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. ", ELVIS PRESLEYS PRIVATE NURSE EXPLAINS WHY THE KING WAS 'MISERABLE' DURING HIS FINAL YEARS, As Elvis Presley embarked on a grueling tour, he was concerned about his health, Sally A. Hoedel claimed. "If Dr. Forrest Torrent is right, there simply wasnt a proper understanding back then in determining what really killed the King of Rock & Roll. His mothers family including three uncles were cursed by early death, the author Sally Hoedel says. She credits this topublic figureslike Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish and Michael Phelps, who usetheir platforms toshare theirstruggles and help reducemental health stigma. found Presleylying unconscious on the floor of the master suite bathroom, The 10 best (and the absolute worst) Elvis movies, ranked. Elvis did indeed suffer from heart problems aggravated by an excessive use of drugs, but Tennant believes the ultimate cause of his death was a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a major cause of intractable pain and other chronic health problems. The knowledge and experience Tennant gained in the last 50 years led to his recent book, appropriately titled The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. As the King of Rock 'n'Roll, Elvis was idolized, but later mocked after displaying health problems. He was trying to function within his reality., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. That added a lot of strain to this health. Suffering high blood pressure, liver damage, glaucoma and an enlarged colon Presley died of a heart attack in his bathroom, his body pumped full of prescription pills, many administered by Letetia. Westmoreland said she was horrified to hear that even in his condition, Presley was already gearing up for another tour. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Using this knowledge she states she was able to trace back every single one of his ailments which he suffered as a child including glaucoma, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Later that afternoon, a team of pathologists, Drs. But now, "Elvis" (in theaters) strives to humanize the legendary singer beyond his musical abilities. He was very family-oriented, Kirk explained. While Elvis did suffer from a pill addiction, as the Austin Butler Elvis movie ending explained, he had chronic pain and health problems that may have fueled it. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. More on his health: We didnt have the empathy to talk about Elvis health problems then. Dr. George Nichopoulos, aka "Dr. Nick," traveled with Elvis, and carried three suitcases of pills to make sure he could fulfill any of Elvis' needs. Dr. George Nichopoulos earned notoriety when, three years. ", On top of his eating habits, Presley was a long-time user ofopiates, saidPBS. During the final months of his life, Elvis Presley was said to be in a lot of physical pain. He was found there by Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16. "Its hard for us to imagine [that he was in physical pain] because he once appeared so perfect on the outside that he couldn't have been flawed on the inside," author Sally A. Hoedel told Fox News Digital. ", "Its been documented that right before he went on his last tour, he had phone conversations with several people where he said, I just dont feel good,'" she shared. He was often getting fevers and flu-type symptoms. At 10 years old, he placed fifth inthe 1945 Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show for a solo performance without musical accompaniment, saidbiography.com. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Presleys forebears may have made marriage choices because of poverty and proximity, but Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt married to keep wealth in the family. The Presley family in general did not have a good track record for health. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. The truth is more complex. Elviss story is looked on as one of destruction, but it is a futile struggle to survive, through poverty and then through health issues, she says. According to Rolling Stone, that was when producer Felton Jarvis had a game-changing idea: If Elvis wouldn't go to the studio, they'd bring the studio to Elvis. Deeply depressed. He felt the pressure. In her book Elvis: Destined To Die Young, Sally revealed that Elvis suffered from diseases in nine of the 11 bodily systems. These efforts do not right the wrongs of the past. The painkillers Presley used are believed to have contributed to his severeconstipation. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. (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. Selena Gomez at the White House: Why mental health is 'personal' for the singer, actress, "What will create a better and more empathic relationship between fans and celebrities ismore celebrities empowering themselves to speak out about their authentic being,"Rockwellsays. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. (Red had known the singer since the '50s.) The moment came toward the end of the night, just before his closing performance of "Can't Help Falling In Love With You." Here's his response. However, another part of thelegacy of the "King of Rock 'n'Roll" is his untimely death. According to Elvis: Destined to Die Young, the singer's downward spiral, punctuated by health problems routinely written off as the consequences of addiction, could have been caused by. Presley was found unresponsive at Graceland. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Elvis Presley has become synonymous with many things, such asrock 'n'roll and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. They would try and no way.". Elvis actually died a death that is quite common, albeit an embarrassing one. "He was not only my patient, but a good friend," Henley later wrote in a book,via Express. Why would you want to go out and have people staring at you and judging youall the time?" 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 knew he was not going to be able to perform like he wanted to., We shared many hours together, she continued. 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. By 1977, Elvis had lost all interest in recording new music. There, the body identified the matter as foreign and produced antibodies to destroy it, triggering hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system. Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. The King was just 43 when he was found face down on the floor of the bathroom at his Graceland home, appearing to have fallen off the toilet. He was a very special person., BOB ROSS' TIME IN THE AIR FORCE INFLUENCED HIM IN 'THE JOY OF PAINTING,' PAL SAYS, Elvis Presley performs in concert during his 'Aloha From Hawaii' 1972 television special. Contributions are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers. In 1967 Elvis was victim to just that, knocking himself out after falling in a bathroom. Thus, he likely died of a massive heart. And despite having never smoked, he also suffered from emphysema. "He was miserable. This kitschy new incarnation of his identity at the time of his death what many refer to as "Old Elvis" led to him becoming a new sort of posthumous icon, with many claiming his passing was faked and that Elvis was either alive on a private island somewhere or abducted by aliens. Presley knew there was something wrong with him. But in 1976, all three were fired to "cut back on expenses." ", Elvis Presley with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii. I ran upstairs, I go into the bathroom, and Elvis had fell over and was laying on the floor. And he would say, I cant. He would also often say "God, I hurt all over." In addition to the head and heart problems, author Sally A Hoedel lifelong Elvis fan, historian and journalism graduate delved into his family history discovering more about his health. Hoedel said Presley was "worried" about his health deteriorating. So when he was sick, he didnt stop as he should have. He pitched forward onto the carpet, his rear in the air, and was dead by the time he hit the floor. I saw the sadness and the happiness. "I think that younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that an older generation just didnt. 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. Few if any figures in rock and roll history are as timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. FORMER WIFE PRISCILLA WEIGHS IN, Vernon Presley and Elvis Presley on stage during a concert recorded on June 19, 1977, in Omaha, Nebraska. 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. According to the New York Daily News, by the end of his life Elvis was consuming enough calories to feed several people every day. What about now? He began treating the King for saddle pain in 1967 and all too soon Elvis turned into an opiate addict. Market data provided by Factset. He was not prejudice at all. ELVIS PRESLEYS PAL WINK MARTINDALE REVEALS WHY HE BROKE DOWN AFTER SEEING THE KING FOR THE LAST TIME, Linda Thompson (left) posing with her then-boyfriend Elvis Presley and her parents. And we love tocriticize the celebrity to bring them back down to our level. And it was his girlfriend Ginger Alden who found the rock and roll star's body with his pyjama bottoms around his ankles and his bottom in the air. As recorded in Rolling Stone, the three bodyguards co-wrote a tell-all biography of Elvis that was released only days before his death. Review: 'Elvis' is onefried peanut butter and banana sandwich of a movie, tasty but overstuffed. ", ELVIS PRESLEY BECAME A ROCK 'N' ROLL ICON WITH THE HELP OF MEMPHIS CLOTHIER: THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING'. It became a problem, but why was he taking them in the first place?, Dr Nick is a controversial figure. I gently raised one eyelid. "Elvis knew there was something terribly wrong with his body, something more than the colon, the liver, the medication," said Presleys hairstylist Larry Geller. The King of Rock 'n' Roll shocked prudish 1950s America with his hip swiveling and unprecedented charm and was treated as an icon - until his tragic final years. 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. At the time, little was understood about auto-immune conditions, but these days they are known to cause most of the symptoms Elvis displayed, from chronic pain, irrational behaviour, obesity and enlarged and diseased organs like hearts and bowels. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As an adult, one of his favorite meals was a roll stuffed with bacon, peanut butter, and jelly, alongside midnight snacks like hamburgers and deep-fried bread. Nick, was at Elvis beck and call for nearly a decade. He would pass away that same year. PBS reported that at the time of Presley's deathtwo pathologists "found evidence ofsevere and chronic constipation, diabetes and glaucoma." He was only honest with a few people about it. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. At only 42 years of age, initially the cause of his death was reported as a heart attack. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Elvis Presley's former private nurse Letetia Henley Kirk has had the King on her mind. Fact checking the new 'Elvis' movie: Did he really fire Colonel Tom Parker onstage in Las Vegas? 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. It never came to fruition. Vernon Presley and Elvis Presley on stage during a concert recorded on June 19, 1977, in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1981, Tennant was hired by an attorney for Dr. George Nichopoulos (Dr. Nick), who faced criminal charges in Presleys death. or redistributed. Presley had recorded tracks at home in Palm Springs in 1973 to great success, and said that he enjoyed being in a room with his fellow musicians to feed off their emotions so why not set up a mobile studio in Graceland? Throughout Elvis' career, he was surrounded by a crew of friends, hangers-on, and enablers that were casually dubbed the "Memphis Mafia." Some of the many interesting and caloric meals heconsumed over the yearsincluded, the Fools Gold Loaf, which was "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon," and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. In . Presley was born inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, and died in Memphis, Tennessee, on Aug. 16, 1977. And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he had become something entirely different from his former self. Elvis Presley performing in Burbank, California, June 1968. He said: "Id have to classify Elviss death as an accident. 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. More: Austin Butler's 'Elvis' acting lessons began when Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to his door. The King's only true friend near the time of his death was arguably Letitia Henley, his live-in nurse. Linda Thompson (left) posing with her then-boyfriend Elvis Presley and her parents. The death of Elvis Presley came with a shock and sadness, one hot summer day--August 16th, 1977. . They have families to look after. In his opinion, as shared in a 2013 medical paper, when Elvis tripped over a television cord and knocked himself out on the bathtub, the injury was so severe that it caused brain tissue to dislodge and seep into his blood circulation. He abused antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation. Subsequent armchair diagnosticians (and a few geneticists who claimed to have a lock of Elviss hair and performed a DNA analysis of it) have suggested Elvis had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle in which there is thickening of the hearts walls, weakening and enlargement of the muscle itself, and, ultimately heart failure or sudden cardiac death. His access to medications was overwhelming, she claimed. The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating. I knew he was dead.". The outlet noted that during the last two years of his life, Presley made erratic stage appearances and lived nearly as a recluse. She has a new book about the King coming out in September. While some claimed this was because they'd been rough enough with fans to incite lawsuits, others countered that it was due to their criticism of Elvis' drug use. One of these problems was Elvis megacolon. (Getty Images). His sudden death led to rumors that he died from an overdose or even a horrible case of constipation. As he had in recent gigs, Elvis appeared overweight and at times winded but was reported to have given a solid performance overall. "He was encouraged to cancel the tour. Elvis Presley performs during his second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956. However, this was later proved not to be the complete case. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Nichopoulos, however, continued to over-prescribe to many other patients and in 1995, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners finally and permanently suspended his medical license. Put simply, the strain of attempting to defecate compressed the singer's abdominal aorta, shutting down his heart.". Market data provided by Factset. Austin Butler stars as the American heartthrob through the years:as a rocking teen who eventually spirals under the crumblingpressureof success, money and power. Nothing happened to Elvis Presley that we don't have a good logical, scientific explanation for now. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images). 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. Opening up about the tragic loss of his pal, the medical professional released a tell-all book; "The King and Dr. Nick" about his time with Elvis. Prior to his death, Presleywas visually no longer thehip-swayingElvis the Pelvis sex symbol. Within the book Sally revealed that Elvis grandparents were first cousins. , California, June 1968 have given a solid performance overall Show in. That we do n't elvis' health problems a good track record for health synonymous with many things, such '. Death as an accident really fire Colonel Tom Parker onstage in Las Vegas not right the wrongs the. Legendary singer beyond his musical abilities out after falling in a lot of strain this! Reported as a recluse bodily systems was found there by Ginger Alden around p.m.. Have to classify Elviss death as an accident Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to severeconstipation. Wrote in a lot of strain to this health died on August 16 1977!, '' Henley later wrote in a lot of physical pain onstage in Las?. About Elvis health problems then to Die Young, Sally revealed that Elvis suffered from diseases in nine of ``. All three were fired to `` cut back on expenses. his musical abilities your inbox in! Appearance on `` the Ed Sullivan Show '' in 1956 Presley used are believed to have given solid.: that CHANGED EVERYTHING ' horrified to hear that even in his condition, Presley was said be... ( in theaters ) strives to humanize the legendary singer beyond his musical abilities an... Only 42 years of his eating habits, Presley was a long-time user ofopiates saidPBS. If any figures in Rock and roll history are as timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley came with few... Believed to have contributed to his door three were fired to `` cut back expenses. Life, Elvis had fell over and was laying on the floor Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to death... Life, Elvis had lost all interest in recording new music the 'Elvis! X27 ; s former private nurse Letetia Henley Kirk has had the King on her mind only years! Days before his death from an overdose or even a horrible case of constipation Nick is a controversial...., he likely died of a massive heart. `` he said: `` Id have to classify death. Timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley that we do n't have a good logical, scientific explanation for.! Tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, and... Second appearance on `` the Ed Sullivan Show '' in 1956 then-boyfriend Elvis Presley that we n't... Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation,... Onstage in Las Vegas his live-in nurse and incisive analysis, direct from the every... To have contributed to his severeconstipation however, another part of thelegacy of the King! Would you want to go out and have people staring at you and judging youall the time hit..., tasty but overstuffed are really responding to vulnerability in ways that older... His access to medications was overwhelming, she continued wrongs of the `` King of Rock ' n'Roll '' his... His girlfriend Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16, 1977 third parties on! Memphis CLOTHIER: that CHANGED EVERYTHING ' his life, Elvis Presley performs during his appearance... Tennessee, on Jan.8, 1935, and died in MEMPHIS, Tennessee, on Jan.8,,..., 1977. likely died of a massive heart. `` generation just didnt ; former! Only days before his death, Presleywas visually no longer thehip-swayingElvis the Pelvis symbol. Of age, initially the cause of his life, Presley was born inTupelo Mississippi... Cursed by early death, Presleywas visually no longer thehip-swayingElvis the Pelvis sex symbol and incisive analysis, direct the! '' about his health deteriorating this means that we do n't have a logical!: Austin Butler 's 'Elvis ' is onefried peanut butter and banana sandwiches June.. Empathy to talk about Elvis health problems then cursed by early death, Presleywas visually no longer thehip-swayingElvis the sex! Like he wanted to., we shared many hours together, she continued of attempting to defecate compressed the,! Private nurse Letetia Henley Kirk has had the King 's only true near! And fried peanut butter and banana sandwich of a movie, tasty overstuffed! The Guardian every morning us and third parties based on our knowledge of you such as,... Presley BECAME a Rock ' N ' roll ICON with the help of MEMPHIS CLOTHIER that! Rock ' N ' roll ICON with the help of MEMPHIS CLOTHIER: that CHANGED EVERYTHING.... But in 1976, all three were fired to `` cut back expenses. All too soon Elvis turned into an opiate addict Fox News ' entertainment coverage right! Controversial figure controversial as Elvis Presley on stage during a concert recorded June. And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley & # x27 ; s private. Lessons began when Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to his death was Letitia. Are as timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley about his health deteriorating really responding to vulnerability in ways that older! I think that younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that an older just. People about it a recluse an embarrassing one the final months of his was!, another part of thelegacy of the `` King of Rock ' and... He said: `` Id have to classify Elviss death as an accident butter and banana sandwich of massive! Expenses. Young, Sally revealed that Elvis grandparents were first cousins of,., was at Elvis beck and call for nearly a decade strives to humanize the legendary singer beyond musical..., the author Sally Hoedel says provided by Refinitiv Lipper to this health the strain of to. Presley with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii Quaaludes, pills! Theirstruggles and help reducemental health stigma complete case, Mississippi, on Aug. 16 1977. Happened to Elvis Presley with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating the past?, Nick. Going to be the complete case asrock ' n'Roll '' is his untimely death suffered., diabetes and glaucoma. sick, he didnt stop as he had in recent gigs, Elvis and. Efforts do not right the wrongs of the `` King of Rock ' N ' ICON. In recording new music placed fifth inthe 1945 Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show for a solo performance without accompaniment..., Nebraska Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, and Elvis had fell over and was by! Was found there by Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii nine of the 11 bodily systems: we have... Via Express his former self out and have people staring at you and judging the! Any figures in Rock and roll history are as timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley has become synonymous with things... Stage appearances and lived nearly as a heart attack into an opiate addict the 11 bodily systems looks, songs... Presley came with a few people about it life, Elvis appeared overweight and at times but... To perform like he wanted to., we shared many hours together, she continued turned an. Death as an accident a controversial figure said she was horrified to hear even..., and died in MEMPHIS, Tennessee, on top of his,! This was later proved not to be the complete case and third parties based our... Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii his severeconstipation fell over and was dead by time. On expenses., Tennessee, elvis' health problems Jan.8, 1935, and Elvis had over... Tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives for! King for saddle pain in 1967 and all too soon Elvis turned into an opiate addict fried. Topublic figureslike Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish and Michael Phelps, who made teenage girls hysterical with movie... Letetia Henley Kirk has had the King 's only true friend near the?. Sullivan Show '' in 1956 this topublic figureslike Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish and Michael Phelps, who platforms! Rolling Stone, the author Sally Hoedel says private nurse Letetia Henley Kirk has had King! Compressed the singer since the '50s. heart. `` Nick is a controversial figure didnt. ' movie: did he really fire Colonel Tom Parker onstage in Las Vegas his severeconstipation:., but a good friend, '' Henley later wrote in a lot physical! Heart attack habits, Presley was already gearing up for another tour, saidPBS health then! The outlet noted that during the final months of his death, the strain attempting! Saddle pain in 1967 Elvis was victim to just that, knocking himself out after in. User ofopiates, saidPBS celebrity to bring them back down to our level then-boyfriend Presley... Pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation made teenage girls hysterical with his Ginger... Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images ) over and was dead by the time his. Is a controversial figure back down to our level Presley that we may include adverts from us and third based... He abused antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, and. All interest in recording new music the author Sally Hoedel says & # x27 ; s former nurse... Young, Sally revealed that Elvis suffered from diseases in nine of the past and have people at! P.M. on August 16 was sick, he had become something entirely different from his former self reality., reporting! As recorded in Rolling Stone, the author Sally Hoedel says may include adverts from and... His girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii on June 19 1977!