Elvis Presley Wasn’t Always Buried at Graceland — Here’s Why He Was Moved originally appeared on Parade.
Elvis Presley wasn’t always buried at his beloved Graceland home, and the reason why his body was moved is still compelling, 47 years after his death.
The King of Rock and Roll died on August 16, 1977. His death caused fans to swarm the Memphis, Tennessee, estate, blocking traffic as they grieved their loss.
Two days after his death, and a public viewing where an estimated 25,000 fans filed past his body to pay their respects, Presley was laid to rest. On Aug. 18, 1977, his body was transported to nearby Forest Hill Cemetery, where his mother, Gladys Presley, who died in 1958, was also interred.
His coffin weighed 900 pounds, per Rolling Stone. It was carried by six people into the mausoleum: road manager Joe Esposito, members of Elvis’ entourage, and Dr. George Nichopoulos.
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As reported by The Commercial Appeal, more than 50,000 fans paid tribute to the King of Rock and Roll, leaving more than 3,000 floral arrangements on the mausoleum lawn.
Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty Images
However, less than two weeks later, on August 29, it was revealed that four men had plotted to steal the entertainer’s body and hold it for ransom. The New York Times reported the men were arrested after what was called a “trial run” of the thievery.
Presley’s father, Vernon Presley, asked if the bodies of his son and wife could be laid to rest safely in Graceland’s backyard and petitioned to have the grounds zoned for burial. Ultimately, on Sept. 28, 1977, legal permission was given to relocate the remains of mother and son to Graceland.
On Oct. 2, the bodies were moved to their final resting place. They were interred in the Meditation Garden, originally constructed in 1964 as Presley’s private home retreat.
The first person to be buried was Elvis, followed by his mother, Gladys. In 1979, Vernon was buried beside his son. One year later, Minnie Mae Presley, Elvis’ grandmother, was interred opposite Elvis’ grave.
The king’s only grandson, Benjamin Keough, died in 2020. His remains were placed in an above-ground tomb directly across from his grandfather’s grave. In January 2023, Lisa Marie Presley was interred beside her son, also in an above-ground vault.
Elvis Presley Wasn’t Always Buried at Graceland — Here’s Why He Was Moved first appeared on Parade on Aug 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.