What Really Happened The Final 24 Hours Of Elvis Presley Life?

 The Final Hours of Elvis Presley: The King’s Last Day

The Memphis Mafia, Elvis's family, and his fiancée Ginger Alden were all present at Graceland. Elvis played the piano, enjoyed a game of racquetball, and was preparing to head back out on tour. Tragically, he spent his final four hours alone.

This article reveals the final hours of Elvis Presley, leading up to his heartbreaking death on August 16, 1977. While Ginger slept in the next room, Elvis passed away in the bathroom. He didn’t die alone in the middle of the night as many believed—he passed around 1:30 p.m.

Elvis was known for his nocturnal lifestyle—staying up late, playing music, and sleeping through most of the day. Because of this, Graceland was always staffed to support his schedule. Members of the Memphis Mafia and his family could be called upon at any time.

Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley, his new wife Dee Stanley, and their sons lived next door. A deep look into Elvis’s final 24 hours reveals that it was a seemingly normal day that ended in tragedy.

At around 4:00 p.m. on August 15, 1977, Elvis woke up at Graceland. He spent time with Ginger and his daughter, Lisa Marie. Although Lisa often stayed over, Ginger had declined Elvis’s invitation to move in.

“He asked me to move into Graceland, but I never did,” Ginger later recalled. “And he said, ‘I respect you for that.’ It just wasn’t my way at the time.”

At 10:30 p.m., Elvis and Ginger visited his dentist, Dr. Lester Hoffman, to discuss ongoing dental issues. Elvis’s team of medical professionals—his dentist, doctor, and nurse—were always on call, regularly providing him with painkillers, sleeping aids, and other medication.

At 2:30 a.m. on August 16, Elvis and Ginger returned home to Graceland. Elvis waved to fans as they drove through the gates. One fan captured the final photograph of Elvis, who was wearing a bright blue shirt under a black jacket and large black sunglasses despite it being nighttime.

At 2:15 a.m., Elvis called his physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos (“Dr. Nick”), to request painkillers. He was prescribed six Dilaudid tablets. His stepbrother, Ricky Stanley, picked them up from the 24-hour pharmacy at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Elvis took the pills shortly after Ricky returned.

At around 4:00 a.m., Elvis called his cousin Billy and Billy’s wife, Jo, to come over and play racquetball. Though it was very late, this wasn’t unusual for Elvis. Everyone around him either worked for him or benefited financially from his generosity.

When Billy arrived, he mentioned he wished the rain would stop. Elvis raised his hands and said, “Ain’t no problem, I’ll take care of it.” Miraculously, the rain stopped. “If you have a little faith, you can stop anything,” Elvis said.

After a brief game, they moved to the piano behind the racquetball court. Elvis played two gospel songs before transitioning into the ballad Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.

At 5:00 a.m., Elvis and Ginger returned to the bedroom. He took his scheduled prescription medication—prepared by Dr. Nick and often distributed by his nurse, Tish Henley. These were designed to help him fall asleep.

When he was still unable to sleep by 7:00 a.m., he requested a second packet of medication from Ricky, who was on duty that day from noon to 3:00 p.m. Elvis wanted to rest, as he had a concert scheduled in Portland, Maine, the following night at 7:00 p.m., part of his ongoing U.S. tour.

At 8:00 a.m., Elvis asked again for more medication, but Ricky was nowhere to be found. Frustrated, Elvis called his aunt, Delta Biggs, and asked her to contact Dr. Nick. Although hesitant, nurse Tish finally provided a third, smaller packet of medication—containing two Valmid pills and additional sedatives.

Lisa Marie, Elvis’s 9-year-old daughter, was in the bedroom next door at the time.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., Elvis told Ginger he was going to the bathroom. He was wearing gold pajamas and carrying the book The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus by Frank Adams. Elvis was known to suffer from chronic constipation and would often spend long periods in the bathroom. Ginger later said she warned him not to do so. Elvis’s final words were, “I won’t.”

Around 2:00 p.m., Ginger woke up and noticed Elvis was not back in bed. Though unusual, it didn’t immediately alarm her. She got dressed, did her makeup, and called her mother for a chat. When she eventually went to check on Elvis, she found him lying motionless on the bathroom floor.

At first, Ginger thought he had fallen and hit his head. Al Strada, the staff member on the afternoon shift, responded to her cries for help. Ginger quickly took Lisa Marie out of the room when she arrived to see what was happening.

An ambulance was called. Vernon Presley, who lived next door, was notified and rushed over.

At 2:33 p.m., an ambulance from Memphis Fire Department's Engine House 29 responded to the call. Initially, paramedics believed it was another typical Graceland emergency involving an overwhelmed fan. But they quickly realized the gravity of the situation.

Elvis was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, about seven miles from his home on Elvis Presley Boulevard.

At 3:30 p.m. on August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley was officially declared dead. The news reached the media by around 4:00 p.m.

Elvis’s death remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in rock and roll history. He is missed by millions. Some still believe he never truly died.

We take this moment to send our condolences to his friends, family, and fans around the world. His legacy will forever live on. Elvis truly made this world a better place.