Mama Cass’ daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, recently joined an interview with Rolling Stone and urged the public to dismiss myths about her mother’s passing.
The singer from the Mamas & the Papas passed away in her sleep at the age of 32 in 1974 in London. The autopsy revealed that there were no drugs in her system at the time of her death. Elliot-Kugell specifically addressed a rumor about her mother’s death, which claimed that Mama Cass passed away from choking on a ham sandwich, and explained:
“I can’t believe we’re still talking about the sandwich after all these years. I started running my mom’s estate when I was 18. One of the first things I remember thinking is, ‘We’ve got to stop that ham sandwich rumor thing,’ because it was so painful. It wasn’t enough that we had lost her, to then be [made into] a joke. I’d say probably 50 percent of the people don’t believe it now. The other 50 percent probably still do.”
Recalling The News Of A Mother’s Death
Elliot-Kugell, who was only seven years old at the time of her mother’s death, also remembered being informed of the tragic news by her grandmother, saying:
“I have a very, very clear memory of her telling me that my mom died. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, well, they’re not right. They’re wrong. She’s just traveling. She’ll come back. She always does.’ She puts my seat belt on and, kisses me, and says, ‘Look in the window.’ I’m going to go to the airport terminal, and I’m going to wave. Go wave! Go wave!’ That’s the last time I saw her.”
Alternative Theories On Elliot’s Death
The autopsy showed that Cass Elliot died of a heart attack, but her manager, Allan Carr, thought her death was related to drugs. A 2021 Vogue article by Lexi Pandell suggested that Mama Cass’ death was due to extreme dieting and a history of substance abuse. Pandell wrote:
“Elliot’s official cause of death was labeled as ‘fatty myocardial degeneration due to obesity. But that would still be a shocking cause of death for such a young woman and has largely been refuted. From the research I’ve done and the doctors I spoke to, it seems the most likely cause of death was extreme dieting in combination with long-term substance abuse.”
Elliot-Kugell plans to publish her memoir, ‘My Mama, Cass,’ in 2024. The book will include personal and archival photos, interviews, and memories from prominent individuals who admired Cass. It is described as a combination of a love story and a mystery, highlighting a journey of self-discovery and a daughter’s dedication to her mother.
