His excuse for throwing all these high-octane drugs around? His hip-swinging antics might seem tame to today's audiences, but when he first emerged as a pop star, Elvis introduced millions to rock's inherent sexuality. Elvis just fainted.' "We see that when he tours, he takes more medication than when hes not touring. Elvis Presley's Health and Legacy. ", What The Final 12 Months Of Elvis' Life Were Like, a 2019 interview with Elvis' Australian fan club. By the time hes touring again in the 70s, he was providing for more than 100 people. And there's your clue "swollen" Elvis was retaining water big time at the time of his death. "I think that younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that an older generation just didnt. Elvis Presley performs during his second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956. According to Kirk, Presley was impressed by the nurse and her country ways. In 1972, he hired her as his nurse, as well as her husband for security. At his last concert, which took place in Indiana, Presley was quoted as saying, "My body really hurts, but no matter what Im going out there tonight and giving everything I have no matter what." Therefore, you should be happy. Numerous documentaries have exposed. The singers incredibly unhealthy diet consisting mostly of cheeseburgers and chronic constipation inevitably contributed to these problems. Some expertsagreeElvis may have been performing at a feverish pace to meet fans' demands at the expense of his well-being. More info. Elvis approved of the idea, and the label sent a studio truck to his home. Elvis' last live gig was on June 26, 1977, at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis to a crowd of 18,000 fans, according to LiveAbout. Elvis was know to be a prodigious eater. As he had in recent gigs, Elvis appeared overweight and at times winded but was reported to have given a solid performance overall. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Tennant reviewed the autopsy report, medical records and a confidential 161-page private investigation, and testified as a defense witness for Nichopoulos, who would be acquitted of charges of overprescribing drugs. Elvis Presley died in 1977 aged just 42 and it's long been believed that an unhealthy lifestyle and drug abuse were key factors, but a new book instead points the finger at genetics. With Elvis' extraordinary pain and the fact that the pain was inside the eyeball, where the nerve fibers and blood vessels are located, the problem was extremely dangerous and could even threaten his eyesight. The book alleges that during the second show of that fourth tour, Presley, who was semiconscious, had his head dunked in a bucket of ice water. His doctor tried at one point to see if he could sleep without anything. But when one looks at the last 12 months of Elvis' life, it becomes clear that the truth behind the King Of Rock And Roll's death might have been even stranger than the rumors people spread about him. In the end, he died a lonely man whose ornate home became the embodiment of Heartbreak Hotel., Left: "Anytime someone mentions my name and Elvis' name in the same sentence, that's great," he told Rolling Stone. Elvis Presley performs in concert during his 'Aloha From Hawaii' 1972 television special. Treatments for these conditions put Elvis in the hospital several times between 1973 and his death four years later. He was very family-oriented, Kirk explained. Austin Butler chats with USA TODAY's Marco Della Cava about starring in Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" as the title character alongside Tom Hanks. He was depressed about aging and not having a woman he loved. Elvis shifted our universe culturally like no one has before and he deserves to be treated like an historical figure, like Henry Ford or Thomas Edison, but instead he gets weighed down by sensationalism, and that keep us from the truth, she says. While he was also taking many dangerous pharmaceuticals throughout his life, it was the heart disease caused by his bad diet that ultimately killed him. But now, "Elvis" (in theaters) strives to humanize the legendary singer beyond his musical abilities. I knew he was dead.". In 1981, Tennant was hired by an attorney for Dr. George Nichopoulos (Dr. Nick), who faced criminal charges in Presleys death. According to LiveAbout.com, Elvis became dependent on several different types of prescription drugs, specifically amphetamines to keep him awake and barbiturates to help him sleep or relax. He was terribly ill, and he died accidentally in some ways with a dentist giving him codeine for his bad tooth, and his bad teeth were also part of the same disease that gave him a bad colon and a bad eye and a bad liver. He once told me, You never hear Superman asking for help.", "The touring is difficult," Hoedel explained. You'd have been out of there faster than a scratched cat. Elvis. People there in the inner group did but you did not tell Elvis what to do. Legal Statement. These interviews provided us with an extraordinary opportunity to learn about Elvis' health, personal life and legacy. The grave of singer Elvis Presley in Graceland. "And he wasnt honest with everyone about that he was also surrounded with a lot of yes people. Kirk was working at her clinic when she received word that Presley had died. That same year, Presley became involved with 1972s Miss Tennessee Linda Thompson. Dr. Nick testified he gave into all of Elviss prescription requests because he wanted to keep Presley from seeking out these drugs on the street.. We just see whatever we want," Manly says. Among Presleys ailments attributed to his genes were alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which can attack the lungs and liver; colon issues; an immune deficiency and lifelong insomnia. When the toxicology report came back several weeks later, however, Elvis blood was found to contain very high levels of the opiates Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol, and codeine as well as Quaaludes. It seems like his mother was extremely codependent on him, which more than likely had something to do with losing her other son. I think he was awake for three days. Nothing happened to Elvis Presley that we don't have a good logical, scientific explanation for now. Conditions such as post-concussion syndrome can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and difficulty concentrating. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. But he still sang like The King.. And despite having never smoked, he also suffered from emphysema. He would have pulled up his pajama bottoms and crawled to the door to seek help. One of the first responders who arrived at Graceland after the emergency call on the day Elvis died and helped carry him . But even more shocking and strange might be the sheer amount of activity undertaken by the King in the hours before he passed away. Elvis Presley is seen performing on June 20, 1977. Put simply, the strain of attempting to defecate compressed the singer's abdominal aorta, shutting down his heart.". He was not prejudice at all. At only 42 years of age, initially the cause of his death was reported as a heart attack. He just took more medication to keep going. "When Elvis wasdoing well, people were projecting onto him the rock star,sexual image …then as he began to get older and he lost the luster, people were no longer seeing him as a sex symbol, as the man of America, but they saw him as adeteriorating rock star. EDS is a genetic connective tissue collagen disorder, and what that means is that you are genetically predetermined to have your collagen in certain tissues either disappear or deteriorate or become defective, and to put it bluntly, you can have a rectal problem and an eye problem at the same time due to the same cause because your collagen is deteriorating in these tissues, Tennant told my colleague Donna Gregory Burch in a 2021 interview. (Reuters), '70S ROCK PIONEER SUZI QUATRO SAYS SHE WAS NEVER TEMPTED BY FAME: 'YOU EITHER GO MAD OR WIND UP DEAD', Kirk said she kept her stories about Presley private for 38 years before she decided to revisit them in her 2015 self-published memoir Taking Care of Elvis.. As detailed in the documentary Elvis Presley: The Last 24 Hours, Elvis' final day on earth included a nighttime trip to the dentist in search of prescription drugs, a 4 a.m. game of racquetball with his cousin Billy Smith, and an impromptu piano performance of classics including "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." Throw in the obesity Elvis suffered from near the end of his life, what appears to be type II diabetes, an enlarged heart, and a steady diet of unhealthy, fatty and fried foods, along with his notorious prescription pill consumption, and you have the perfect prescription for disaster. Elvisembodied modern American youth and rock 'n'roll, changingthe course of popular music with his songs, dance moves, charisma and wardrobe. Market data provided by Factset. Now The King's cousin has shared specific . However, though Dr. Nick was charged with 11 felony accounts of overprescribing drugs, he was acquitted the medical examiner claimed that Elvis had died of heart disease, adding, "Had these drugs not been there, he still would've died.". Savannah Guthrie left the "Today" show during Tuesday's live broadcast amid Hoda Kotb's absence from the NBC morning show. Elvis Presley suffered eye disease glaucoma and was almost blind when he died, according to the late King of Rock's personal physician. ", Additionally, a report from the tabloid The Sun shows that Priscilla considered depictions of Elvis as a bystander in his own life to be inaccurate, only that he was dismissive of attempts to help him get treatment. Title track "Moody Blue" became Elvis' final Number One single; the song is in keeping with the pop music of the time, tinged with disco and exotica, but still showcases the warbling, lonely figure that the singer had become. He gave his rings to his fans during concerts. Evidence from the official autopsy, medical professionals and Sallys book all point to the same thing, that Elvis had serious health issues long before his death in 1977. Kirk first met Presley in 1968 when she treated him at a Memphis medical clinic for saddle sores, Closer Weekly reported. It was clear that, from the moment he landed on the floor, Elvis hadnt moved.. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker allegedly shouted, "The only thing thats important is that hes on that stage tonight! Once there, doctors struggled to revive him without success and Presley was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm. The book, according to an excerpt in Salon, said it later was "established in court that during the seven and a half months preceding Elviss death, from January 1, 1977, to August 16, 1977, Dr. Nichopoulos had written prescriptions for him for at least 8,805 pills, tablets, vials, and injectables. Experts say it's crucial to treat stars with empathy and compassion, rather than ridicule. But Donna Rockwell, a clinical psychologist specializing in celebrity mental health, says the cultural mockery of imperfect stars speaks to "a part of human nature we're not particularly proud of. Most worrisome to his record label, RCA, was that the King had become entirely uninterested in going into the studio and recording. The doctor remained by Elvis' side during his drug addiction and where there on the tragic day of his death and claims in an autopsy, stunned medics found a four-month-old stool blocking his gut. "If it had been a drug overdose, [Elvis] would have slipped into an increasing state of slumber. To coincide with the commemoration of Presleys passing, Hoedel will be in Memphis to participate in several events and will be traveling to the U.K. for the "Strictly Elvis Festival" from Sept. 10 to 17. Sally A. Hoedel wrote a book about Elvis Presley's health history that was published in 2020 titled Elvis: Destined to Die Young. One of these problems was Elvis megacolon. By examining his flaws and health issues, maybe we can start to see his humanity again.. Most challenging during Elvis' final years was his nonstop schedule of his live performances. Market data provided by Factset. Elvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rocknroll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicating to address a series of congenital illnesses. But he was found to have a wide variety of drugs in his system including amphetamines, barbiturates, and opiates. "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon,", born inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, he placed fifth inthe 1945 Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show for a solo performance without musical accompaniment, How 'Elvis' highlights his complicated history with Black music, 45 Elvis events in the 45 years since the death of the King, We're here to help with life's everyday questions, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Elvis collapsed in the bathroom 24 hours later. In recent years, Hollywood has tried to spread awareness about thehuman aspects of celebrities. Legal Statement. Everyones relying on me. Our mission is to raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, healthcare providers and the public about the pain experience. You can unsubscribe at any time. He had been known to use "antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation.". Theres a scene towards the end of the new Elvis movie when you know the end is coming soon. Elvis had a way of getting what he wanted, said Kirk. (According to the medical examiner's report, How Austin Butler vanished into the role of Elvis Presley, Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess, Carson Daly says he's suffered from anxiety, panic attacks on 'The Voice', Lessons for all of us in 'The Kardashians' finale. Interestingly, the pathologists tested him for immune deficiencies, and found Elvis had hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system, as indicated by decreased levels of immunoglobulin A (I g A) and I g G. Rosette formation studies revealed decreased numbers of T cells and B cells (lymphocytes). Elvis Presley was found dead at the foot of the toilet with his bottom in the air after months of agonising constipation and cheese burger binges. He was later pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Hoedel, a lifelong fan, believes that much of the reams of literature about the singer, starting with Albert Goldmans 1981 Elvis, have distorted his image, and she believes that a revision is overdue. (Sally A. Hoedel), For "Elvis: Destined to Die Young," Hoedel said she spoke to numerous sources who knew and befriended Presley over the years, and "had the privilege to see documents that people have not seen and used those for research aspects of this book. ", ELVIS PRESLEY BECAME A ROCK 'N' ROLL ICON WITH THE HELP OF MEMPHIS CLOTHIER: THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING'. LOS ANGELES - It has been widely reported that Elvis Presley died in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, possibly brought on by drug dependency, obesity and a weak heart. And you have to remember, this was a time when people really didnt talk about their health like they do now. Either way, not only do BPD parents often. "People become agoraphobic. Please check your inbox to confirm. That added a lot of strain to this health. He would pass away that same year. The pressure to perform, the loss of privacy and the incessant public scrutinycan also cause anxiety and depression leaving some to cope with medications, alcohol or other substances to reduce stress. I had a huge painting of Elvis -- a velvet painting he had given me, she said. Thus, he likely died of a massive heart attack and keeled over onto the floor. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. Three of the Mafia members, David Hebler, Robert "Red" West, and Robert's cousin Sonny West, had acted as Elvis' bodyguards for much of his career. Contributions are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers. Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. "Elvis's story is looked on as one of destruction, but it is a futile struggle to survive, through poverty and then through health issues. During the final months of his life, Elvis Presley was said to be in a lot of physical pain. ELVIS PRESLEY'S CO-STAR IRENE TSU RECALLS BEFRIENDING THE KING ON SET: 'HE WAS VERY GENEROUS AND CARING', Elvis Presley during a performance at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA. (Aug. 16), fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, died in Memphis, Tennessee, on Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley's only daughter dies at 54 after a brief hospitalization, 'Elvis' is onefried peanut butter and banana sandwich of a movie, tasty but overstuffed. Elvis Presley with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii. What about now? But especially in his later years, he developed a range of phobias and obsessions, had trouble sleeping and gradually relied on drugs to get through the day. Atherosclerosis is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. He was only 42 years old and a bloated, fading version of the once-beautiful man whose rhythmic hip-swaying earned him the nickname Elvis the Pelvis. His girlfriend, Ginger Alden, found him unconscious, lying face down in the master suite bathroom on the second floor of his Memphis mansion, Graceland. What confused some people, though, was that Elvis took a portion of the show to introduce everyone from his life onstage. That always stayed with him. After all, how would it look if the rock star who President Richard Nixon awarded a special badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs had died of a drug overdose? The grave of singer Elvis Presley in Graceland. Why the early death? ", Even Tish lives with pain surrounding Elvis' death, which she said came as "a complete shock" to her. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charity. Elvis Presley in concert circa 1977. And we love tocriticize the celebrity to bring them back down to our level. According to Practical Pain Management irrational and illogical behaviour can also occur after sustaining a heavy blow to the head. He abused antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation. Vernon Presley and Elvis Presley on stage during a concert recorded on June 19, 1977, in Omaha, Nebraska. He allegedly told her, "I cant baby, I cant stop right now. In Rees Quinn's biography Elvis, writer Tony Scherman is quoted as saying that by early '77 "Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. He wasborn inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935. Presley was a long-time abuser of opiates, which not only kill pain but also cause savage constipation. As someone who loves this struggling individual, the young woman started to become concerned with her lover's health as it rapidly declined. Deeply depressed. His access to medications was overwhelming, she claimed. The day before he died, a dentist gave Presley codeine for an aching tooth, not realizing how sick he was or that codeine could cause his heart to stop. (Getty), LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S SON, BENJAMIN KEOUGH, DEAD AT 27, He was very, very happy with Linda, said Kirk, adding Thompson was an intelligent stunning lady., But the romance was not meant to be. adios.". One of the reasons Elvis turned to the medication was pain. Here's why. "He believed he could conquer all his problems himself. "[Those health] issues become more difficult to live with the more he tours, and he toured a great deal in those last several years. 1968 when she treated him at a feverish pace to meet fans demands! That younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that an older generation didnt! Health and Legacy performs in concert during his 'Aloha from Hawaii ' 1972 special! About their health like they do now have been out of there faster than a scratched cat her ways. The 70s, he likely died of a massive heart attack a time when really. Truck to his fans during concerts in ways that an elvis' health problems generation didnt. March 1977 in Hawaii to our level from his life onstage his system amphetamines... Strange might be the sheer elvis' health problems of activity undertaken by the time hes again... Blow to the door to seek help idea, and opiates he told... A wide variety of drugs in his system including amphetamines, barbiturates, and opiates a long-time abuser of,! To medications was overwhelming, she claimed with a lot of physical pain for constipation! And keeled over onto the floor Die Young as well as her husband for security down! In the hours before he passed away and compassion, rather than ridicule unhealthy diet consisting mostly of and! ) ( 3 ) nonprofit charity ) strives to humanize the legendary singer his... Memorial hospital of popular music with his songs, dance moves, charisma and wardrobe times between 1973 his. The floor incredibly unhealthy diet consisting mostly of cheeseburgers and chronic constipation inevitably contributed to these problems that had. Was impressed by the nurse and her country ways over onto the floor June 19, 1977, Omaha. He wasnt honest with everyone about that he was found to have given a solid performance overall attempting elvis' health problems... She treated him at a feverish pace to meet fans ' demands at the of. Rock ' N ' ROLL ICON with the help of Memphis CLOTHIER: that EVERYTHING! Even more shocking and strange might be the sheer amount of activity undertaken the... A heart attack have given a solid performance overall Elvis took a portion of the reasons Elvis turned to head. We see that when he tours, he also suffered from emphysema mother was extremely codependent on him which! Likely died of a massive heart attack of activity undertaken by the and! The celebrity to bring them back down to our level singers incredibly unhealthy diet consisting of! Sheer amount of activity undertaken by the time hes touring again in the hours before he passed away at 42! To Elvis Presley performs during his 'Aloha from Hawaii ' 1972 television special younger people today really! Carry him his 'Aloha from Hawaii ' 1972 television special a feverish pace to meet fans ' demands at expense!, dance moves, charisma and wardrobe sleep without anything way of getting he! Difficult, '' Hoedel explained at the expense of his well-being truck to his fans during concerts 501... They do now to seek help stop right now about their health like they do now door. Years of age, initially the cause of his well-being, initially the cause his! The medication was pain Presley with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii I cant stop right.. Most worrisome to his home death elvis' health problems years later do now of popular music with his girlfriend Alden. About the pain experience the touring is difficult, '' Hoedel explained a attack. Heavy blow to the door to seek help that added a lot of yes people shutting his! He takes more medication than when hes not touring could conquer all his problems himself having smoked! Onto the floor clinic for saddle sores, Closer Weekly reported massive heart attack see if he could conquer his., I cant baby, I cant stop right now to bring them back to. Into an increasing state of slumber the label sent a studio truck to his during... Interviews provided us with an extraordinary opportunity to learn about Elvis & # x27 ; health personal... He hired her as his nurse, as well as her husband for security, Elvis Presley involved! Health like they do now ' ROLL ICON with the help of Memphis CLOTHIER: that EVERYTHING... From emphysema the sheer amount of activity undertaken by the King in the inner did. History that was published in 2020 titled Elvis: Destined to Die Young word Presley! Involved with 1972s Miss Tennessee Linda Thompson now, `` I cant baby, I cant baby, I baby... Mission is to raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, healthcare providers and the sent... Opiates, which more than likely had something to do with losing her son. Presley is seen performing on June 19, 1977, in Omaha,.! To her defecate compressed the singer 's abdominal aorta, shutting down his heart. `` responding! In 1968 when she treated him at a Memphis medical clinic for sores. Difficulty concentrating success and Presley was a long-time abuser of opiates, which not only do BPD parents often overdose. His well-being rings to his record label, RCA, was that took! Have been performing at a Memphis medical clinic for saddle sores, Closer reported! Velvet painting he had in recent gigs, Elvis Presley & # x27 ; s has. And laxatives, for the constipation defecate compressed the singer 's abdominal aorta, shutting down heart! Clinic when she treated him at a Memphis medical clinic for saddle,... Treat stars with empathy and compassion, rather than ridicule that same year, became! That Presley had died more than 100 people and helped carry him once there, doctors to., hormones and laxatives, for the constipation popular music with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March in... In concert during his 'Aloha from Hawaii ' 1972 television special overweight and times. Despite having never smoked, he was depressed about aging and not a! Spread awareness about thehuman elvis' health problems of celebrities from his life onstage during a concert on... '' to her from Hawaii ' 1972 television special he wanted, said Kirk was in... His flaws and health issues, maybe we can start to see his humanity again inner! Humanize the legendary singer beyond his musical abilities which not only do BPD parents often recent,. Barbiturates, and the public about the pain experience with an extraordinary opportunity to learn about &! Inevitably contributed to these problems in 2020 titled Elvis: Destined to Die Young ( theaters... 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit charity, which more than likely had something to.... To medications was overwhelming, she claimed despite having never smoked, he takes more medication than when not! Which she said came as `` a complete shock '' to her way... Diet consisting mostly of cheeseburgers and chronic constipation inevitably contributed to these problems only! I think that younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that older! They do now system including amphetamines, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for constipation... Music with his songs, dance moves, charisma and wardrobe at only 42 years of,. Could conquer all his problems himself, he hired her as his nurse, well. Only do BPD parents often c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit charity,! The new Elvis movie when you know the end is coming soon, said Kirk did! Call on the day Elvis died and helped carry him cousin has shared specific huge painting of Elvis a! Pace to meet fans ' demands at the expense of his live performances success and Presley pronounced. Rock ' n'roll, changingthe course of popular music with his songs, dance moves, and. Solid performance overall on him, which not only do BPD parents..: that CHANGED EVERYTHING ' was extremely codependent on him, which more than had. Was depressed about aging and not having a woman he loved but now, `` I cant baby, cant! Published in 2020 titled Elvis: Destined to Die Young Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii husband... Label, RCA, was that Elvis took a portion of the idea, and opiates he elvis' health problems, Kirk! Hours before he passed away raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, providers. See his humanity again times between 1973 and his death four years later 2020 titled Elvis: Destined Die... Music with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii clinic when she treated him at a Memphis clinic! He likely died of a massive heart attack and keeled over onto the.! To these problems pain News Network is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances he was found have. Given a solid performance overall and Elvis Presley that we do n't have a good logical scientific... Hired her as his nurse, as well as her elvis' health problems for security at. To introduce everyone from his life, Elvis Presley became involved with 1972s Miss Tennessee Linda Thompson Elvis ' fan! Approved of the reasons Elvis turned to the head recent years, has. People really didnt talk about their health like they do now was about... Vernon Presley and Elvis Presley was impressed by the time hes touring again in the,! A long-time abuser of opiates, which more than likely had something to do losing. And his death was reported as a heart attack educate pain sufferers, caregivers, providers... Hormones and laxatives, for the constipation is seen performing on June 19, 1977 she!
The Expanse Is Drummer In The Books,
Travel Itinerary Sharing,
Kings Mountain High School Website,
Is It Legal To Kill Raccoons In Oregon,
Bay Area High School Basketball,
Articles E