Elvis Presley did not have a single "drug of choice"; rather, he was addicted to a cocktail of various prescription medications, including opioids, barbiturates, and amphetamines, all of which were legally prescribed by his doctors. He viewed these as medicine rather than illicit drugs.
“Usually you pass it all in two or three days, but at the autopsy we found stool in his colon which had been there for five months or more because of the poor motility of the bowel.”
He needed rest and true friends and time far away from the stage. Instead, he got more pills and another tour and another empty hotel room. What people saw as fat was really the body of a man worked to the edge, bloated by the medicine meant to keep him standing.
At first he couldn't help it, as he identified as a singer who had to wiggle his hips and legs as he sang, and it just happened. But then the screaming audience of women clarified for him that they wanted Elvis to do those moves consistently, to the point of passing women out with excitement.
He never thought he had a problem because he was taking "prescription drugs". Lab reports indicated that 14 drugs were found in Presley's blood at the time of his death, including "near toxic levels" of codeine, morphine, Placidyl and other prescription drugs.
Dolly Parton said no to Elvis Presley recording "I Will Always Love You" because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of the publishing rights, which Parton refused to give up, as she wanted to keep ownership and the future earnings for her family. Despite her heartbreak at the missed opportunity, she held firm to her business principle, understanding that retaining the copyright was crucial for her financial security and legacy, a decision that paid off immensely after Whitney Houston's cover became a global phenomenon.
He basically died of a heart attack brought on by starring too hard on the toilet to have a bowel movement. This was impossible as his intestines were blocked with 35 pounds of grayish fecal matter that would have required surgery to remove. The coroner said it was like concrete.
I can even remember what I was wearing: a red knit 70s jumpsuit ...' 'And in walks this guy, and he was soooo beautiful, that it just took my breath away, everybody's breath away. And he walked up to me, and he tussled my hair, and he said 'you look like a chicken that's just been hatched'.
When the toxicology report came back several weeks later, however, Elvis' blood was found to contain very high levels of the opiates Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol, and codeine — as well as Quaaludes.
The concept of autoimmunity was just starting to be understood. Much to his credit, Dr. Nick gave Elvis the diagnosis of post-concussion syndrome, and believed his headaches were a result of his head injury of 1967 (outlined later).
It was so indulgent it became part of his public image—decadent, Southern, over-the-top. But his last meal was quiet. A bowl of ice cream. Some cookies.
It's a debate with no single answer, as Elvis Presley was bigger in US chart dominance (114 Top 40 hits vs. MJ's 36) and pioneering rock, while Michael Jackson achieved greater global reach, international tours, and broader multimedia influence (music videos, dance). Both are among the biggest artists ever, selling over a billion records, but Elvis was the original King of Rock, while Jackson became the King of Pop with unparalleled global cultural saturation.
After that, he was on his own. Elvis was given 1 option as an adult in the 70s-a colostomy bag to which he said hell no to.
The reason given for his death was a cardiac arrhythmia suspected to be due to an interaction of an antihistamine, codeine, and Demerol (a painkiller), as well as Valium and several other tranquilizers. Prescription drug use sometimes results in fatal reactions.
Although he was aware of the problem in the early 1970s, Elvis was reluctant to undergo a colostomy, which involves removing part of the colon. "He thought he was really a man's man. ... He thought that this was a sign of weakness, and he wasn't going to be weak," Nichopoulos said.
“Freddie was very fond of Elvis.” Mercury said he even styled his vocals on the song to sound like The King Of Rock'n'Roll.
Dolly Parton said no to Elvis Presley recording "I Will Always Love You" because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of the publishing rights, which Parton refused to give up, as she wanted to keep ownership and the future earnings for her family. Despite her heartbreak at the missed opportunity, she held firm to her business principle, understanding that retaining the copyright was crucial for her financial security and legacy, a decision that paid off immensely after Whitney Houston's cover became a global phenomenon.
Goldie Hawn's notable recent health revelation was her diagnosis with cataracts, which caused significant vision loss, becoming apparent when she struggled to read the teleprompter at the 2025 Oscars, leading to an on-stage admission of being "completely blind". She has also previously spoken about managing anxiety and panic attacks early in her career and is a long-time advocate for mental health awareness through her foundation, MindUp.
For most, eating more fiber, staying hydrated, consuming fewer processed foods, exercising regularly, and having a set time for bowel movements helps fix chronic constipation. When these don't work, a doctor may recommend medication or, in rare cases, surgery.
According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner's report, Lisa Marie Presley's cause of death was determined to be a small bowel obstruction (SBO), specifically “a strangulated small bowel caused by adhesions that developed after bariatric surgery years ago.” This tragic outcome might have been prevented had she ...