Just hours before his untimely death in August 1977, Elvis Presley shared intimate, loving farewells and optimistic plans for his upcoming tour with his cousin Billy Smith and Billy’s wife Jo, offering a heartbreaking glimpse into the King of Rock and Roll’s final moments.
The legacy of Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock and Roll, continues to captivate fans decades after his passing. While countless stories recount his meteoric rise and unparalleled impact, the most poignant often come from those closest to him. Recently, a heartbreaking account from his cousin, Billy Smith, and Billy’s wife, Jo, has resurfaced, shedding new light on Elvis’s final conversation just hours before his death on August 16, 1977.
A Glimpse into Elvis’s Last Hours at Graceland
For devoted fans, every detail surrounding Elvis’s final day is a cherished piece of history. Billy and Jo Smith, long-time members of the famed “Memphis Mafia” and close family, spent the early morning hours of August 16, 1977, with Elvis and his girlfriend, Ginger Alden, at Graceland.
As dedicated custodians of Elvis’s memory, Billy and Jo have openly shared their experiences on fan-centric platforms, including the YouTube channels “EFM: Elvis Fans Matter” and “Memphis Mafia Kid.” It was during one of these candid interviews that they recounted the emotional final words exchanged with their beloved cousin.
The Racquetball Game and Midnight Songs
The evening began with a late-night tradition: racquetball. Around 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., Elvis, Ginger, Billy, and Jo gathered for a game in Elvis’s personal racquetball court at Graceland. Following the game, a reflective Elvis sat at the piano in the racquetball building, singing a soulful rendition of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and two gospel tunes, offering an intimate concert to his inner circle.
“I Love You, See You Tomorrow”
As the group retired to the mansion around 5:00 a.m., Jo Smith shared a tender moment with Elvis at the bottom of the stairs, a ritual they always observed. “When he started up the steps, I gave him a hug and he said, ‘I love you,’ and I said, ‘I love you too,'” Jo recalled, highlighting the deep affection between them. “When we would leave him at night, we always gave him a hug and we always said ‘I love you.’ He said the same thing to us. That was always a thing we did.”
Billy Smith accompanied Elvis upstairs to his private quarters. There, Billy helped his cousin dry his hair after a shower, a seemingly mundane act that underscored their profound bond. It was during this moment that Elvis expressed his excitement for the future.
He confided in Billy, stating, “I think this is going to be my greatest tour ever.” This sentiment, echoed in other reports as “this is going to be the best tour ever,” revealed Elvis’s enduring optimism and passion for his music. He was scheduled to embark on a 12-date tour starting August 17, with his last live performance having been on June 26, 1977.
The conversation concluded with typical family warmth. Billy asked, “You got your hair done, are you going to go to bed now?” Elvis replied, “Yeah.” As Billy prepared to leave, Elvis’s final words to him were, “I love you, see you tomorrow.”
Jo Smith also remembers Elvis adding a hopeful note to their goodnight, telling the couple, “We’ve got big things to do, we’re going to do big things.” These words, spoken with enthusiasm, paint a picture of an artist full of plans and aspirations for the future, unaware of the tragedy that would soon unfold.
The Tragic Morning: Elvis’s Untimely Death
Just hours after these intimate goodbyes, the world was plunged into mourning. Around 1:30 p.m. that afternoon, Elvis’s girlfriend, Ginger Alden, found him unresponsive on the floor of his bathroom at Graceland. He had reportedly retired to read in the adjacent bathroom, a copy of Frank Adams’ book The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus by his side, as documented by Express.
Alden later detailed in her book, Elvis & Ginger, that the entertainer had taken “sleep packets” to combat insomnia, and that doctors had sometimes given him placebos due to his dependency on sleep medication, as reported by TODAY. Paramedics were quickly dispatched to Graceland, and Elvis was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead two hours later.
Elvis Presley was only 42 years old when he died on August 16, 1977, leaving behind a monumental legacy and millions of grieving fans. His funeral took place just two days later, with his initial burial next to his mother, Gladys, in Forest Hill Cemetery. Later, both were moved to Graceland’s Meditation Garden, where their graves remain today, alongside his father, Vernon, and grandmother, Minnie. His grandson was also laid to rest there more recently.
An Enduring Connection: The Smiths’ Dedication to Elvis’s Memory
For Billy and Jo Smith, Elvis was not just a global icon but the center of their lives. Jo candidly shared that they find it difficult to return to Graceland today, a testament to the depth of their loss. Billy eloquently captured their sentiment, stating, “Graceland didn’t make Elvis, Elvis made Graceland.”
Despite the pain, the couple and their sons, Danny and Joey, continue to honor Elvis’s memory by sharing stories of the fun times they had together and answering fan questions. Their willingness to share these intimate details provides a precious connection for fans, preserving the human side of the legendary performer.
