Carol Connors, a former lover of Elvis Presley and a two-time Oscar-nominated star, has recently shed light on what she believes could have prevented the King’s tragic demise. In her new memoir, Elvis, Rocky & Me, Connors discusses how a missed opportunity and personal struggles contributed to Elvis’s downward spiral.
Connors, who dated Presley for nine months during the mid-1960s, claims that Elvis’s downfall might have been avoided had he accepted a significant role in the 1975 film A Star Is Born. The role, ultimately played by Kris Kristofferson, was initially offered to Elvis. However, tensions between Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and Barbra Streisand led to the role being declined. Connors believes that this missed opportunity, coupled with his ongoing struggles with addiction and health issues, played a crucial part in Elvis’s tragic end.
In her memoir, Connors reflects on her extraordinary Hollywood career and her profound connection with Elvis. She reveals, “I saw him right near the end when he was at the International Hotel in Vegas. It was very tragic because I believe this from my heart. If Elvis would’ve done the movie A Star Is Born, he’d be alive.” Connors believes that the role would have provided Elvis with a renewed sense of purpose and possibly led to an Oscar nomination, which could have altered his trajectory.
Connors elaborates on the potential positive impact of returning to films, noting that it might have given Elvis a sense of purpose and respect as an actor, akin to his admiration for James Dean. Despite this, she acknowledges the deep-seated “demons” exacerbated by opiate medication and life stresses. She adds, “Returning to films would’ve given him a sense of purpose. He wanted to be respected as an actor. He loved James Dean and felt he could have that range.”
Elvis Presley, whose life was marked by intense public scrutiny and personal struggles, passed away on August 16, 1977, at his Graceland mansion. The official cause of death was a heart attack, attributed to a blocked bowel, compounded by his use of a cocktail of drugs.
Connors, who entered Elvis’s life after he was captivated by her voice on the hit single “To Know Him Is To Love Him,” reflects on their time together with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. She recalls their relationship as both “off and on” but cherishes the memory of their connection. Despite the ups and downs, Connors remains grateful for their time together, stating, “I always wondered how he felt about me, and one of the Memphis Mafia told me, ‘Elvis adored you. He thought you were so pretty.’”
Carol Connors’s revelations offer a poignant look into the life of one of music’s greatest icons and a reflection on how a missed career opportunity and personal struggles may have led to an avoidable tragedy.
