Dying for fame: Singers die 4 YEARS earlier than non-famous people on average - and their celebrity status is to blame, scientists say

2 weeks ago 10

Celebrities are known for living life in the fast lane – but being famous really can prove deadly, according to a new study.

Researchers have discovered that being in the limelight comes with a higher mortality risk compared to those who never quite 'make it'.

It could explain why some singers such as Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston and Jimi Hendrix died so young.

And it suggests that fame comes with 'unique psychosocial stress' that leads to 'harmful coping behaviours' like substance abuse, they said.

The researchers, from University Witten Herdecke in Germany, compared the risk of death in 648 singers – half of whom had achieved celebrity status and half of whom hadn't.

Each star was matched for birth year, gender, nationality, ethnicity, music genre and band status with a lesser-known peer.

Analysis showed the more 'famous' singer died, on average, four years earlier than their non-famous equivalent.

And the perils that come with fame are so pronounced, it's on par with the health risks of being a smoker, they said.

Researchers have discovered that being in the limelight comes with a higher mortality risk compared to those who never quite 'make it'. Pictured: Amy Winehouse (left) and Kurt Cobain (right) who both died age 27

The perils that come with fame are so pronounced, it's on par with the health risks of being a smoker, the researcher said. Janis Joplin (pictured), died from a heroin overdose at a young age

Previous research has already found that famous singers tend to die earlier than the general public.

Some of the most well-known examples include Amy Winehouse, who died at the age of 27, and One Direction's Liam Payne, who passed away last year aged 31.

Others that died young include Ian Curtis, frontman for post-punk band Joy Division, and Prince, who was 57 when he died of an accidental overdose.

Until now it's been unclear whether it's the fame itself, the demands of the music industry or the lifestyle associated with being a musician that contribute to this heightened risk.

For the study, the researchers included artists who were 'active' between 1950 and 1990 in order to gather sufficient tracking data on the risk of death by the end of December 2023.

They discovered that, on average, famous singers survived until they were 75 while less famous equivalents survived until they were 79.

'Several mechanisms are possible,' author Johanna Hepp told the Daily Mail.

'Fame may directly increase mortality risk through chronic public scrutiny, performance pressure, loss of privacy, and the normalization of unhealthy coping behaviours such as substance use.

The authors discovered that, on average, famous singers survived until they were 75 while less famous equivalents survived until they were 79. Pictured: Whitney Houston, who died from accidental drowning age 48

One Direction's Liam Payne passed away last year aged 31. The researchers said fame comes with 'unique psychosocial stress'

Famous singers included in the study

Buddy Holly - died in a plane crash age 22

Ian Curtis (Joy Division) – died by suicide age 23

Janis Joplin – died from heroin overdose age 27

Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters) – died from heart failure linked to anorexia age 32

Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) – died from sepsis age 36

George Michael – died of heart and liver disease age 53

Prince – died of accidental overdose age 57

Whitney Houston – died from accidental drowning age 48

Jim Morrison – died of heart failure age 27

Tina Turner – died of natural causes age 83

'It is also possible that underlying factors, such as temperament or adverse childhood experiences, contribute both to a higher likelihood of becoming famous and to a higher risk of early mortality, meaning the association may not be purely causal.

'A third possibility is that these early-life vulnerabilities increase the likelihood of achieving fame, and fame then further amplifies these risks.'

The findings could go some way to explaining why so many singers die from alcohol or drug use or issues linked to stress including heart failure.

In fact, being famous is 'so detrimental' that it overrides any health benefits that are usually linked to wealth.

The research also revealed that solo artists have a higher mortality risk than those in a band – which could be because they face more isolation and stress, the team said.

They argued their research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, highlights the need for targeted health interventions for individuals in the public spotlight.

'A good measure against these aversive factors could be to take a step back regularly, enter a familiar social circle with strong intimate relationships - such as by meeting one's family or old friends - and critically evaluating one's life style,' Dr Hepp added.

Some famous singers who have bucked the 'early death' trend include Louis Armstrong, who was 69 when he died, Tina Turner, who lived to 83, and Franki Valli who is in his 90s and still alive.

Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott died from sepsis at the age of 36. Pictured: Performing in Chicago in August 1979

Jimi Hendrix (pictured) died from barbiturate-related asphyxia in September 1970 at the age of 27

A separate study, published last year, debunked the '27 Club' phenomenon that suggests musicians, actors and artists are more likely to die at this age.

A team from Indiana University analysed data on 344,000 notable people who had Wikipedia pages devoted to them.

They found that although pop musicians tend to die younger than other famous people, there is no evidence supporting the theory that the age of 27 carries an increased risk of death.

However, they found that the legacies of famous people who died at this age tend to garner more attention compared to those who passed away at other ages.