Elvis Presley final years: The King’s lifestyle changes remembered by Memphis Mafia member | Music | Entertainment
Having gained some weight in the early 1970s, Elvis Presley trimmed down for his Aloha From Hawaii TV special. But from 1973 until his death in 1977, The King’s decline in health became worse and worse. The star struggled with his reliance on uppers and downers, but also his own genetic health problems including Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which could attack the liver and lungs.
In a recent Q&A video, Danny Smith (the son of Elvis’ cousin Billy Smith) was asked on his Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel: “Did you notice in the last few years of Elvis’ life, health conditions, mood changes or lifestyle changes?”
The King’s relative, who was just a teenager when the star died in 1977, remembered: “Yes and I guess a little of all of them. The main thing as a teenager that I noticed was lifestyle differences. He just kind of changed somewhat. I guess maybe you could say…more of just wanting certain people around him.”
Danny recalled how Elvis would also lose interest in some of his previous hobbies.
The King’s cousin said: “He didn’t really get into some of the older things…like the fireworks and stuff.”
He was referring to the star’s love of fireworks wars on the lawn behind the Graceland mansion with his Memphis Mafia.
In terms of how Elvis physically changed in his final years before his death at just 42, his relative shared: “Not really until later did I notice; it really wasn’t until the end that I noticed.”
Danny replied: “I’ve heard from Daddy and Momma and others that it had been talked about. I think had he maybe gone on later…I know that at times he had thoughts of it. Could he have really got any bigger? But then again, he’s Elvis Presley so…”
Before he died Elvis had had plans to get back into shape and then go on a world tour to countries like the UK and Japan.
However, this would have been difficult given that his manager Colonel Tom Parker was an illegal immigrant who couldn’t leave the country without fear of not being allowed back in. Sadly, he held Elvis back in his later career.
