I remember my mom dressed like Janis Joplin.
To her audience Janis Joplin has remained a symbol artifact and reminder of late Sixties youth culture. Her popularity never derived from her musical ability but from her capacity to link her fantasies of freedom and immortality with ours.
I think anybody who has had a long relationship and has had a really hard time letting go wants to feel like it's not all for naught and it's meaningful because it makes you who you are.