How the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Died: The Facts Behind Elvis Presley’s Untimely Demise

Elvis Presley’s impact as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll has lasted decades after he died in 1977.

The musical titan responsible for songs such as “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock” had 18 No. 1 hits and sold over a billion records. He remains one of the most beloved performers of all time, more than half a century after releasing his first album in 1956.

In addition to his musical legacy, Elvis was the father of Lisa Marie Presley, whom he had with Priscilla Presley in 1968. Lisa Marie, who was only nine years old when her father died, was a singer who lived in the spotlight while also raising four children.

Lisa Marie, her grandfather Vernon Presley, and great-grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley were joint heirs to his estate after he died. When they died in 1979 and 1980, respectively, she became the only heir, receiving her father’s Graceland home as well.

Priscilla revealed to PEOPLE on January 12, 2023, that her daughter died after being transported to the hospital for a probable heart arrest earlier that day. Lisa Marie was 54.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter, Lisa Marie, has left us,” Priscilla wrote in a statement at the time. “She was the most passionate, strong, and loving woman I’d ever known. We ask for privacy as we cope with this tremendous loss. “Thank you for your love and prayers.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Elvis’ death in 1977, at the age of 42.

How did Elvis Presley die?

Elvis died from a heart attack on August 16, 1977. According to Dr. Jerry Francisco, Shelby County coroner, “preliminary autopsy findings” showed his cause of death was “cardiac arrhythmia,” or “an irregular and ineffective [heartbeat],” according to the New York Times.

Initially, the coroner was unable to determine the cause of the arrhythmia, leading to conjecture that the singer died as a result of a drug overdose, based on public allegations that 10 prescription medicines were discovered in his body.

That October, however, The New York Times verified that drugs were ruled out as a cause of Elvis’ death — “although prescription drugs were present in his body at the time of his death,” the outlet said — citing a statement from Dr. Francisco. “The cause of death has been ascribed to hypertensive heart disease, with coronary artery heart disease as a contributing factor,” the investigator’s report stated.

Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s Relationship: Looking Back
Elvis and Priscilla Presley, who met in the Army, prepare to board their private aircraft following their wedding at the Aladdin Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Elvis’ friend and physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos, told The New York Times that he did not believe the singer had a drug problem, despite having “abused drugs accidentally.”

Elvis suffered from a variety of health issues before his death, and he was hospitalized four times in five years for hypertension and an impacted or enlarged colon. He also had slight diabetes and liver problems.

Despite the coroner’s ruling, speculations persisted that narcotics played a role in his death. Several of Elvis’ family members have spoken out about his excessive use, including his stepbrother (and road bodyguard), David E. Stanley, in his 2016 memoir, My Brother Elvis: The Final Years. Stanley stated that his job responsibilities were more akin to “babysitting,” adding, “I felt more like a nursing home aide.”

In 1989, Stanley shared with PEOPLE, “I wasn’t able to fully grasp what was happening, and was no match for Elvis in the throes of addiction,” along with: “I had this naïve belief that Elvis could do anything, even overcome a prescription drug addiction.”

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Where did Elvis Presley die?

Elvis Presley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Elvis Presley dances and sings during his second appearance on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ in New York on October 28, 1956.
Ginger Alden, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s fiancée, discovered him unconscious at his Graceland residence in Memphis, Tennessee. He was found laying on the floor in the bathtub of his master suite, his most private sanctuary, where only his closest confidantes were permitted to access.

Elvis moved to Graceland, an 18-room $1 million house with a poolside jukebox, to escape the pressures of fame. Although Graceland has been open to the public since 1982, the second floor has been walled off out of respect for the family.

Graceland is well-known for a variety of reasons, including its renowned “jungle room”-turned-recording studio and the kitchen, where Elvis prepared his famous peanut butter-and banana sandwiches. It also has the significant Meditation Garden, where Elvis is interred with his family members.

Lisa Marie Presley makes a rare appearance as she leads three generations at the Elvis premiere.
What age was Elvis Presley when he died?
Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. He was 42 years old when he died from a heart attack.

His cause of death was remarkably similar to that of his sole child, Lisa Marie, who died aged 54 on January 12, 2023.

Lisa Marie had been dealing with a variety of health issues, according to an autopsy report issued in July 2023, including persistent fevers, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Her declared cause of death was a “sequelae of a small bowel obstruction,” which emerged after she had bariatric surgery several years before.

Elvis, like his daughter, had troubles with constipation. According to a 2018 PBS documentary, doctors Dr. Eric Muirhead and Dr. Noel Florredo identified signs of severe and chronic constipation during a post-mortem examination of the King’s remains. The publication also stated that Elvis, who was on the toilet at the time of his death, could have been “straining very hard to have a bowel movement — a maneuver that put a great amount of pressure on his heart and aorta.”

What legacy has Elvis Presley left behind?

A portrait of Elvis Presley, an American rock musician, seated with his arms crossed on top of a guitar tilted downwards on his lap, around 1955.
Elvis rocketed to prominence in the mid-1950s, soon becoming one of the most iconic figures in rock ‘n’ roll history. There’s a reason he’s known as “The King”: he made significant contributions to the evolution of the genre.

Since his death in 1977, his followers, supporters, and family members have continued to honor his legacy. Between documentaries chronicling his supernova career and countless song covers from his library, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll has left an indelible mark on current and future generations.

On the 25th anniversary of Elvis’ death, his daughter Lisa Marie recorded a tribute to her father, saying, “I wanted you to know that I haven’t forgotten. You made me. I love you. You are still attractive. “You were lovely then,” according to a PEOPLE article from 2002.

Priscilla Presley Discusses Elvis Presley’s Legacy on Death Anniversary: ‘A Big Responsibility’

lisa-marie
Lisa Marie Presley, together with her twin children Finley Lockwood and Harper Lockwood and son Benjamin Keough, attended a candlelight vigil for her late father, Elvis Presley, at Graceland. COURTESY GRACELAND.
In an interview with Today in August 2022, Priscilla paid tribute to Elvis on the 45th anniversary of his death, discussing what the day meant to her. “Anything he wanted to do or wished to do as far as in life, I want to try to get that to happen,” she ended by saying. “It’s a big responsibility.”

Every August 15, Graceland broadcasts a candlelight vigil on the site, where tens of thousands of fans and supporters assemble in his memory. “To see the number of people who still come to see Elvis is incredible,” Priscilla told Today.

Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann, delves into the life and music of Elvis Presley. Austin Butler played The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and he admitted to feeling great pressure to honor the late musical icon’s legacy. The film received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Butler, and was chosen one of the best ten films of 2022 by the American Film Institute.

More crucially, Butler’s portrayal was met with real acclaim by Elvis’ family, specifically Priscilla, Lisa Marie, and his granddaughter Riley Keough. “I can’t even put into words how much it means to me because I felt so much responsibility to them the entire time,” Butler told PEOPLE at the time.

Austin Butler admits to waking up in ‘terror’ about the ‘daunting’ task of playing Elvis Presley.

How did people respond to Elvis Presley’s death?

When the news of Elvis’ death broke, the world was shocked. Approximately 25,000 people — relatives, friends, and followers of the artist — flocked to Graceland in 1977 to get one final look at the musician they dubbed “King” before his burial.

During a 2018 Today interview, Priscilla discussed the day she said farewell.

“I was still in shock. “It was just too hard to believe,” she explained. “And driving out of the gates in the limo and seeing the streets lined up on both sides all the way to the cemetery.” You’d see glimpses, people crying, distraught, fainting, and that’s how powerful it was and remains to this day. People arrive at the same time and are all there.”