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· 24 Dec 2021

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How did billie holiday die

Billie Holiday, the renowned jazz singer and guitarist who found acclaim while spending much of her life in and out of prison due to drug charges, died tragically in 1959 at the age of 44. But just how did Billie Holiday die? According to new reports, the legendary musician was actually beaten to death by police officers working on behalf of her abusive husband and manager, Louis McKay, as she attempted to fight off his assault in her New York City apartment.

Who was billie holiday ?
Her name was Eleanora Fagan, but everyone knew her as Billie Holiday. Her talents on the piano and vocals earned her a reputation as one of jazz’s greatest artists. In April 1959, she was arrested in her home by narcotics agents and charged with possession of heroin—an offense that earned her a two-year prison sentence. A few days after she pleaded guilty to charges of possession, she suffered a heart attack in Manhattan Supreme Court and died soon after.
She was 44 years old. While officials said it was natural causes that killed Billie Holiday, controversy arose when an autopsy revealed what could have been contributing factors to her death.

The cause of her death
The exact cause of death for Billie Holiday is unknown, but researchers believe that it may have been due to a cardiac arrest. Although she died at just 44 years old, there is some speculation that her addiction to drugs led to her heart disease and ultimately caused her death.

She also suffered from tuberculosis and other ailments during her lifetime; additionally, many who knew her said that she worked herself to death as a means of coping with all of life’s stresses. It seems certain that Holiday did not live an easy life; however, we will never know what role drugs or other factors played in her early demise. . Most researchers agree that while drug abuse contributed, it was not necessarily what directly killed Billie Holiday. Instead, they seem to think it was simply bad luck mixed with her hard-living lifestyle.

How she died
According to a coroner’s report, Billie Holiday died of cirrhosis of the liver on July 17, 1959, at her home in New York City. She was 44 years old. Her death was discovered by her dentist. When he came to visit he found no one home and saw that there were lights on in all of the rooms. He let himself into her house and then found her slumped over on her bed with an empty vodka bottle lying next to her.

It is believed that she had fallen asleep while drinking. Her corneas have been donated for transplant purposes.
It’s hard to believe that jazz singer Billie Holiday died almost 60 years ago, in 1959. A pioneer of her time, her distinct musical style and poignant lyrics have influenced modern artists for decades. Her most well-known hits include I Cover The Waterfront and Strange Fruit. She has also been lauded for Lady Sings The Blues, a film about her life, starring Diana Ross in 1972.