Trivia

Despite many problems throughout her career, Piaf eventually became the most highly paid star in the world.

Was romantically involved with boxer Marcel Cerdan when he died tragically in a plane crash between Paris and Casablanca (1949).

Is portrayed by Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose (2007), a biopic about her life.

Had a child named Marcelle who died at the age of two, in 1935, from meningitis.

After living with her maternal grandmother for a short time, she was raised by her paternal grandmother, who ran a brothel in Normandy.

Her only child, a daughter Marcelle Dupont, died in 1935 from a meningitis aged 2.

She actually died at Plascassier, Grasse parish, in the department of Alpes-Maritimes and not Paris, but her death wasn't made public until the body was returned to her birth city.

She was very good friends with Marlene Dietrich, who was the maid of honor at her wedding to Jacques Pills.

Her stage name, 'piaf', is a slang word for 'small bird', which fitted her physical appearance.

Her father Louis-Alphonse Gassion was an acrobat, her mother Annetta Giovanna Maillard was a street singer.

Among her most popular songs are "Mon légionnaire" (1936), "La vie en rose" (1945), "Hymne à l'amour" (1949), "Sous le ciel de Paris" (1954), "Milord" (1959) and, the probably best known, "Non, je ne regrette rien" (1960).

The theme of the celebrity's tragic life and death is recalled in the song "Cage the Songbird". A song written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and Davey Johnstone and performed by Elton John, first appearing on the album Blue Moves in 1976. It tells the fictional story of torch singer Edith Piaf's last hours before a tragic suicide. "Cage the Songbird," is particularly noteworthy as it recalls the life of Edith Piaf in much the same way that "Candle in the Wind" had immortalized Marilyn Monroe.

Her song "La vie en rose" was voted a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998.

Her grave is situated in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France.

She is mentioned in the song "Lady Nina" by rock band Marillion.

Helped to launch many careers including that of Yves Montand, Eddie Constantine and her husband Théo Sarapo.

Her mother was half Italian by her father and half Kabyle (Algerian) on her mother's side.

On 12 June 2012, Piaf and jazz trumpeter Miles Davis were pictured on separate commemorative postage stamps in a joint issue by the USA and France. The nondenominated 'forever' USA stamps had an initial issue price of 45¢; each; the French stamps had denominations of 0,60 EUR (Davis) and 0,89 EUR (Piaf).

Was believed by many to be a collaborator during the Nazi occupation of Paris (1940-1944).

In 1947, she wrote the lyrics to the song "Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ?" (music by Henri Betti) in memory of his love story with Yves Montand.