What’s Age Got to Do with It (Thanks Tina Turner)

It’s time to take a stand.

In 1984, Tina Turner celebrated one of the biggest comebacks in music history. She hit the stage at 44 with her “Private Dancer” tour, and she didn’t just come back — she soared. She became the queen of rock — as a grandmother.

Forty-four doesn’t sound that old to me anymore, but in those days, rock n’ roll was a young person’s sport. Tina retired at 70 after her “Tina!” 50th Anniversary Tour in 2009. She was still dancing in those heels. (I once tried dancing in Tina-styled high-heeled boots, and I lasted five minutes.)

Nowadays, seeing older rock stars isn’t remarkable. Cher is performing at 77, Dolly Parton at 78, Mick Jaggar at 80, and Paul McCartney at 81. Touring is hard work, yet no one is calling for older artists to retire.

Yet this year, ageism is running rampant like a bad troll that’s been seething underground and is now coming out for a feedfest. Just as Hilary Clinton brought out the misogynists, President Biden’s campaign has unleashed the ageists. At least with Clinton, you couldn’t publicly say, “She’s not capable — she’s a woman” — even as a disgusting array of misogynist comments spewed across social media. President Obama brought out the racists, although most commentators would have been rebuked if they had announced…