In 1989, American singer Tina Turner released a cover version of "The Best" for her seventh studio album, Foreign Affair.

[16] Released as the lead single from Foreign Affair on 21 August 1989, the song was an international success, becoming a top-five hit in numerous countries.

This became so commonplace that the bracketed word 'Simply' was included in the titles for releases of some subsequent versions, and in the track listing for some Tina Turner compilation albums.

][22] Such is the enduring popularity of the song as the rugby league anthem that it was featured again in the 2020 promotional campaign of NRL, more than 30 years after its release.

[30] Chris Eubank, a British former two-weight world champion boxer, regularly walked out to the song for his match entrances.

Bill Coleman from Billboard described the song as an "easy-paced pop offering which finds Turner's voice taking front and center stage.

[33] Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that the singer's "dramatic range is fully utilised on this impressive and polished production (courtesy Dan Hartman and Turner).

In 1992, Turner recorded "(Simply) The Best", a duet version of the song with Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes, to promote that year's New South Wales Rugby League season in Australia.

The single subsequently appeared on a limited edition bonus disc as part of the Australian release of her compilation album Simply the Best (1991).