Author: Zackary Okun Dunivin, Postdoctoral Fellow in Communication, University of California, Davis

There’s a certain allure to the notion that some of the world’s brightest stars burn out at the age of 27. The so-called 27 Club has captivated the public imagination for half a century. Its members include legendary musicians Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse. The idea is as seductive as it is tragic: a convergence of talent, fame and untimely death at a singular age. But is there any truth to this phenomenon, or is it merely a story we tell ourselves and each other about fame and youth? In our newly published research,…