September 25, 2024 | Sarah Ng

The Day Elvis Presley Died


The Loss Of A King

Elvis Presley was the beloved, yet troubled, "King of Rock And Roll"—and his unbelievably tragic end has become a major part of his complicated legacy.

Elvis-Msn

The Beginning Of The End

To understand Elvis's dark fate, we must first look at his devastating final years. Following his divorce from his wife Priscilla in 1973, his health began to deteriorate at a shocking pace—and those closest to him had to watch in horror as the king crumbled before their very eyes.

Elvis And Priscilla Presley after divorce hearingGeorge R. Fry, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Was In A Coma For Three Days

The end of 1973 was a doozy for Elvis. Not only did he overdose twice, but the first incident sent him into a very scary coma. For three days, he lay in his hotel suite, unresponsive. But when it came to his spiraling addictions, this was only scratching the surface.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in a black shirtWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

Hospitalized For Addiction

The very same year, Elvis wound up in the hospital due to his pethidine addiction. His primary doctor, George C Nichopoulos, later shared that the singer "felt that by getting drugs from a doctor, he wasn't the common everyday junkie getting something off the street".

Austin Butler as Elvis in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

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The Most Brutal Schedule Of His Life

As his body began protesting in earnest, Elvis continued to push through the most intensive tour schedule of his life. He had 168 concerts lined up for 1973. However, when 1974 rolled around, he didn't stop. Nope. He just signed up for round two.

Elvis Presley's fellow musicians began to eye him with a deepening sense of worry. 

Elvis Presley with his guitarWikimedia Commons, Picryl

His Fellow Musicians Saw Him At His Worst

Tony Brown, who played the keyboard, vividly remembered one concert at the University of Maryland: "He fell out of the limousine, to his knees. People jumped to help, and he pushed them away like, 'Don't help me.' He walked on stage and held onto the mic for the first 30 minutes like it was a post. Everybody's looking at each other like, 'Is the tour gonna happen'?"

But he wasn't the only one to witness this tragedy in real time.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

His Condition Was Heartbreaking

Elvis's guitarist John Wilkinson was so devastated by Presley's worsening condition, he began weeping: "He was all gut. He was slurring. ... It was obvious there was something terribly wrong with his body. It was so bad the words to the songs were barely intelligible. ... I remember crying. He could barely get through the introductions".

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

He Stopped Making Official Recordings

It wasn't long before Elvis's recording studio began to realize that their major star's enthusiasm for making music had dwindled. The next few years would see RCA trying in vain to coax Elvis into producing another album—and it was an utterly depressing endeavor.

Elvis Presley while recordingDon Cravens, Getty Images

The Music Began To Fade Out Of Him

In 1974, Elvis didn't make a single recording in the studio. Instead, RCA put out a concert record, which was recorded live. By 1976, they had grown so desperate, they even provided him with a mobile recording unit. 

Though he used this in the comfort of his Graceland home, it became shockingly clear that making music had become extremely difficult for him.

Elvis Presley's Graceland homeJan Kronsell, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Couldn't Remember They Lyrics

On stage, Elvis started to become unrecognizable. In 1977—his final year—he reached a horrifying low point. His once energetic and entertaining performances had devolved into verifiable train wrecks. He was barely getting through the songs and even had trouble remembering the lyrics. 

But this was much worse than just a bad string of shows—this was a deeply sad situation.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

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He Was A Completely Different Person

A journalist named Tony Scherman summed up Elvis's unraveling in a disturbing way: "Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Grossly overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts".

It wasn't long before Elvis's health prevented him from even making it to his shows. 

Elvis Presley in a white jacketTzali, Wikimedia Commons

He Began Missing Shows

Though Elvis miraculously made it to most of his shows, there were a handful that he missed. On one occasion, he just couldn't get out of bed, causing him to cancel his show in Baton Rouge—and a total of four rescheduled performances.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

He Withdrew Into Himself

Though fans began voicing their dissatisfaction and dismay over Elvis's poor performances, their complaints fell on deaf ears. The singer began withdrawing like never before, his life now confined to the four walls of his room and his books.

This all led to his very last concert on June 26, 1977.

Elvis Presley's music room in GracelandTerry Waggoner, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Almost Went On Another Tour

About a month and a half later, on August 16, Elvis was gearing up for yet another tour, and had plans to catch a plane to Portland, Maine—but tragically, he never made his flight.

Old port area of Portland MaineAlex Boykov, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Said One Last Goodnight

At around 4 am on that fateful day, Elvis had one last interaction with his daughter Lisa MarieAccording to her, he told her to "Go to bed," gave her a tender kiss goodnight, and then walked away. She later confessed, "That was the last time I saw him alive".

Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley & Elvis PresleyMagma Agency, Getty Images

His Fiancée Found His Body

That same afternoon, Elvis's 21-year-old fiancée Ginger Alden made an unbelievable discovery at the Graceland mansion. She found the singer's body in the bathroom. Alden later wrote a memoir and described the horror of that moment.

Ginger Alden earing a white dress with flowersAnwar Hussein, Getty Images

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He Was Unresponsive

Alden wrote, “His arms lay on the ground, close to his sides, palms facing upward. It was clear that, from the moment he landed on the floor, Elvis hadn't moved. I gently turned his face toward me. A hint of air expelled from his nose. The tip of his tongue was clenched between his teeth and his face was blotchy. I gently raised one eyelid. His eye was staring straight ahead and blood red".

Elvis Presley with his girlfriend Ginger AldenMichael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

She Didn't Know What Was Going On

Lisa Marie was only nine years old on that awful day—and though she knew "something was wrong," she didn't quite understand what was going on at first. After the discovery of Elvis's body, Graceland had suddenly become a place of utter chaos.

Lisa Marie Presley's faceDavid French, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Tragic End

Though Elvis was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital, the difficult truth was all too clear. At 3:30 pm, 42-year-old Elvis Presley was officially pronounced dead. However, in the wake of his passing, new dramas bubbled to the surface.

Baptist Memorial Hospital in MemphisNick8282, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The President Recognized His Importance

One thing was for sure: Fans still adored Elvis Presley. When he passed, even the president had something to say about it. Jimmy Carter released a statement about how the singer "permanently changed the face of American popular culture". And that wasn't all.

President Jimmy Carter wearing black jacketAnsel Adams, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

His Body Attracted Thousands

Thousands of people descended on Elvis's Graceland residence to pay their respects or perhaps catch a glimpse of him lying in his open casket. It seemed that, no matter what, everyone would want a piece of him.

Flower arrangement for funeralMogens Engelund, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

His Cousin Sold An Infamous Photo

Unfortunately, one of Elvis's cousins had dollar signs in the back of his mind. He had no problem sneaking a photo of Elvis's body and selling it for $18,000. This infamous photo would be plastered on the front of the National Enquirer. Unsurprisingly, that particular issue became a best-seller.

Daily newspaperPixel-Shot, Shutterstock

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His Fans Paid The Price

In a chilling twist, Elvis's funeral only led to more tragedy. During the ceremony, a rogue driver targeted a group of fans outside the Graceland gates, resulting in the loss of two women and severely injuring another.

Elvis Presley's mansionCybjorg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Lay Next To His Mother

The processional route leading to Elvis's final resting place in Forest Hill Cemetary was absolutely packed with fans—80,000 of them. Placed next to his beloved mother, the dirt piled upon his casket seemed to signal the end of the singer's storied life. 

But in many ways, closing the lid only opened a can of worms.

Cemetery in winterMichael Lazarev (Asmadeus), CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Waiting On The Autopsy

The very day Presley passed, an autopsy was performed. But the news that first reached the ears of the public may not have been entirely accurate. According to the Memphis medical examiner Jerry Francisco, Elvis had suffered a heart attack. He also insisted that substance use was not a factor. But was this actually true?

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

Some Suspected A Cover-Up

You see, Francisco had run his mouth before the autopsy was even over and before the toxicology results came through. Therefore, it's no wonder that some suspected that the explanation for Elvis's passing was a cover-up.

Austin Butler as Elvis Preslay in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

His Substance Use May Have Been A Factor

Speculation surrounding the actual cause of Elvis's demise has run rampant for decades. The singer's biographer, Peter Guralnick, posited that substances might have played a major role in the singer's passing. After all, 14 different substances had been found in Elvis's system. 

Writer Peter Guralnick wearing black t-shirtRebecca Sapp, Getty Images

His Doctor Enabled Him

It later came out that his main physician had been overprescribing his medication. In Elvis's final year, he had procured over 10,000 doses of prescriptions from George C Nichopoulos, who eventually had his license revoked.

However, there were many other factors to consider.

Dr. George C. Nichopoulos in uniformBettmann, Getty Images

He Had An Enlarged Heart

Pathologist Michael Baden has also weighed in on Elvis's demise, saying, "Elvis had an enlarged heart for a long time. That, together with his drug habit, caused his death. But he was difficult to diagnose; it was a judgment call".

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

He Shocked The Pathologists

Though the official cause of Elvis's demise was cardiac arrest, one of the pathologists who worked on his autopsy, E Eric Muirhead, was absolutely shocked by the insides of Elvis's body.

Elvis Presley wearing leather jacketMichael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

He Had A Variety Of Ailments

You see, Elvis's overall health had been shockingly bad. He suffered from constipation, diabetes, and glaucoma. Muirhead also observed that Elvis's long history of substance use had taken a mighty toll on his body. According to his hospital records, he'd had treatment for his addictions in the past.

Elvis Presley wearing white shirtRossano aka Bud Care, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Had A Megacolon

Other health problems Elvis encountered during his lifetime were hypertension, as well as something called a megacolon—and upon his passing, the contents of his bowel were truly alarming.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

He Had A Massive Stool

You see, Elvis had an unfortunate diet that included lot of high-fat foods, and this eventually led to his issues with chronic constipation. His autopsy showed that his bowel contained a compacted stool—one that had been languishing inside him for four months.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

The Consequences Of Constipation

According to one 2018 PBS report, Elvis may have been "straining very hard to have a bowel movement—a maneuver that put a great amount of pressure on his heart and aorta".

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

The Conspiracy Theories Live On

On top of all the conversations revolving around the cause of Elvis's demise, some have even argued that the rock star didn't meet his end in 1977. Some allege that he faked his death so that he could lead the rest of his life in peace. 

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in ElvisWarner Bros., Elvis (2022)

Never Forgotten

These believers argue that there was actually a wax dummy in the place of his body, and that his death certificate had some glaring errors. But perhaps these avid fans just wish Elvis was still around. 

To this day, people still travel to Graceland on the anniversary of his passing.

Visitors waiting to enter the Graceland mansion of Elvis PresleyAFP Contributor, Getty Images


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