Cass Elliot’s Daughter Unveils Memoir to Share Her Mother’s Story and Debunk the Ham Sandwich Myth

Owen Elliot-Kugell, the offspring of legendary singer Cass Elliot, is set to chronicle the life of her mother.

In a conversation with Rolling Stone, she disclosed that she is penning a volume titled “My Mama, Cass,” which is anticipated for release the following year.

Owen has dedicated over a decade to crafting this work and expresses a mixture of anticipation and trepidation as she embarks on this new literary venture.

A key figure in The Mamas & The Papas and celebrated for timeless hits such as “California Dreamin'” and “Monday, Monday,” Cass Elliot was honored posthumously with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1998, after her untimely passing in 1974 at the age of 32.

Owen, who was a mere seven years old at the time of her mother’s passing, is ready to unfurl the narrative of Cass’s formative years and her integral part in the 1960s cultural revolution. The memoir will feature conversations with those who were close to the singer, including bandmates Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty.

Owen intends to shed light on the personal challenges her mother faced, including her battles with body image and self-perception. In doing so, she will address and dispel lingering fabrications, such as the notorious rumor about Cass Elliot’s death being caused by choking on a ham sandwich.

Expressing irritation with the enduring and insensitive quip, Owen voices her stance that such mockery of her mother’s demise is unjust.

With “My Mama, Cass,” Owen aspires to construct a multidimensional portrait of the revered songstress. She envisions her mother as a pioneer who broke barriers in the music world, a domain predominantly run by men. Owen paints Cass as an emblematic performer, a devoted confidante, and a doting mother who yearned for the conventional family life, in which Owen herself was central.