The Day Elvis Presley Passed Away in 1977

Elvis Aaron Presley, born into poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, skyrocketed to stardom by age 21.

By 23, he was a global sensation with hit songs, TV appearances, and movies, becoming an icon for the U.S. military.

However, his rapid rise led to a life of excess, impacting his health within two decades.

The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, died on August 16, 1977, at 42 years old in Memphis, Tennessee, on a scorching day.

In solitude at his mansion named Graceland, far from the glitz and glam, Elvis passed away in one of the bathrooms.

Elvis spent his final hours alone, likely unconscious, with his fiancée, Ginger Alden, being the last to see him alive.

Alden, just 20, heard Elvis' last words, which were either about reading in the bathroom or assuring her he wouldn't fall asleep there due to his insomnia and sedative use.

Before losing consciousness, Elvis was reading a book titled “A Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus,” reflecting his enduring Christian faith and interest in religion, including a possible contemplation of converting to Mormonism.

Around 5 a.m. on August 16, Elvis took more pills in a desperate bid to sleep before his upcoming commitments.

By 9:30 a.m., he had left the bedroom, spending hours alone until Alden found him cold and unresponsive on the bathroom floor.

Upon discovering Elvis near death, Alden tried to revive him before seeking help from Joseph Esposito, a friend and manager.

Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Elvis was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

Fans flocked to Graceland upon news of Elvis' passing, mourning the loss of the music legend.

The world was shocked by his death, with conspiracy theories circulating for years, questioning if he had truly died or staged his passing.

Before his demise, Elvis battled various health issues, including obesity, insomnia, and substance abuse, leading to heart failure as the official cause of death due to his excessive medication intake.

Elvis Presley's body was laid to rest at Graceland next to his mother and father in the Meditation Garden.

Despite a modest funeral, his fans paid their respects, cementing his