Her performances exhibited a kindhearted mood and sincerity, and her voice was noted for its clarity.

[1][2][3] At age 18, Valentina Tolkunova entered Moscow State Art and Cultural University.

In 1973, she began a busy collaboration with the Moscow Philharmonic Concert Association (Moskonzert), and in 1989 she founded and became the director of her own theatre.

She also won many awards in Soviet republics and was a 23-time winner of the "Song of the Year" competition on television.

[4][5] On 16 February 2010, Tolkunova became ill during a concert in Mogilev, Belarus, and went to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with brain tumor before being transferred to the Botkin Clinic in Moscow.