The price of fame? Mortality risk among famous singers

Summary

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPICPrevious studies have found that famous musicians tend to have a higher mortality risk than the general population, which might be a hint that fame is a risk factor for early mortality. However, alternative explanations remain plausible, as occupational stressors and mental health vulnerabilities likely also play a role.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDSBy comparing famous and less famous singers with similar backgrounds, this study suggests that fame itself may contribute to increased mortality risk, beyond the risks associated with being a professional musician.HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE OR POLICYThe findings show that, when put to a stringent test, being famous goes along with an increased mortality risk. This highlights the need for targeted health interventions for individuals in the public spotlight and might stimulate future research exploring the causal mechanisms underlying the observed mortality.IntroductionBeing famous seems to be a relevant factor contributing to disparities in mortality. Several studies indicate that famous musicians face a higher mortality risk when they are compared with demographically matched individuals from the general population.1–3 Specifically, North American and European famous musicians exhibit a mortality risk two to three times higher compared with the general population within 2 to 25 years after achieving fame,1 and the suicide rate among famous musicians is reported to be two to seven times higher than the national average in the USA.3Beyond the personal risks faced by musicians, the issue carries even broader societal implications as famous musicians are influential figures who often serve as role models, particularly affecting young people who may respond with imitation, idealisation and identification.4 5 For example, studies indicate that reports of suicides by famous individuals are associated with an increase in suicides in the general population due to imitation effects.6 7...