Fame reduces a celebrity's life expectancy by nearly five years, study says

Life in the spotlight may mean parties, glamour and paparazzi, but it could also lead to a shorter life, a study has found.

Researchers found that fame could shorten singers’ life expectancy by around 4.6 years, with solo artists appearing to carry a higher risk of early death, compared with those performing in a band.

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, examined data on 648 singers; half of those examined were deemed as famous, while the other half had not achieved stardom.

Academics matched a famous singer to a less famous singer based on certain characteristics, which included gender, nationality, ethnicity and their genre of music, as well as whether the singer was in a band or performed as a solo artist.

The study found that famous singers lived to an average age of 75 while less famous singers lived to 79.

They also found that famous singers had a 33% higher mortality risk compared to those considered less famous.

“The result offers new evidence linking fame with higher mortality risk,” said the report’s authors.

“The increased mortality risk associated with fame is comparable to other well-known health risks, such as occasional smoking.

“Given that these conditions are widely recognised as serious health threats requiring preventive measures, the similar impact of fame on mortality suggests that being famous is an important factor influencing longevity and underscores the need for targeted interventions to mitigate its detrimental effects on longevity.”

The study suggests that an increased risk emerges “specifically after achieving fame.”

Those behind the study say this “highlights fame as a potential temporal turning point for health risks, including mortality”.

The research team also point out that solo artists appeared to carry a higher risk of early death, when compared to singers in a band.

“Possible explanations for this include increased individual exposure to the public with the accompanying higher emotional strain,” they said.

“Being in a band may offer emotional and practical support, while solo artists may face more isolation and stress.”