What did billie holiday die of?

The official coroner's report, which all are citing here straight from Wikipedia, is cirrhosis of the liver. But she also had chronic heart disease and if you know anything about her life, you'll know that she died from a heart that had been broken, mended and broken again many times over.

In short, like Charlie Parker and others, she lived the jazz life. Lady Day packed more life into her 44 years than most people do in twice as many years.

Lady Holiday died from complications of many years of drug and alcohol abuse at a mental institution. Not the way one of the most prolific jazz singers of our time should have been treated, but stuff happens.

Cirrhosis of the liver, on July 17, 1959, at age 44.

i thought it was the effects of smack addiction

Health problems relating to her heroin addiction

Heart failure/Cirrhosis of the liver

On May 31, 1959,Billy Holliday was taken to Metropolitan Hospital in New York suffering from liver and heart disease. On July 12, she was placed under house arrest at the hospital for possession, despite evidence suggesting the drugs may have been planted on her. Holiday remained under police guard at the hospital until she died from cirrhosis of the liver on July 17 1959 at the age of 44. In the final years of her life, she had been progressively swindled out of her earnings, and she died with only $0.70 in the bank and $750 (a tabloid fee) on her person.

The First Lady of Jazz died from complications related to drug & alcohol abuse.
Long may her music continue to inspire the true jazz lovers.
B.