a tractor to any other song. RIP,' Bacon said in a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly.
Tyler passed away due to illness at a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she had a home, according to the New York Times.
According to a post on the Welsh singer-songwriter's official Facebook page, she had recently underwent emergency intestinal surgery just months earlier.
Kevin Bacon has broken his silence on iconic singer Bonnie Tyler's death over four decades after they both worked on Footloose - pictured in June 2025
Tyler's song, Holding Out for a Hero, was one of many iconic songs from the cult classic film. After recording the song for the movie soundtrack, she later featured it on her 1986 sixth studio album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire; pictured in 1984; pictured in 1984
She had been placed in an induced coma following the surgery in May and awoke from the coma in June, but she remained in intensive care.
The musician's death was announced in a statement by her 'heartbroken' family and team on her website.
The statement said: 'Bonnie's family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.'
Tyler was known for her contribution to Footloose and rock music. One of her most famous hits was also her 1983 track Total Eclipse of the Heart.
Bacon. previously revealed that the last time he attended the Oscars was the same year he kicked off his career with his breakout role in Footloose.
In the film, he played city kid Ren McCormack who moves to a small town where he tries to overturn a ban on rock music and dancing while struggling to fit in.
Tyler's song, Holding Out for a Hero, was one of many iconic songs from the cult classic film.
After recording the song for the movie soundtrack, she later featured it on her 1986 sixth studio album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire.
The actor previously starred in the 1984 musical movie, for which Tyler sang Holding Out for a Hero on the official motion picture soundtrack
He starred opposite Lori Singer in 1984 cult classic; pictured in Footloose portrait
In the end, Holding Out for a Hero became the music paired with the iconic tractor 'chicken race' scene where Bacon's character Ren has to jump from a moving vehicle into a ditch; pictured with Lori Singer in 1984 Footloose portrait
The song was produced by Jim Steinman, who co-wrote Holding Out for a Hero with Dean Pitchford specifically for the film.
When Tyler finished recording the song, she was invited to Paramount film studios to watch already-filmed scenes from Footloose to see where the track would fit best.
In the end, Holding Out for a Hero became the music paired with the iconic tractor 'chicken race' scene where Bacon's character Ren has to jump from a moving vehicle into a ditch.
The song has made appearances in commercials, film and television shows over the years.
For instance, Jennifer Saunders recorded a version of the song for Shrek 2.
Ella Mae Bowen also recorded a cover of the song for the 2011 Footloose remake.
In February 2022, the song also was played in Euphoria for the season two episode, The Theater and Its Double.
English (US) ·