There have been death reports that falsely reported musicians' deaths before their actual passing; some also published obituaries even when the artists were still alive as of press time.
The music industry has been losing its veteran musicians in the past years, seeing the deaths of Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Prince, Aaliyah, and more. While fans mourned their passing, they were also left shocked after several falsely reported deaths surfaced in the past decades.
Whitney Houston
On Feb. 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found unconscious while submerged in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton's Suite 434. EMTs were called to the scene and tried to revive her through CPR. However, she was proclaimed dead minutes later.
Before her actual tragic death, EW revealed that there were "confirmed" reports that Houston died a day after the 9/11 bombing in 2001. Even ABC News anchor Peter Jennings reportedly mentioned it.
Arista Records' head of publicity Laura Swanson immediately dismissed the claims and told the news outlet that Houston was still alive. The singer also called her as she expressed how upset she felt about the rumor.
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell is very much alive and healthy despite being 79 now. Although her age is old, her body is still young enough for her to confirm her performance in a weekend event at Washington State's Gorge Amphitheater on June 10.
It will serve as her first headline show in over a decade since her 2000 Both Sides Now Tour.
Although Mitchell is still around, her "death" was also reported previously. Variety received a statement from the singer's representative after People published an erroneous report about her passing. Per the publication, the article with the headline "Joni Mitchell Dies at TK AGE," was "accidentally published."
In journalism, "TK" means to come. The same article included editorial notes sharing what details should be included if it needs to publish the article one day.
Kurt Cobain
In March 1994, Kurt Cobain suffered an overdose in Rome - a month before he truly died. CNN, however, reported his passing prematurely, according to Far Out Magazine. At that time, Cobain was only in a coma after consuming 50 doses of Rohypnol.
He underwent intervention and a detox program after the incident. But a month later, he was found dead in his Seattle home from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head.
Bob Dylan
Dylan recently gifted his fans with "The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)." The 5-CD version was released on Jan. 27.
While he remains alive and healthy, BBC Radio 1's Neale James said in an episode in the 1990s: "on this day in 1941, Bob Dylan was born, and what a shame he's not around to celebrate his birthday."
Aside from that incident, a presenter of the "Today" show in Australia also referred to him as "the late singer."
Paul McCartney
McCartney's false death report surfaced in 1969 after a caller told Russ Gibb's show on Detroit radio station WKNR-FM that The Beatles member had already passed.
A New York DJ spread the false rumor even more when he discussed it on a late-night talk show. He alleged that McCartney died in a car crash in 1966 and was only replaced by a look-alike.
The "Hey Jude" singer eventually issued a statement to dismiss the claims, saying, "I am alive and well and concerned about the rumors of my death. But if I were dead, I would be the last to know."
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