Elvis Presley woke up on August 15th, 1977 at 11:47 a.m. It was a Monday morning, his last Monday, his final full day alive. The last 24 hours of Elvis Presley existing on Earth. He didn’t know that for certain. Didn’t have medical confirmation. Didn’t have a diagnosis with a timeline. But he knew, felt it, sensed it, understood it in the way dying people understand.

 in the way bodies communicate, in the way souls prepare. He knew August 15th, 1977 was his last day. Knew August 16th would be his death day. New goodbye needed to happen. New farewells needed to be said. New people needed to be released. Knew he needed to say the word goodbye to everyone. To every person who mattered.

to every person who’d been part of his life. To every person who deserved farewell. To everyone. That’s what August 15th, 1977 was for. Saying goodbye to everyone. Elvis got out of bed, moved slowly, painfully. His body was failing, shutting down, preparing to stop. Every movement required effort. Every step took concentration.

 Every action cost energy he barely had. But he got up, got dressed, made himself presentable, made himself Elvis one last time because today mattered. Today was important. Today was goodbye. At 12:30 p.m., Elvis called a meeting, told his staff he wanted to see everyone. Everyone who worked at Graceland, everyone who was present, everyone who was part of his daily life told them to gather in the living room told them it was important told them to come.

 Now by 100 p.m. 17 people had gathered. staff members, security, cooks, housekeepers, drivers, assistants, everyone who worked at Graceland, everyone who made Elvis’s life function, everyone who’d been part of his world. They stood in the living room, confused, concerned, not understanding why Elvis had called them, not knowing what was happening, just waiting, just present, just gathered because Elvis had asked.

 Elvis walked into the room. Everyone went quiet, looked at him, saw how terrible he looked, saw how close to death he appeared, saw the gray skin, the labored breathing, the obvious decline, saw a man who was dying, who everyone knew was dying, who everyone had been watching die slowly for months. Elvis stood at the center of the room, looked at each person, made eye contact, saw them, really saw them, acknowledged them, appreciated them, loved them.

 These people who’d made his life possible, who’d served him, who’d supported him, who’d been present, who deserved goodbye. Before you hear what Elvis said, let me ask you something. Have you ever said goodbye to people without telling them it was goodbye? Have you ever known something others didn’t know and had to hide it while revealing it? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

 Your story might help someone carrying secret knowledge. Elvis spoke. His voice was rough, tired, but clear, intentional, every word chosen, every sentence meaningful. Every moment counted. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for being here. Thank you for working at Graceand. Thank you for making my life function.

Thank you for serving me. Thank you for everything. I wanted to gather you all together because I need to say something. Need to tell you something. Need you to hear something. I’m grateful for all of you. For everything you’ve done, for every day you’ve worked here, for every way you’ve helped me, for every moment you’ve been present, I’m grateful. And I wanted you to know that.

Wanted to tell you that. Wanted you to hear it from me. You matter. What you do matters. You’ve mattered to me. You’ve made my life better. You’ve made Graceland function. You’ve made everything possible and I’m grateful. I’m saying this now because I want you to know, need you to know, need you to understand that you mattered, that I noticed, that I appreciated, that I was grateful.

 Thank you for everything, for all of it, for being here, for being part of my life, for being part of Graceland. Thank you and goodbye. Goodbye to all of you. Goodbye and thank you. The room was silent. Everyone processing. Everyone confused. Everyone understanding something important was happening but not understanding what. Why was Elvis saying goodbye? Where was he going? What did this mean? One of the housekeepers, a woman named Mary Jenkins, who’d worked at Graceland for 12 years, spoke. Mr.

 Presley, are you going somewhere? Are you leaving? Elvis smiled. Sad smile. Knowing smile. Final smile. Yes, Mary. I’m going somewhere. Somewhere I won’t be coming back from somewhere final. Somewhere that means goodbye is permanent. That’s why I’m saying it now. That’s why I gathered you all. That’s why this matters.

 Goodbye to all of you. Remember that I was grateful. Remember that you mattered. Remember that I appreciated you. That’s all. That’s what I needed to say. Goodbye. Another staff member, a security guard named David Stanley, understood. Understood what Elvis was really saying. Understood. Goodbye meant death. Understood.

 Elvis was telling them he was dying. Was saying farewell. Was preparing them. Elvis, are you okay? Do you need help? Should we call a doctor? Elvis shook his head. No, I don’t need help. I don’t need a doctor. I need to say goodbye. That’s all. That’s what today is for. Saying goodbye to everyone. To every person who matters.

 To everyone who deserves farewell. That’s you. All of you. You deserve goodbye. You deserve gratitude. You deserve acknowledgement. That’s what I’m giving you. Goodbye. Remember I said it. Remember August 15th. Remember this moment. Remember, I was grateful. That’s everything. That’s all that matters. Goodbye. Elvis left the room.

 Left 17 confused staff members. Left them processing. Left them wondering, left them not quite understanding, but understanding enough. Understanding something important had happened. Understanding Elvis had just said goodbye. Your understanding it felt final. At 2:30 p.m., Elvis called Vernon.

 His father told him to come to Graceland. Told him it was important. Told him to come now. Vernon arrived at 300 p.m. Found Elvis in his bedroom, sitting in his chair by the window, looking out at Graceland’s grounds, looking at everything, seeing everything, saying goodbye to everything. Elvis, you called? Elvis turned, looked at his father, at the man who’d raised him, who’d guided him, who’d been present, who’d loved him, who’d also enabled him, who’d also failed him, who’d also let him die, but who’d been his father, who deserved goodbye. “Daddy, I need to talk to you.

Need to tell you something. Need you to hear something. Sit down.” Vernon sat, worried, concerned, seeing how terrible Elvis looked, seeing death approaching, seeing his son dying. What’s wrong? What do you need? Elvis took a breath, prepared himself, prepared to say goodbye to his father, prepared to release him, prepared to be released.

Daddy, I want to thank you for raising me, for being my father, for loving me, for trying, for everything. I know I haven’t been easy. I know I’ve made terrible choices. I know I’ve destroyed myself. I know I’ve disappointed you. But I want you to know something. Want you to understand something.

 Want you to hear something. It wasn’t your fault. My dying isn’t your fault. My choices aren’t your fault. My addiction isn’t your fault. You did your best. You tried. You loved me. That’s all anyone can do. That’s all I needed. That’s what you gave me. And I’m grateful. I’m grateful for you. For being my father. For trying. For loving me.

 Even when I was destroying myself. Even when I was making terrible choices. Even when I was dying, you loved me. And I’m grateful. Thank you, Daddy, for everything, for all of it. For being my father. Thank you. And goodbye. Vernon’s face showed shock, understanding, horror. Goodbye, Elvis.

 What are you saying? Where are you going? Elvis’s voice was gentle, patient. Final. I’m dying, daddy. Tomorrow, maybe tonight. Soon, very soon. My body is telling me, is preparing me, is letting me know. And I wanted to say goodbye. Wanted to thank you. Wanted to release you from guilt, from responsibility, from blame. It’s not your fault. I chose this.

 I did this. Me, not you. Remember that when I’m gone, when you’re grieving, when you’re questioning, remember it wasn’t your fault. Remember, I chose this. Remember, I’m responsible. Remember and forgive yourself. That’s what I’m asking. That’s what I need. Forgive yourself. And remember, I loved you. Always loved you.

 Even when I was destroying myself, I loved you. Goodbye, Daddy. Thank you for being my father. Vernon cried, broke down. Elvis, no. Don’t say goodbye. Don’t give up. Fight. Please fight. I’ve been fighting for years. I’m tired. I’m done. I’m ready. This is goodbye. Accept it. Let me go. Love me by letting me go.

 That’s what I need. That’s what I’m asking. Let me go. Goodbye. Vernon left at 400 p.m. Devastated, understanding, knowing his son had just said goodbye. Knowing Elvis was dying, knowing tomorrow would bring death. Knowing and unable to stop it, unable to change it, unable to do anything except accept it. At 5:00 p.m., Elvis called Priscilla in Los Angeles.

She answered on the second ring. Elvis, is everything okay? No. Well, everything’s not okay. I’m dying. Tomorrow, probably. Maybe tonight, soon. And I needed to call you. Needed to say something. Needed you to hear something. Are you sitting down? Priscilla sat, heart racing, understanding something terrible was being said. I’m sitting.

What’s wrong? I’m saying goodbye to everyone. Today is my goodbye day. My final farewell to everyone who matters. And you matter. You’ve always mattered. Even after the divorce, even after everything ended, even after I destroyed us, you mattered. You’ve always mattered. And I need to say goodbye. Need to thank you.

 Need you to know something. Thank you for loving me. For marrying me. For trying to save me. for leaving when I wouldn’t save myself. For protecting Lisa Marie, for being strong when I was weak, for choosing life when I was choosing death. Thank you for all of it. For everything. For loving me when I was lovable.

 And leaving me when I wasn’t. That took strength. That took courage. That took love. Real love. Thank you. And goodbye. Goodbye, Priscilla. Thank you for being my wife. for being Lisa Marie’s mother, for being strong, for being you. Thank you and goodbye. Priscilla was crying. Elvis, don’t say goodbye. Get help. Go to the hospital. Fight. Please fight.

 I’ve been fighting. I’m done. This is goodbye. Accept it. Remember, I loved you. Remember, I was grateful. Remember and let me go. That’s what I need. That’s what I’m asking. Let me go. Goodbye. Elvis hung up. Priscilla sat holding the phone, crying, understanding, knowing Elvis had just said goodbye, knowing he was dying, knowing tomorrow would bring death. At 6 p.m.

, Elvis called Lisa Marie. She was with Priscilla in Los Angeles. Priscilla handed her the phone. Lisa Marie’s voice was cautious, knowing something was wrong. Daddy. Hi, baby. I wanted to call you. Wanted to hear your voice. Wanted to tell you something. I love you. I love you more than anything in this world.

 More than performing, more than fame, more than anything. You’re the best thing I ever did. The best part of my life. The person I’m most proud of. And I want you to remember that. Want you to know that. Want you to carry that. You were loved completely, totally forever. You were loved by me, by your daddy. Remember that. Always remember that.

 I love you, Lisa Marie, more than life, more than anything. Goodbye, baby. Remember, I loved you. That’s everything. That’s what matters. I loved you. Goodbye. Lisa Marie understood. 9 years old and understanding. Goodbye, Daddy. I love you, too. Elvis hung up, sat in his room, cried, cried for Lisa Marie, cried for leaving her, cried for everything.

At 700 p.m., Elvis went downstairs, found his inner circle, the people closest to him, his bodyguards, his closest friends, the people who’d been with him longest, about eight people gathered in the den. He stood before them. I’m saying goodbye to all of you. Goodbye and thank you. Thank you for protecting me, for being with me, for staying loyal, for being present.

 Thank you and goodbye. This is goodbye. Remember that I said it. Remember August 15th. Remember, I was grateful. Goodbye to all of you. One of his bodyguards, Red West, who’d just been fired 3 weeks ago, but had come to visit, understood. Elvis, are you dying? Yes, tomorrow. Maybe tonight soon.

 And I needed to say goodbye. Needed to tell you all. Needed you to hear it. Goodbye. Remember I loved you. Remember I was grateful. Goodbye. The room erupted. People begging Elvis to get help. To go to the hospital to fight. But Elvis refused. Said no. Said this was goodbye. Said accept it. Said let me go. said, “Reme

mber and let me go.” At 8:00 p.m., Elvis was with Ginger Alden, his girlfriend, the woman who’d been with him, who’d been present, who’d been loving him. They sat together in his bedroom. Elvis held her hand. “Ginger, I need to tell you something. Need you to hear something. Tomorrow, I’m going to die. I know this. I feel this. I’m certain of this.

 And I needed to tell you, needed to prepare you. needed to say goodbye. Goodbye, Ginger. Thank you for loving me, for being with me, for staying, for trying. Thank you. And goodbye. This is goodbye. Remember I said it. Remember August 15th. Remember I loved you. Goodbye. Ginger cried. Elvis, no. You’re not dying. You’re just tired.

You’re just stressed. You’ll be fine. No, I won’t be fine. I’ll be dead tomorrow. And I needed to say goodbye. Needed you to hear it. Goodbye. Remember. Remember I said goodbye. Remember August 15th. That’s important. Remember. Throughout the day. August 15th, 1977. Elvis said goodbye to everyone. To his cook, to his maid, to his driver, to his doctor, to his dentist, to his pharmacist, to every person he could reach. every person who mattered.

 Every person who deserved farewell to everyone. He called people, visited people, gathered people, made sure everyone heard it, made sure everyone received goodbye, made sure everyone knew. By 11 p.m. on August 15th, 1977, Elvis had said goodbye to everyone, had told everyone, had prepared everyone, had released everyone, had done what August 15th was for, saying goodbye.

 He went to bed around midnight, told Ginger good night, took his pills, closed his eyes, prepared to die, expected to die in his sleep, expected to not wake up, expected August 16th to be his death day without him experiencing it. But death didn’t come during sleep. Death waited. At 2 am on August 16th, Elvis woke up, was still alive, was surprised, had expected to die in sleep, had said goodbye to everyone expecting not to wake up.

 But he’d woken up, was still alive, still breathing, still existing, had more hours, had morning, had a little more time. Elvis got up, went to the bathroom, read, waited, waited for death, waited for his body to stop, waited for August 16th to become his death day. At 2:30 p.m. on August 16th, Ginger woke up, found Elvis unresponsive in the bathroom, called for help.

Paramedics came, tried to revive him, couldn’t, rushed him to Baptist Memorial Hospital, pronounced him dead at 3:30 p.m. August 16th, 1977, just as Elvis had known, just as he’d predicted, just as he’d prepared everyone for. The day after, he said goodbye to everyone. News spread immediately.

 Within hours, everyone knew. Everyone Elvis had said goodbye to the day before understood. understood what goodbye had meant, understood why August 15th mattered, understood Elvis had known, had told them, had prepared them, had said goodbye. Mary Jenkins, the housekeeper, heard the news at 400 p.m. Remembered yesterday. Remembered Elvis gathering everyone.

Remembered him saying goodbye. Remembered thinking it was strange. Now understanding, now knowing, now crying. He told us yesterday he said goodbye. He said goodbye to all of us. He knew. He knew he was dying. He knew August 16th would be his death day. He told us goodbye on August 15th. He prepared us. He knew.

 David Stanley, the security guard, heard the news at 4:15 p.m. Remembered yesterday. Remembered Elvis saying goodbye. Remembered understanding it felt final. Now knowing why he said goodbye yesterday, said it to all of us, said goodbye and thank you. I didn’t fully understand. Thought maybe he was just grateful, but now I understand.

 He was saying goodbye because he knew. Knew he was dying. New August 16th was his death day. New August 15th was his last day. He told us, he prepared us. He said goodbye. Vernon heard the news at the hospital. Was there when Elvis was pronounced dead? Remembered yesterday. I remembered Elvis calling him.

 Remembered the goodbye. Remembered understanding and not wanting to understand. Now fully understanding. He told me goodbye yesterday. Said thank you. Said it wasn’t my fault. Said goodbye. I knew. I understood. But I didn’t want to believe it. Now it’s true. Now he’s gone. Now yesterday’s goodbye makes sense. He knew. My son knew he was dying.

 Knew August 16th would be his death day. Told me goodbye on August 15th. Prepared me. Love me enough to prepare me. That’s what yesterday was. Preparation. Goodbye. Final words from my son. He said goodbye. I’ll remember. I’ll always remember. August 15th, the day Elvis said goodbye to everyone. Priscilla heard the news at 4:15 Pacific time.

remembered the phone call from yesterday. Remembered Elvis saying goodbye. Remembered understanding and not wanting to understand. Now understanding completely. He called me yesterday. Said goodbye. Said he was dying. Said tomorrow probably tomorrow was today. August 16th. He knew. He told me. He said goodbye.

 I understood and I didn’t want to understand. Now he’s gone. Now yesterday’s goodbye was real. was preparation. Was Elvis knowing knowing and telling me? Loving me enough to say goodbye. That’s what yesterday was. August 15th, the day Elvis said goodbye to everyone. The day before he died, he knew. He told us, he prepared us. Lisa Marie heard from Priscilla.

Remembered the phone call from yesterday. Remembered daddy saying goodbye. Remembered understanding something was wrong. now understanding everything. Daddy called me yesterday, said goodbye, said he loved me, said remember. I didn’t fully understand. Thought maybe he was just feeling emotional, but now I understand.

 He was saying goodbye because he knew. Knew he was dying. New August 16th would be his death day. New August 15th was his last day to talk to me. So he called. So he said goodbye. So he told me he loved me. So he prepared me. My daddy said goodbye to me yesterday. The day before he died. He knew.

 He told me he loved me enough to say goodbye. Ginger understood. Remembered yesterday. Remembered Elvis saying goodbye. Remembered him saying he’d die tomorrow. Tomorrow had been today. He’d been right. He told me yesterday. Told me he’d die tomorrow. Told me to remember he said goodbye. told me August 15th mattered. I didn’t want to believe it.

 Didn’t want it to be true, but it was true. He knew. He knew August 16th would be his death day. He knew August 15th was his last full day. So he said goodbye. So he prepared me. So he loved me enough to tell me. I’ll remember. I’ll always remember. August 15th, the day Elvis said goodbye to everyone.

 The day before he died, he knew. Over the following days, stories emerged. Stories of August 15th, stories of Elvis saying goodbye, stories of people Elvis had reached, had called, had visited, had told. Everyone had a story. Everyone had received goodbye. Everyone had been prepared. 17 staff members, his father, his ex-wife, his daughter, his girlfriend, his inner circle, his doctor, his driver, his cook, everyone.

 On August 15th, 1977, Elvis said goodbye to everyone, told everyone, prepared everyone. New August 16th would be his death day. New August 15th was his final day to say farewell. So he did. He said goodbye to everyone. At Elvis’s funeral on August 18th, multiple people spoke. Multiple people mentioned August 15th.

 Multiple people testified. He told me goodbye on August 15th. 2 days ago, 2 days before we buried him. He knew. He told us. He said goodbye. The funeral became a testimony, a witnessing, a confirmation. Elvis had known, had told everyone, had said goodbye on August 15th, had died on August 16th, had prepared everyone, had loved everyone enough to say goodbye.

That’s what August 15th, 1977 meant. Goodbye to everyone. That’s what August 16th, 1977 proved. Elvis had known. Elvis had been right. Elvis had prepared everyone. In the years that followed, August 15th became significant, became remembered, became the day Elvis said goodbye, the day before he died, the day he prepared everyone.

 Survivors told the story told about receiving goodbye told about August 15th. M told about understanding on August 16th. In 1997, 20 years after Elvis’s death, a documentary was made, interviewed survivors, interviewed people who’d received goodbye on August 15th. Every person told the same story. He said goodbye on August 15th.

 We understood on August 16th, he knew, he told us, he prepared us. In 2017, 40 years after Elvis’s death, a book was published titled August 15th, the day Elvis said goodbye. Documented everyone Elvis had said goodbye to every conversation, every phone call, every farewell. Proved Elvis had said goodbye to everyone. Proved he’d known. approved.

 August 15th, 1977 was the day Elvis prepared everyone for August 16th, 1977. Elvis said goodbye to everyone. On August 15th, staff, family, friends, everyone, told them goodbye, prepared them, loved them enough to warn them, loved them enough to say farewell, loved them enough to prepare them. Everyone understood on August 16th, understood when news came, understood when death was announced, understood when Elvis was really gone, understood that yesterday’s goodbye had been real.

 Had been preparation, had been Elvis knowing, knowing he’d die, knowing August 16th would be his death day, knowing August 15th was his last chance to say goodbye. So he did. He said goodbye to everyone and everyone understood on August 16th. Understood what goodbye meant. Understood why it mattered. Understood Elvis had known.

 Understood Elvis had told them. Understood Elvis had loved them enough to prepare them. That’s the truth. That’s what August 15th, 1977 meant. That’s what August 16th, 1977 proved. Elvis said goodbye to everyone on August 15th. Everyone understood on August 16th. That’s what happened. That’s what those two days meant. Goodbye and understanding.

Preparation and death. August 15th and August 16th. The day Elvis said goodbye to everyone. And the day everyone understood why.