Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, devastating millions of fans around the world. (Photo Credits: Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images & ELVIS PRESLEY WORLDWIDE / YouTube
Elvis achieved an unprecedented level of fame during his 24-year career. That fame endures today. Guinness World Records ranks him as the world’s best-selling solo artist.
But Elvis’ career may have been even grander, if not for the horrifying discovery made by his fiancée, Ginger Alden, on August 16, 1977.
At the age of 42, Elvis, “The King of Rock and Roll,” had died.
Elvis Presley’s Final Hours Left Fans Searching For Answers For Decades
Ginger later described the heartbreaking moment she found Elvis unresponsive on the bathroom floor inside his Graceland home, recalling simply, “It was a devastating day.”
Elvis’ death was attributed to a heart attack, but the circumstances surrounding his sudden passing have continued to fuel discussion and speculation for decades. What has never been in doubt, however, is the extraordinary legacy he left behind. Nearly half a century later, the King of Rock & Roll’s voice, songs and influence continue to reach millions around the world.
Mourners Gathered Outside Of Graceland Following Elvis’ Passing
Saying that fans were heartbroken upon Elvis’ death is a severe understatement. His death made them feel like the world was falling apart.
Many media outlets interviewed these fans to hear how they reacted to the news. Each person expressed their grief in their own way, but all showed how much they admired Elvis.
We’ve gathered some of those reactions here for you to read.
Thousands of fans gathered outside of Elvis’ Graceland mansion after hearing the news of his death. Some traveled hundreds of miles, as they felt compelled to be at the home where Elvis spent his final moments.
Reporters also converged outside the Graceland estate. They stopped to ask fans how they felt in that moment. When asked why she went through such trouble to be at Graceland after Elvis died, one fan broke down:
“Because we love Elvis, we still do,” she said. When the reporter told her she wouldn’t be able to get inside the gates of Graceland, she responded, “It doesn’t make any difference.”
As the mayor of Memphis ordered the flags in the city to be flown at half-staff, more fans gathered outside of Graceland. Many of the mourners had already been in the city, hoping to catch a glimpse of Elvis.
It was a hope that some of Elvis’ fans had for decades. After his breakout moment in the 1950s, he became known as a global phenomenon and heartthrob. Women swooned over his good looks and dance moves, which were considered scandalous at that time.
These same fans remained loyal to Elvis Presley throughout his career, and many appeared at Graceland after his death. One fan had dreamed of coming to Graceland for over two decades and had arrived only one day before Elvis’ death:
“I can’t believe it,” she told a reporter, choking back sobs. “I just can’t. I’ve been a fan of Elvis’ since I was 16 years old. And my dream came true, my husband brought me up here yesterday to see Elvis’ home. And I’ve waited 21 years for this, and I don’t believe it, I just don’t.”
You Can See Rare Footage From The Day Of Elvis Presley’s Death In The Clip Below, Including Interviews With Fans Mourning His Passing
Since Elvis Presley’s death, thousands of people have donned costumes in his signature style, stepped out on stage, and entertained crowds with their best Elvis impressions while singing his hit songs. Today, Elvis is perhaps the most impersonated celebrity of all time.
But although many people have tried to imitate Elvis, no one will ever be exactly like him. One fan summed it up perfectly:
“There’s no one else like him. There won’t ever be anyone else like him as far as I’m concerned.”
Sammy Davis Jr. Remembered Elvis After He Died
Elvis’ death impacted not only everyday people but also his fellow celebrities. The news hit those in the music industry particularly hard, since Elvis had become one of the most respected artists of the century.
During a radio interview, Sammy Davis Jr., an actor, dancer, and singer known as a member of Frank Sinatra’s famous “Rat Pack,” spoke of how much respect he had for Elvis. When asked to rate “The King” on a scale of 1-10, Sammy said that Elvis was above such a scale:
“He’s got to be an 11, I’m not saying that because of the tragedy…but because anybody in this business of ours that can become one of a kind…he’s the one, the only, the original. Everybody else is an imitator.”
One Fan Felt “Shattered” After Elvis’ Death
Decades after Elvis first rose to stardom, his loyal fans still stood in line, often for days at a time, just to make sure they got tickets to his show in their hometown. Beverly Hochstedt was one of those people. When it was revealed that Elvis was performing in Baltimore, Beverly sat outside the Civic Center for 40 hours to make sure she got tickets to the show.
After Elvis passed away, Beverly was interviewed by The Washington Post about how his death affected her. The Post wrote that Beverly, who was 31 at the time, sobbed as she spoke:
“Oh, God, what can I say, I just feel so lost, I feel shattered. I feel like I lost a very, very, close, very, dear friend, part of my own family.“
Elvis’ Legacy Lives On Today
Today, people continue to ask “what if?” What if Elvis had lived a long life? Then his fans would have had no reason to feel lost, and they could have enjoyed dozens of new Elvis songs over the years.
But as we are left here asking, “What if?” we don’t really need those songs that Elvis never recorded. We just need the songs he did record and footage from his many entertaining performances, such as the clip below of him singing “Lonesome Tonight,” the last time he appeared on camera singing live.
There’s a reason Elvis’ legacy lives on today, and it lies in his fans. Those same fans who mourned his death played his music for their children, who later taught their own kids about “The King,” and so on.
Thanks to his fans’ love and devotion, Elvis Presley will never truly die.