Elvis Casket Photo: National Enquirer's Scoop & Conspiracy Theories

21 May, 2025

Was it a moment of morbid fascination, a violation of privacy, or a historical necessity? The National Enquirer's decision to publish a photograph of Elvis Presley in his casket remains one of the most controversial and widely recognized images in tabloid history.

The world mourned the loss of Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977. The King of Rock and Roll, at the age of 42, had passed away, sending shockwaves across the globe. The news, as sudden as it was devastating, brought an onslaught of media to Graceland, his Memphis mansion. America's top tabloid, the National Enquirer, however, had a very specific agenda. Their mission, as focused as it was mandated, was to secure the ultimate scoop: a photograph of Elvis in his coffin. This pursuit would lead to a story that has endured in the annals of celebrity and tabloid journalism. The former National Enquirer editor, Iain Calder, was on staff when this cover story was executed.

Elvis' body was taken to a Memphis funeral home where it was embalmed before being returned to Graceland on August 17, 1977. Elvis's father, Vernon, ordered a public viewing. Over 30,000 fans were allowed into Graceland to pay their respects. As the fans moved through the foyer, they were allowed to see the casket. The image captured by the National Enquirer would be the most famous image. The photograph of the King in his casket remains famous.

One person, who viewed the body, described their experience, "As I walked up, you stood at an angle and you didnt really see his." The image captured was considered proof to a lot of people. The conspiracy theories ran wild, with theories ranging from elaborate cover-ups to the notion that the casket held a wax dummy. The story is real and can be found in Peter Guralnick's "Careless Love", widely regarded as one of the best books written about Elvis. The image, allegedly obtained from one of Elvis's cousins, cost the magazine a reported $18,000. It was a last act of betrayal.

The world was in mourning. The man, the myth, the legend was dead. He was lying in state in his seamless copper coffin in the doorway of Graceland's music room. Elvis' father, Vernon, was the last to pay his respects, kissing the coffin and whispering, "Daddy will be with you soon." Elvis was interred at 4:30 pm CST.

The press had descended upon Graceland, and the world's attention was focused on the King's final resting place. Pallbearers carried the casket containing Elvis Presley's body into the mausoleum in Memphis, Tennessee. The image of Elvis in his casket, published by the National Enquirer, has become the most famous final photo of the King. Others, however, insist that the occupant of the casket wasn't human at all, pointing to noted irregularities in the image. An estimated 80,000 people turned up to watch the processional route to Forest Hill Cemetery.

Bio Data	Details
Full Name	Elvis Aaron Presley
Date of Birth	January 8, 1935
Place of Birth	Tupelo, Mississippi, USA
Date of Death	August 16, 1977
Place of Death	Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Cause of Death	Heart Failure
Marital Status	Married (Priscilla Presley)
Children	Lisa Marie Presley
Known For	Singing, Acting, Cultural Icon
Genre	Rock and Roll, Pop, Gospel, Country
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Years Active	19541977
Record Labels	Sun, RCA Victor
Notable Albums	Elvis Presley (1956), Elvis (1956), Elvis' Christmas Album (1957), From Elvis in Memphis (1969), Elvis Country (1971)
Notable Songs	"Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Love Me Tender," "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Awards and Honors	Grammy Awards, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Website	Official Elvis Presley Website

The conspiracy theories, of course, took hold. The circumstances surrounding his death, combined with the image, fueled endless speculation. Some claimed he faked his own death to work for the government. The casket, it was rumored, was weighted, while others thought the singer was living peacefully under the name Orion.

The funeral was a public spectacle, and the publication of the photograph added fuel to the fire. Elvis Presley's body was put on display in an open casket for two days after his death, just before his funeral. The image, captured by the National Enquirer, became the ultimate tabloid scoop. This moment in time, captured in a single image, cemented the National Enquirer's place in history, for better or worse.

The image. The single image of the King, in his casket. It remains one of the most famous and controversial images of all time. It captured not just the death of a cultural icon, but also the ethics of the media. It raises the question: Was the image a respectful farewell or a violation of the dead? Or was it simply an act of good journalism, a reflection of the public's desire to get closer to a man they loved?

Grandes funerales Elvis Presley Entre piedras y cipreses

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Elvis Presley In His Coffin How The National Enquirer Scored A Photo Of

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