The daughter of Mama Cass Elliot is setting the record straight regarding her mother’s cause of death. Contrary to popular belief, she did not choke on a ham sandwich. The real cause of her death was a heart attack, with no drugs found in her system. Despite this, the ham sandwich myth has persisted for almost half a century, leading to various jokes and rumors. As her daughter Owen Elliot-Kugell prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of her mother’s death, she has written a memoir titled My Mama, Cass as a tribute and a correction to this false narrative.
Elliot-Kugell has worked extensively to piece together the events leading up to her mother’s death, highlighting a packed schedule of performances and events, including a final show at the London Palladium and a series of parties and gatherings. She dispels the myth that her mother ate a ham sandwich before passing away, revealing that it was her dancer who had made the sandwich but she never took a bite. The false story also played into Cass’s struggles with weight issues throughout her life, from childhood to her later years, leading to crash dieting and use of prescription drugs.
Despite these challenges, Elliot-Kugell admires her mother’s determination and resilience in pursuing her dreams as a performer. Cass Elliot was a trailblazer in the music industry, breaking through barriers of fat shaming and paving the way for other plus-sized artists. Elliot-Kugell recalls her mother’s many achievements, from joining the Mamas and the Papas to becoming a regular guest on US variety shows. However, she also discusses the difficulties Cass faced, including public ridicule over her weight in television skits, which she had to endure to maintain her career.
The memoir also reveals happier memories of Owen Elliot-Kugell’s time with her mother, such as watching movies together and singing along to songs on the radio. She recounts a touching final farewell at the airport before her mother’s death, reflecting on Cass’s involvement when she was in town. Additionally, Elliot-Kugell shares how she discovered the true origin of the ham sandwich myth, learning that it was fabricated by her mother’s friend to protect Cass’s legacy in the wake of her passing.
Overall, My Mama, Cass by Owen Elliot-Kugell serves as a tribute to her mother’s legacy while debunking the long-standing myth surrounding her death. Through personal anecdotes and insights, Elliot-Kugell paints a picture of her mother as a talented, resilient, and groundbreaking artist who overcame obstacles to achieve success in the music industry. The memoir sheds light on the truth behind Cass Elliot’s untimely death and offers a fresh perspective on her life and career.
