On August 16, 1977, the world stood still. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, had died of a sudden heart attack at just 42 years old, only hours before he was to leave for another tour. In a matter of hours, news of his death swept across the globe, triggering an outpouring of grief that was unlike anything music had ever seen. But what happened in the days that followed would elevate the tragedy into legend.
Elvis was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his Graceland home, reportedly having collapsed in the washroom. While early reports speculated suicide, it was later confirmed that a fatal heart attack—likely aggravated by years of prescription drug abuse—had taken his life. A chilling medical report revealed he had used nearly 9,000 sedatives in the final seven months of his life.
Within 24 hours, Elvis’s body was embalmed and placed in a copper casket—nearly identical to the one used for his beloved mother, Gladys. His father, Vernon Presley, made a deeply personal decision: Elvis would not be hidden away behind closed doors. Instead, he opened the gates of Graceland to allow thousands of fans the chance to say a final goodbye.
Graceland became a place of pilgrimage. His open casket was placed between the music room and the parlor, while nearly 80,000 people filled Elvis Presley Boulevard. About 30,000 made it inside to see the King one last time, many weeping, some fainting. Everything that day was white—the casket lining, the suit Elvis wore, even the 17 limousines used in the funeral procession. White, said his former girlfriend Mindy Miller, was his favorite color: ethereal and elegant. In numerology, she added, 17 (1 + 7) equals 8—Elvis’s number.
But tragedy didn’t stop with his death. Outside the Graceland gates, a speeding vehicle crashed into the mourning crowd, killing two young women and seriously injuring a third. Still, the procession continued. Elvis’s body was transported to Forest Hill Cemetery in a white hearse, where he was laid to rest beside his mother in a private service attended by close friends, celebrities like James Brown and Ann-Margret, and gospel performers who sang his favorite hymns.
Then came an almost unthinkable twist. Just weeks later, three men were arrested for attempting to steal Elvis’s body. Though they were caught before they could act—thanks to an undercover FBI agent—the incident shocked the nation. For safety, Elvis and his mother’s remains were moved to the Meditation Garden at Graceland on October 3, 1977, where they remain to this day, joined later by family members including Vernon and grandson Benjamin.
To this day, Elvis’s death draws thousands back to Memphis each August. During Elvis Week, fans walk silently past his grave by candlelight in a tribute that has lasted over four decades. Even in 2020, when Graceland began charging admission for the vigil, tens of thousands still came.
Elvis Presley lived just 42 years, but his music—and his memory—have outlived generations. In the end, the King may be gone, but the world still sings his song.
