There are various unresolved mysteries in the history of rock. Did Jim Morrison really die of an overdose? Was ‘accidental drowning’ really the case in Brian Jones’ death? Did Jimi Hendrix die of alcohol poisoning, or did his girlfriend kill him? Although early deaths of rockers are not something out of the ordinary, these ill-fated names and many others died in bizarre circumstances.
The Mamas & The Papas singer Mama Cass Elliott is also one of those artists whose death was shrouded in mystery. Besides her work with the singing group, Cass also had a successful solo career, but it was relatively short. She suffered from health problems due to her weight, which caused her to gain weight. It would be a surprise if this didn’t affect her music career, as the quality of her performances decreased gradually.
Her weight was a big concern for Cass Elliott — she tried extreme diets to lose pounds. Before a Los Angeles show, Cass went on an extreme diet, which resulted in her losing 100 of her 300 pounds. According to rumors, she also started using various substances before the show. In the end, the audience at Caesars Palace saw a devastated Mama Cass, who fell apart during the concert. Given these facts about her, it isn’t a surprise her death gave way to urban legends.
During her 1974 appearance in the California television studio of ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,’ Cass Elliott collapsed before her performance. After receiving treatment at the hospital, she didn’t believe there was a serious issue rather than exhaustion. Soon after this incident, she flew to London for several performances and attended Mick Jagger’s 31st birthday party and journalist Jack Martin’s cocktail party. However, Mama Cass wasn’t looking well — she was coughing, having trouble breathing, and appearing sick.
Cass then retired to an apartment where the musician Harry Nilsson allowed her to stay. She made a phone call to Michelle Phillips, during which she cried tears of happiness for receiving standing ovations during her show at the London Palladium. Little did Mama know that this would be her last phone call as she passed away that night on July 29, 1974. However, many believed there was something behind her passing.
Although the autopsy revealed no drugs in her body and the cause of her passing was a heart attack, Elliott’s manager Allan Carr believed her death was drug-related. On the other hand, some argued the singer choked to death on a ham sandwich. However, according to the autopsy, there was no food in Cass’ windpipe. In a 2021 article in Vogue, writer Lexi Pandell argued that the exact cause of Mama Cass’ death was extreme diets and long-term substance abuse.
“Elliot’s official cause of death was labeled as ‘fatty myocardial degeneration due to obesity,” Lexi Pandell told Vogue. “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.”
So, although the autopsy suggested otherwise, many argued that Cass Elliott died from a piece of a ham sandwich stuck to her windpipe. While a half-eaten sandwich was found in her room, that was clearly not the cause, and Lexi believed that Cass passed due to a heart attack resulting from her excessive dieting and substance abuse. Ultimately, the singer’s tragic death became an example of how body shaming has a lingering effect on someone, even after their passing.
