St. Louis CITY SC, the fourth-year Major League Soccer team, has unveiled a unique “Tina Turner Kit,” a first-of-its-kind collaboration with sporting giant adidas that pays tribute to the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee — and to the city that helped shape her. The club’s tribute marks adidas’ first‑ever kit collab with a female music artist in global sport, according to the announcement.
Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tenn., Turner arrived in St. Louis at 16, settling in The Ville neighborhood and graduating from Sumner High before diving into the city’s vibrant R&B scene. It was in local clubs like Club Manhattan where she first met Ike Turner and, in a pivotal 1957 moment, grabbed a microphone during an intermission — a choice that ultimately led to the Ike & Tina Turner Revue and her rise to stardom. Though her early career was marked by personal hardship, St. Louis remained the birthplace of her artistic identity.
The team said on Tuesday that the new kit was designed to capture the energy of Turner’s iconic stage presence. The gold jersey echoes the shimmer of her signature fringed minidresses, with her silhouette stamped in metallic gold on the tag and her signature in “CITY Red” as a nod to her distinctive lipstick and nails.
The kit, created with adidas, Turner’s estate, BMG and Warner Music Group, will serve as CITY’s secondary jersey for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
“St. Louis is a homecoming for Tina,” said Erwin Bach, Turner’s husband. “It’s where she first felt the thrill of the stage and the joy of performing.”
The Tina Turner Kit
St. Louis CITY SC
“Not only did Tina Turner change music, she impacted culture over decades and continues to permeate it today,” added Carolyn Kindle, the team’s CEO. “It is a profound honor to celebrate her influence and legacy. St. Louis has long been home to artists who shaped music history, and Tina stands at the top of that list.”
To further honor Turner, who died in 2023 at age 83, the club has organized a slate of cultural events, headlined by Eternal: A Tribute to Tina Turner — a one‑night‑only concert on Feb. 15 featuring Grammy winner Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes performing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at the newly renovated Powell Hall.
“Tina Turner has inspired me since I was a child. Her spirit and her strength are reflected in her songs, which have shaped my own sound and my journey as an artist,” said Howard. “Joining St. Louis CITY SC and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in honoring her is personal for me. I am thrilled to celebrate Tina and her lasting legacy that continues resound today.”
Joining the tribute is STL native and The Voice finalist Kennedy Holmes, along with a lineup of acclaimed vocalists, including Tamika Lawrence and Shaleah Adkisson, performing orchestral arrangements of Turner’s greatest hits under the direction of Stéphane Denève and guest conductor Anthony Parnther.
Homegrown player Mykhi Joyner of St. Louis CITY SC, in a Tina Turner Kit
St. Louis CITY SC
“It is such an honor to join Brittany in paying tribute to one of the most iconic female musicians of all time and a woman who I deeply admire,” said Holmes. “As a young artist who is also from St. Louis, I am in awe of Tina’s extraordinary career and her rise to becoming one of the most celebrated artists in the world.”
Added Erwin Bach: “I’m especially excited for the orchestral interpretation of ‘Proud Mary’ and the initiatives around town. Local kids will discover the power of music and how performance makes it even more meaningful. Special thanks are also extended to the Taylor family for their enthusiasm and continued support of music and sport in the St. Louis community.”
The celebration extends beyond the pitch with a Tina Turner Pop‑up Shop at City Foundry, where fans can buy the new jersey and view items from Turner’s personal collection — including wardrobe pieces and Grammy Awards (she won eight of them). Running Feb. 11–20, the pop‑up is part of a broader tribute that also includes a new Tina‑focused music education program created with COCA, a local arts organization, that will introduce kids and young adults to her repertoire through music instruction and choreography inspired by her performances, funded in part by proceeds from Tina Turner Kit sales.
Festivities culminate on Tina Turner Night at CITY SC’s home match on Aug. 22.
CITY has made music a core part of its identity since its inaugural season in 2023, partnering with hometown rapper Smino on the Homegrown initiative to elevate local artists through mentorship and match‑day performances. The club has hosted major acts at its block parties, collaborated with Smino on a tornado‑relief streetwear collection, and featured the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for special game‑day moments.
