Elvis Presley died in August 1977 after suffering heart failure at the age of 42. Hearts across the globe shattered when the news broke and a slew of conspiracy theories have lingered in the wake.
Some people firmly believe that the King of Rock and Roll is still alive — that he somehow faked his own death. Now, in a new interview with People magazine that was published on Sept. 20, Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley is addressing the ongoing rumors. Without hesitation, Priscilla denied that Elvis is still alive.
Priscilla was married to Elvis from 1967 through 1973. The former couple had one daughter together — Lisa Marie Presley — who was born in 1968.
Although Priscilla and Elvis were divorced, she still had a special place for him in her heart. When he died, Priscilla was absolutely devastated.
“I got a call. Instantly, I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t pinpoint it because Lisa was supposed to come home that day. After all, Elvis was going out on tour,” Priscilla recalled during an interview with Entertainment Tonight back in 2005.
“I raced home. I think I ran every red light there was trying to get to my house,” Priscilla continued, adding, “The phone was ringing. It kept ringing and ringing. It felt like one of those horror movies when you’re trying to get the key in the door. Like your hands are shaking so badly you can’t find the hole to get the key into.”
When she answered the phone, Elvis’ road manager Joe Esposito was on the line. “I was praying that the phone didn’t stop ringing. And I get to the phone, and it’s Joe Esposito. I will never forget this. He says to me, ‘You know, Cilla,’ and it seemed like it was forever for him to tell me, and then he said, ‘It’s Elvis,’” she recalled.