The SHOCKING Truth About The One Thing Elvis Requested For His Funeral: A Wish Unfulfilled

The death of Elvis Presley at the age of 42 stopped the world in 1977. While the details of his passing are well-known, the King's dying wish regarding his final resting place—and the dramatic events that prevented it from being honored—is a story known only to his closest family and staff.

The video titled "The SHOCKING Truth About The One Thing Elvis Requested For His Funeral & It's Not What You Think" reveals that Elvis had one very specific request: he did not want to be buried in the ground 

The King's Burial Wish

According to Nancy Rooks, who worked at Graceland from 1967 until Elvis's death, the King consistently stated that he wished for an above-ground crypt (mausoleum) . His father, Vernon Presley, initially honored this request.

• The First Burial: When Elvis died, he was interred in an above-ground crypt at Forest Hill Mausoleum in Memphis. His mother, Gladys, who had died in 1958, was also moved and placed in the crypt directly below him .

The Move Driven by a Dark Threat

This arrangement, however, did not last long. Just weeks after his death, the Memphis police discovered a disturbing plot: people were planning to steal Elvis’s body and hold it for ransom .

Faced with an unimaginable security threat, Vernon Presley made the agonizing decision to move both Elvis and Gladys to the Meditation Garden at Graceland for increased security .

The Difficult Choice to Bury Him

Vernon initially planned to build another above-ground crypt at Graceland to finally fulfill his son's wish . However, after receiving bids, he realized the Presley estate did not have enough cash to construct a mausoleum that would be grand enough for Elvis's status .

More importantly, Vernon concluded that burying Elvis in the ground would make it significantly harder for anyone to steal the body compared to breaking into a crypt . Although it "tore Vernon up inside," he buried his son in the ground, prioritizing the security of his remains over his final wish .

The second, private funeral service took place on October 2, 1977, as Elvis and Gladys were laid to rest at their permanent home .

The Final Resting Place

Today, the Meditation Garden at Graceland remains the sanctuary for the Presley family. The area, which was opened to the public in 1978, has become the final resting place for several key family members:

• Elvis Presley

• Gladys Presley (Mother)

• Vernon Presley (Father, buried in 1979) 

• Minnie Mae Presley (Grandmother, buried in 1980) 

• Benjamin Keough (Grandson, buried in 2020)

• Lisa Marie Presley (Daughter, buried in 2023 next to her son) 

Additionally, following a settlement with the estate, it was finalized in August 2023 that Priscilla Presley will also be buried at Graceland when the time comes, arranged to be as close to Elvis as possible without disturbing the existing graves .