But the extent of his health problems were not truly understood until after he had passed away. '", But in the case of Elvis, Manly notes, it would have been "muchmore difficultthan your average Joe, who isn't worried about how people will be looking at him. (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. The tip of his tongue was clenched between his teeth and his face was blotchy. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. I gently turned his face toward me. I was very fortunate [to have known him]. ", Celeb obsessed? (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images). A hint of air expelled from his nose. … We really aren't happy for them, because we want that life, too, and we can't get it," Rockwell says. Kirk shared that despite Presley's fame and fortune, he was often lonely. And he would say, I cant. The painkillers Presley used are believed to have contributed to his severeconstipation. And they did not like that. It was huge, and its shag carpeting naturally absorbed ambient sound, although the fake waterfall did have to be turned off. During the autopsy it became clear that Elvis did in fact have multiple heart problems, including a strained aorta and atherosclerosis. A doe-eyed boy from the South whose unique mix of barking and crooning made him both a rebel and a heartthrob, Elvis changed the way the world thought about music, pop culture, and celebrity. "People think: Oh, you're a star or you have money. The moment came toward the end of the night, just before his closing performance of "Can't Help Falling In Love With You." They have families to look after. "He was miserable. Elvis Presley is seen performing on June 20, 1977. The colon is the longest part of the large intestine and when blocked causes a megacolon. During the final months of his life, Elvis Presley was said to be in a lot of physical pain. 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. 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. He would have pulled up his pajama bottoms and crawled to the door to seek help. Theres a scene towards the end of the new Elvis movie when you know the end is coming soon. Elvis Presley's Health and Legacy. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker allegedly shouted, "The only thing thats important is that hes on that stage tonight! Like so many rock stars, including Michael Jackson and Prince, Elvis employed an all-too-willing physician to feed his addiction and hasten his death. 'I couldn't be an imposter': How Austin Butler vanished into the role of Elvis Presley. You'd have been out of there faster than a scratched cat. However, this was later proved not to be the complete case. He was trying to function within his reality., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Austin Butler stars as the American heartthrob through the years:as a rocking teen who eventually spirals under the crumblingpressureof success, money and power. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. He . Elvis. 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. Austin Butler's 'Elvis' acting lessons began when Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to his door, Netflix's "Blonde," starring Ana de Armas, (Marilyn Monroe)'s public and private selves. Elvis Presley collector reveals why the King is more valuable 45 years after his death. He was not only my patient but a good friend., LIBERACE TOLD ELVIS PRESLEY HE NEEDED MORE GLITZ IN HIS SHOWS BEFORE LAS VEGAS TRANSFORMATION, BOOK CLAIMS, Elvis Presley in his final years. Many would later wonder if this was because Elvis knew somewhere deep down that he would never play again and wanted to shout out all of those who made his career possible. Elvis' passing is often used as the archetypal rock star death a tragic accident caused by a poor health and drug use. And rather than being shownempathy, he was mocked by the country that lifted him onto the pedestal. (Getty Images). Nick, was at Elvis beck and call for nearly a decade. ", On top of his eating habits, Presley was a long-time user ofopiates, saidPBS. 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.. Those sexy dance moves helped make Elvis famous, but they also foretold what lay in store for him. He didn't "jiggle" nearly as much as most do, nor did his legs or arms look especially fat. Either way, not only do BPD parents often. He once told me, You never hear Superman asking for help.", "The touring is difficult," Hoedel explained. In the recent HBO documentary Elvis Presley: The Searcher, the singer's longtime wife Priscilla revealed that she wasn't sure whether Elvis' death was really an accident. Repeated head trauma can cause an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that can then attack any organ in the body. ", In the book, Hoedel described how Presley would confide in backup singer Kathy Westmoreland and said his "eyes were a constant source of pain along with other ailments." "The phone rings intercom," said Joe Esposito, foreman of the Memphis Mafia. Kirk, her husband and their daughters soon found themselves living in Graceland. During the final months of his life, Elvis Presley was said to be in a lot of physical pain. Elvis Presley's former private nurse Letetia Henley Kirk has had the King on her mind. Legal Statement. A man holds newspaper announcing his death. Elvis approved of the idea, and the label sent a studio truck to his home. The music icon passed away nearly 43 years ago, on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42 from a heart attack, which doctors said was likely brought on by his addiction to prescription barbiturates. Whats Missing in Elvis Movie: The Kings Chronic Illness, The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. Legal Statement. No one was going to question him. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The critics noted his weight gain when reviewing his public appearances. Meanwhile, though his adoption of African-American musical traditions is a bone of contention for many listeners today, in his heyday it was a powerful way to put non-white rhythms in front of segregated audiences. Within the book Sally revealed that Elvis grandparents were first cousins. Elvis collapsed in the bathroom 24 hours later. "Formerly retired . If he didn't prescribe the pills to Elvis, someone else would, and at least this way he wouldn't get them off the street. Now The King's cousin has shared specific . Therefore, you should be happy. Elvis Presley died at 42 years oldon Aug. 16, 1977, in Memphis, Tennessee. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. According to a 1977 review in Alexandria Town Talk, the first show in Alexandria lasted less than an hour before Elvis had to leave the stage. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty), SEAN ASTIN SAYS LATE MOTHER PATTY DUKES MENTAL ILLNESS LED HIM TO OFFER SUPPORT TO OTHER PEOPLE, Kirk claimed she tried to improve Presleys diet, but it didnt stick. This statement was subsequently demonstrated not to be the case. Presley was born inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, and died in Memphis, Tennessee, on Aug. 16, 1977. Moody Blue, released in February 1977, was a mix of live recordings and new studio tracks, containing two of Presley's most widely regarded songs. Thank you. His untimely death was mourned by fans as many made their way to Graceland, his mansion in Memphis, to pay respects. Why was he in so much pain? Five of those disease processes, Hoedel finds, were present from birth. 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. He would also often say "God, I hurt all over." Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Its not accurate and its not enough. "When he played Vegas, he played two shows a day for 30 days thats 60 shows. But for Tennant, that wasn't enough to explain the long list of maladies that afflicted the rock star from the late 1960s onwards. ", In the year that Presley died, he had a fourth tour scheduled on May 20. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. 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. Dr. Howard Markel The rest of the tour was subsequently canceled, acting for many historians as a benchmark of just how far the King had fallen from the pedestals of his youth. Atherosclerosis is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. When Elvis asked for sleeping pills during his final hours, it was she who told his private doctor where to find them, and she regrets not being there as he died. They really tried to push Elvis beyond his capacity in the last few years of his life. We didnt have the empathy to talk about Elvis health problems then. All rights reserved. But it's "She Thinks I Still Care" that is regarded by many to be Elvis' finest latter-day moments, illustrating a man trying to move on while trapped in the role tailor-made for him and revealing, according to Rolling Stone, "a real-life glimpse into the life of an increasingly isolated man.". He just took more medication to keep going. (CBS via Getty Images). Since the June 2022release of BazLuhrmann's"Elvis,"starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, discourse surrounding Presley's life and death has become all shook up. ", Interview: Carson Daly says he's suffered from anxiety, panic attacks on 'The Voice', TV: Lessons for all of us in 'The Kardashians' finale. Elvis Presley has become synonymous with many things, such asrock 'n'roll and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Presleys forebears may have made marriage choices because of poverty and proximity, but Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt married to keep wealth in the family. Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. His health issues, often written off as resulting from prescription drug abuse enabled by his infamous doctor, George Nick Nichopoulos, could therefore be attributed in the first instance not to over-medication but to health problems that Presley and his doctors were trying to treat. 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. 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