Little Richard — Rock ‘N Roll Legend’s Sad Last Days

Little Richard remains hidden away in Nashville — and insiders say that it's "heartbreaking" to see the pioneering rock star forced to tool around in a wheelchair. The flamboyant musician who inspired artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Prince is now looking every day of his 84 years, and has never recovered from "really bad" hip surgery in 2015. Richard is now living out his final days in a penthouse suite at the Hilton in downtown Music City. Staffers are told to neither confirm or deny that the legendary rocker is a permanent guest, but The National ENQUIRER caught the frail star finally outside!

"He's been in pain for a long time," said a longtime pal, "and it broke his heart to retire, but it was worse for his ego to put on a lousy show!" Richard had to finally face the end of his career after fighting through years of horrific pain after a 2009 surgery. The star was humiliated after cutting a 2012 show short after shouting from the stage: "Jesus, please help me — I can't hardly breath!"

He performed his final shows in 2013, telling fans in Las Vegas that doctors warned him that he couldn't survive an operation that would allow him to walk again. Richard has also refused to talk to the press over the years, and now sends out representatives to insist that he's healthy and doing fine. "He's in a lot of pain," said the insider, "and he's more interested in talking about the Lord than anything in his rock 'n roll past. It's still heartbreaking to see him out in public like this. He seems to just be giving up!"