Inside the Singer’s Final Days

In the 55 years since her death, there has not been another voice like Janis Joplin‘s.

The future rock icon was born on Jan. 19, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, and two decades later, she moved to San Francisco in 1963, where she focused on her musical ambitions and became involved with drugs. After briefly returning home to get sober, Joplin went back to California and joined the band Big Brother & The Holding Company in 1966, according to PBS.

The following year, the group had its breakout performance with Joplin as the lead singer at the Monterey International Pop Festival. She eventually parted ways with Big Brother & The Holding Company in 1968, and she soared to stardom with her powerful music and bold fashion.

In 1969, Joplin performed at Woodstock, alongside other notable artists, including Joan Baez, The Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Who. Shortly after, she released her debut solo album, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, which peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 100.

Sadly, by the next fall, the singer was found dead in her hotel room at age 27. She had been in the middle of recording her sophomore album when her body was discovered in a hotel room, The New York Times reported.

Here’s everything to know about Janis Joplin’s death, including the legacy she left behind.

How did Janis Joplin die?

Joplin died of an accidental heroin overdose, per The New York Times.

The singer had had a long history with drugs and alcohol. One day after her death, Los Angeles County Coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi spoke at a news conference and revealed that drugs and drug paraphernalia had been found in the singer’s hotel room.

He stated that white powder was discovered in a trash can, and there was also a hypodermic needle on the premises. In addition, the coroner mentioned that Joplin’s liver showed the effects of her alcohol consumption. He ruled out homicide and suicide.

When did Janis Joplin die?

Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970.

Where did Janis Joplin die?

Joplin died in room 105 at the Landmark Motor Hotel — later known as the Highland Gardens Hotel, per the Los Angeles Times — in Hollywood, Calif. According to PBS, she was found by her road manager, John Cooke.

She was discovered after she failed to show for a scheduled recording session at Sunset Studios. That day, Joplin was supposed to record vocals for the song “Buried Alive in the Blues.”

The track was later released posthumously as an instrumental on her second and final solo album, Pearl.

How old was Janis Joplin when she died?

Joplin was 27 when she died.

Another rock legend, Jimi Hendrix, died a few weeks before Joplin, on Sept. 18, 1970, also at age 27. The two singers were part of Woodstock’s 1969 lineup.

How did the public react to Janis Joplin’s death?

The news of Joplin’s death was met with sadness and disbelief, especially since she was one of the biggest rock stars at the time. It made headlines across the country, including in Texas, where her family was devastated.

“I had an incredible amount of grief over Janis’s death,” Joplin’s younger sister, Laura, told The New York Times in 2010.

Over two decades after Joplin’s passing, Laura opened up about her childhood and relationship with the vocalist in her 1992 book Love, Janis, which contained letters the singer had sent home.

“Janis was one of the few women who led her own band and was the energy on stage,” Laura wrote, per PBS. “She was someone who led things because she was the dominant woman, she’s out there.”

Joplin’s younger sibling also shared her thoughts on the circumstances surrounding her sudden death.

“Janis’s early death makes people think she was unhappy,” she penned. “While I think Janis did have some unhappiness in her, she was basically a very happy person who was ecstatic with her success.”

Afterward, Joplin’s estate was left in the hands of Laura and their brother Michael.

What legacy did Janis Joplin leave?

Joplin is regarded as one of the defining singers of her generation.

Joplin’s only No. 1 hit, “Me and Bobby McGee,” was released in 1971, the year after her death.

Other notable posthumous achievements include an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. She was honored with a commemorative U.S. Postal Service stamp in 2014.

A Joplin biopic starring Shailene Woodley has long been in the works, and in Dec. 2024, she gave an update on the project while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“I’m really excited,” the actress said. “We’ve been working on it for seven years now, and it’s just — she’s such a groovy chick, man. She really brought the light to this planet in a really singular way.”