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Elvis Presley and Linda Thompson: The Song That Marked the End of Their Love Affair

Lucille Barilla — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:52:16 +0000

Elvis Presley and Linda Thompson’s relationship was one of the most defining of Elvis’ life. He loved Thompson’s nurturing ways. In turn, she cared deeply for Elvis, and often acted as his confidante and caregiver, offering emotional and physical support. However, the end of their four-year relationship marked a turning point for both. Thompson used a song to convey to Elvis that their time together had come to an end.

Linda Thompson said it took a year before she could tell Elvis Presley she was leaving him

Elvis Presley’s declining health and pill dependency frightened Linda Thompson, his girlfriend of four years. He relied on her tending to his needs, giving her the nickname “Mommy.”

However, Thompson said in her book A Little Thing Called Life: On Loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner, and Songs in Between that she was tired of being Elvis’ caregiver; she wanted something more.

Thompson said that on their first night together, she was shocked by the number of pill bottles on Elvis’ nightstand. She asked, “Have you been sick? He claimed that he needed a sleeping aid, but it knocked him out cold. There were many times when I saved his life by clearing his breathing passages.”

Thompson added, “I would wake up constantly while we were sleeping to check on him. Exhausted, I also knew that he was seeing other women, which hurt.”

“I thought that without my care he may very well die, but I knew it wasn’t my role in life to stay and keep him alive. I also knew that I may find him deceased anyway, and I would be devastated if it happened on my watch. It took me nearly a year to wean myself away from him in increments, taking vacations with my family.”

Finally, Thompson used the Rolf Lovland song “Fairytale “to convey her feelings. “It has a line: ‘I tried my best to love you and now I’m walking out the door.’ He didn’t get the hint, but he recorded the song,” she explained in her book.

When was the last time Linda Thompson saw Elvis Presley alive?

The last time Linda Thompson saw Elvis Presley alive was in December 1976, approximately eight months before his death. By that time, their romantic relationship had ended, but they remained on friendly terms.

Thompson and Elvis had broken up earlier in 1976. Despite their separation, she continued to care about him deeply and they saw one another from time to time.

During their final meeting, Thompson felt Elvis was in declining health. Elvis suggested Thompson fly back to Memphis to rest and leave the tour she accompanied him on.

“I said, ‘Are you sure you don’t have another girl waiting downstairs?’ because I knew he did. ‘Oh, no, honey…’ He was lying through his teeth, but by that point, I was too jaded to argue. I just said, ‘OK, I love you, too’. That was the last time I saw him alive.”

How did Linda Thompson find out Elvis had died?

Elvis Presley and Linda Thompson were a couple from 1972 through 1976 | Tom Wargacki/WireImage

Linda Thompson found out Elvis Presley had died after his nine-year-old daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, called her. Linda was reportedly the first person Lisa told of her father’s passing.

Thompson admitted to People Magazine, “I will always be profoundly grateful to the little nine-year-old Lisa Marie, who had the presence of mind to call me from Graceland the fateful day her daddy died to give me the news. I was the first person she called. To me, that spoke volumes of how close we were, and how sure she was of my love for her daddy.”

“When Lisa was a little girl, I played Santa Claus to her four times at Christmas, and I was the Easter bunny on Easter, hiding eggs around Graceland,” Thompson added. “We took golf cart rides together, and Elvis trusted me and my love for her enough that he let me drive her to the movies, and to visit my family.”

Thompson concluded, “Lisa Marie was, without a doubt, the greatest love of Elvis’s life. I think most parents understand that unconditional love can compare to no other. He was happiest and felt most complete when she was with us. The three of us would press our foreheads together, rocking back and forth. We called that mugging. I could hear Elvis grind his teeth, the love was so intense.”

Linda Thompson dated Elvis Presley from July 1972 through December 1976. Less than one year later, Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977.

Elvis Presley’s 90th Birthday: How Will Graceland Celebrate?

Lucille Barilla — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:13:08 +0000

On Jan. 8, 2025, Elvis Presley would have turned 90 years old. To celebrate the milestone birthday, Graceland will throw a party for fans that includes all the elements of a great celebration: music, celebrities, cake, and of course, at the center of it all, the King of Rock and Roll.

Graceland celebrates Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday with 4 days of events

According to Graceland’s official website, the iconic Memphis estate will celebrate Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday with four days of exciting events.

The home will welcome a thrilling lineup of performers and guests, all connected to the King of Rock and Roll. In 2025, Graceland celebrates with the Oak Ridge Boys’ Richard Sterban (also a backup singer for Elvis), The Imperial’s backup singer Terry Blackwood, and member of the Sweet Inspirations Estelle Brown. Also in attendance will be martial artist Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, songwriter Terry Mike Jeffrey, “Ultimate Elvis” performer Dean Z, tribute artist Pat Dunn, Sirius XM radio personality Argo, and broadcaster Tom Brown.

Graceland hosts a free birthday event on the home’s lawn, featuring a huge birthday cake paying tribute to the entertainer. During the event, Memphis and Shelby County officials will read a proclamation of Elvis Presley Day. Subsequently, fans from around the world can participate in this exciting moment by streaming the ceremony online for free at Graceland’s Vimeo page.

Visitors to the home will also continue to enjoy its festive holiday decorations. Elvis kept his Christmas tree and other items up through New Year’s Eve to his birthday and Graceland continues that tradition.

Graceland honors Elvis’ 90th birthday with a new exhibit

A new exhibit named “90 for 90” debuts at Elvis Presley’s home on his birthday, Jan. 8, 2025. It will remain an installation at Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex, across the street from the historic home, for one year.

Graceland’s official website states this new series features 90 curated artifacts. Each item spotlights key moments in Elvis’s personal and professional life.

Some of the artifacts on display in the new exhibit include Elvis’ sketchbook and a pair of checkered boots belonging to the King of Rock and Roll. Also included are a 1954 Blackwood Brothers Quartet performance card and a realtor card for the home Elvis shared with parents Vernon and Gladys Presley at 1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lisa Marie Presley attended Elvis Presley’s Graceland birthday celebrations

Lisa Marie Presley photographed at Graceland, her childhood home, in 2012 | Caroline Groussain/AFP/Getty Images

Graceland’s birthday celebrations were always important to Lisa Marie Presley. The estate was Lisa Marie Presley’s home, even after she moved to the West Coast with her mother Prisiclla Presley upon her parents’ 1973 divorce. Lisa Marie regularly spent holidays and school vacations with her father in Memphis, Tennessee, and continued to visit the home after Elvis’s death in 1977.

Lisa also attended many of the yearly celebrations honoring her late father. However, just days after attending his 88th birthday celebration in January 2023, she died.

During her last Graceland birthday event, Lisa Marie told the crowd, as reported by The Commercial Appeal, “Thank you. It’s been a while. I missed you. I keep saying you’re the only people that can bring me out of my house. I’m not kidding.”

“That’s why I’m here. Today, [Elvis] would’ve been 88 years old, it’s hard to believe. I think that he’d be proud,” Lisa Marie continued.

“It’s just so moving how every year you come from all over the world. It’s moving to me and my family. So thank you.”

Lisa Marie died four days later. It was determined that her passing was a result of cardiac arrest caused by a small bowel obstruction.

Elvis Presley’s birthday celebration at Graceland’s begins Jan. 8, 2025, and runs through Jan 11. The home will offer free morning walk-up visits to Meditation Garden from 7:30 am to 8:30 a.m. from Jan. 8-11. There will be evening walk-up hours on Jan. 7 through 10 and Jan. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Elvis Presley’s Last New Year’s Eve: A Rare Recording Frozen in Time

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 13:32:05 +0000

Elvis Presley spent the last New Year’s Eve before his death performing. As he rang in the new year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the King of Rock and Roll stood before fans and performed a medley of his greatest hits. He also added one more song in the spirit of the season, and it is one of the rarest performances of his career.

The rare song Elvis Presley recorded before his death

On Dec. 31, 1976, Elvis Presley stood on the stage of the Civic Center Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began performing half an hour before midnight, signaling the start of 1977.

Throughout the 90-minute set, Elvis performed a repertoire of his greatest hits. Some of the songs he sang included “I Got a Woman,” “See See Rider,” “Big Boss Man,” “Love Me,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Hurt.”

However, his performance of one song is considered rare among Elvis fans. Just as the clock struck midnight, the house lights went up and Elvis led the crowd in a rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” This performance is considered a rarity among Elvis fans as he never officially recorded a version of the tune.

The Scottish song is traditionally sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. The crowd sang along with Elvis until the house lights dimmed and Elvis resumed what would be a 90-minute performance.

Although the concert was never officially recorded as a live album, a soundboard recording of the evening has since become an Elvis classic. Therefore, it isn’t as clean as a professional recording would be but rather, captured Elvis live from the perspective of an audience member.

Details on Elvis’ New Year’s Eve concert in Pittsburgh

Elvis Presley and Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Elvis Presley performed to a sold-out crowd of more than 16,000 fans who packed the Civic Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The evening was a tribute to Elvis’ past, present, and future as a singer.

The night was the third time in his entire professional career that Elvis played a concert on New Year’s Eve. The other two times he was on stage as the year changed was in 1955 when he played the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, and in 1975, when he took the stage at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, to the largest live audience of his career.

This concert was particularly special to the King of Rock and Roll as his new girlfriend, Ginger Alden, agreed to accompany him on tour. Also in attendance that evening were his father, Vernon Presley, and daughter Lisa Marie Presley.

In an interview with Elvis Australia, Ginger Alden recalled details of that concert. She said Elvis “always tried to give one hundred percent for his fans.”

Ginger continued, “He was always so happy when Lisa was able to be at his shows. I always sat in a chair near the stage and during that particular show, I remember holding Lisa up so she could have a better view of his performance.”

Elvis Presley’s last New Year’s Eve show was charismatic and powerful

Elvis Presley delivered a high-energy, emotionally charged show on Dec. 31, 1976. The concert demonstrated his enduring charisma and vocal prowess and created a standout moment in his career.

The night’s energy and Elvis’s powerful performance have become one of the most cherished recordings of his career. The Pittsburgh show is often seen as a reminder of Elvis’s potential for a career revival.

After that performance, fans continued to rally for the King of Rock and Roll to reclaim his throne in the music world. However, that was not to be.

Just eight months later, on Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley died at his Graceland home. He was 42.

Why Elvis Presley Was a No-Show at His Own New Year’s Eve Celebration

Lucille Barilla — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 17:54:44 +0000

New Year’s Eve was a happy and busy time of the year for Elvis Presley. Sandwiched between Christmas and his birthday, Elvis was either celebrating or working as the new year began. However, there was one time when Elvis threw a rocking celebration and was a no-show at his own party.

Why didn’t Elvis Presley go to his own New Year’s Eve party?

Elvis Presley began throwing annual New Year’s Eve parties beginning in 1962. The King of Rock and Roll began a holiday tradition that continued through the end of the decade.

Each year, Elvis would book the Manhattan Club in Memphis reports The Elvis History Blog. He would invite his family and friends, sometimes numbering 200 people in total.

After the traditional fireworks at Graceland, Elvis, his family, and friends headed into Memphis to the club. There was always a fully catered dinner followed by a floor show.

However, during one year, Elvis didn’t attend the party he paid for. It wasn’t for not wanting to go, but something simple happened that stopped him from ringing in 1966 in the way he planned. Reportedly, he couldn’t find any parking at the location of Bellevue Boulevard and Person Avenue where the Manhattan Club was located.

Why did Elvis start throwing New Year’s Eve parties?

Priscilla and Elvis Presley | Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty Images

Before 1962, Elvis Presley was either working on New Year’s Eve or serving his country in the United States Army. In 1960, Elvis remained in California throughout the holiday season, as he had just wrapped filming on Kid Galahad. He subsequently spent that New Year’s in Las Vegas, Nevada.

But, according to Elvis’s history, the real reason Elvis started throwing his luxurious Memphis parties was to impress Priscilla Beaulieu, his new girlfriend. She arrived in Memphis in 1962 from Germany to spend the holidays with Elvis and his family, and the party was reportedly for her benefit.

However, one year later, Elvis opted out of a big party and instead, rang in the new year with Priscilla and his friends after renting out the Memphian theater where they watched movies to celebrate the end of 1963.

Through the years 1964 through 1970, Elvis regularly held big parties to ring in the new year. They were held at the Manhattan Club, the Thunderbird Lounge, and TJ’s.

When did Elvis Presley stop celebrating New Year’s Eve so lavishly?

The Elvis History Blog reports that the 1970 bash was the last big party thrown by Elvis Presley to celebrate the new year. By 1971, he scaled down the festivities to a small party at home.

In 1972, Elvis stayed home and readied himself for a major work event, the filming of his 1973 satellite TV concert, broadcast from Hawaii. By the end of that year, Elvis was reportedly recovering from some health issues and did not celebrate the new year typically.

The last two New Year’s Eve’s of his life, Elvis was working. On December 31, 1975, he appeared at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. One year later, in 1976, he played a concert at the Civic Center Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis died at his Graceland home. He was 42.

Elvis Presley: How Many Christmases Did He Celebrate at Graceland?

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:46:30 +0000

Elvis Presley purchased Graceland in 1957. The stately Memphis home was the center of the holiday season for the King of Rock and Roll, his family, and friends. But did Elvis spend every Christmas at Graceland?

Elvis Presley and his Graceland Christmases

The holiday season was of great importance to Elvis Presley. He loved this time, spending the season with his family and friends.

Elvis found the holidays to be therapeutic. Christmas was when Elvis’ giving spirit was on full display, and he enjoyed showering those he loved with presents and attention.

However, despite his love for the holiday season, there were times when Elvis did not spend Christmas at Graceland. In fact, out of the 20 years he spent living in the home, he missed three holidays there.

In 1957, Elvis spent his first Christmas at Graceland after moving there in June. However, just five days before Christmas, Elvis received his draft notice from the United States Army. He was inducted on March 20, 1958.

Elvis spent his first Christmas without his mother and away from Graceland in 1958. His holiday was shared with his father Vernon Presley grandmother Minnie Mae Presley, and friends, at the Hotel Grunewald in Germany.

In 1959, Elvis was still in the Army. This was his first holiday with Priscilla Beaulieu, whom he met just months earlier. He enjoyed the day at his rented home on Goethetrasse in Germany.

By 1960 Elvis was back home at Graceland. However, just one year later, he was away from Memphis once again, spending the holiday season with friends at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.

Thereafter, Elvis spent every Christmas at Graceland until 1976, his last holiday. In August 1977, he died at 42.

Elvis’ cousin recalls ‘magical’ Christmas and the gift that cost nothing

Elvis Presley’s cousin Billy Smith recalled in a video for Elvis Fans Matter that the holiday season at Graceland was a magical time of year. However, he recalled one Christmas when the most memorable Christmas didn’t cost Elvis a cent.

“I think one of my most memorable Christmases was in 1965, it was snowing. They said it was 50 years since it had snowed on Christmas Eve and it was beautiful, golly,” Billy said. “We watched it snow for a while and Elvis told everybody, ‘Don’t go out on the lawn, I don’t want footprints out there!”

“Later, we walked down to the curb and looked at it. He said, ‘Man this is so pretty, don’t y’all think? I’ve always liked snow. I thought I got enough of it in Germany,'” Billy continued. “Just the look on his face, he went to clowning around, he said, ‘See I told you all I could do it, make it snow at Christmas!’”

Elvis wanted those he loved to take care of their families during the holiday season

Santa Claus and Elvis Presley | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Billy Smith and his wife Jo recalled that Elvis Presley’s generosity knew no bounds. But most importantly, Elvis wanted to make sure that his family and friends were able to give their immediate families a happy holiday as well.

Jo said, “Elvis came out with a stack with Christmas bonuses. He gave us a Christmas bonus every year I can ever remember. He wanted to make sure everybody had enough to see to their families.”

She recalled, “On top of that, he gave cars and different things. One time he gave me this beautiful yellow gold and diamond ring. It was beautiful. I could not take my eyes off it.”

Billy added of his cousin, “You could never talk about Elvis’ generosity and not know that he was a giving man. He loved to give and see people’s reactions. He loved people. He gave from the heart. Regardless of what he gave, you couldn’t ask for a better present than that.”

“Everyone would gather around in the dining room and he would open up presents. Nobody would get him anything expensive because he had everything in the world,” Jo concluded.

Elvis Presley’s Graceland remains a hub for the holiday season. In 2024, for the seventh year running, the home won USA Today’s award for Best Holiday Historic Home Tour.

Christmas at Graceland: The Wildly Extravagant Final Present Elvis Presley Gave Lisa Marie

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 11:08:49 +0000

Elvis Presley‘s legendary generosity was displayed even further during the Christmas season. And, there was no person he loved to spoil more than his only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. In the winter of 1976, Elvis gifted his eight-year-old daughter a wildly extravagant present that remained a favorite throughout her childhood and defined the magic of the holiday.

Elvis Presley stunned Lisa Marie with a custom-made gift

Elvis Presley treated Christmas 1976 like any other. He committed to making the season merry and bright for his family and friends. But there was one person he was determined to ensure had the merriest Christmas, his daughter Lisa Marie Presley.

During Christmas of ‘76, Elvis bought Lisa her very own baby blue Harley Davidson golf cart. It was customized with her name across the side and would be the last Christmas present he would ever purchase for her.

In the book From Here to the Great Unknown, Riley Keough shared her mother Lisa’s recollection of the day she received the treasured gift. Elvis had a golf cart, so gifting his daughter her own held great meaning to Lisa.

“Me and my friends would tear the lawn up with them,” Lisa recalled. “Full-on demolition derby all day long. I would drive one full-speed through a fence and the next morning, it looked like nothing happened,”

She said the golf cart was her first taste of freedom, and she spent hours riding around Graceland’s 13.8 acres. Lisa admitted that she also used the cart to retaliate against others. “I used to run over people’s feet with the golf cart and take off,” she explained.

Lisa Marie carried her golf cart key with her everywhere

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In 2012, Lisa Marie Presley discussed her favorite gift from Elvis Presley to promote the exhibit “Elvis Through His Daughter’s Eyes.” In an interview published by The Columbus Dispatch, Lisa Marie discussed the exhibit focused on her childhood items.

Lisa admitted one of her favorite items in the exhibit was the golf cart key. She said it helped her recall times with her father when they would ride around the home’s grounds and Memphis.

“That was my life,” she admitted. “I carried it everywhere. It was never far from me or not on my person when I was a child. I hadn’t seen it in 35 years.”

In the 2012 documentary Elvis by the Presleys, Lisa Marie discussed seeing her golf cart key on display at Graceland. “The thing that struck me the most when I walked in was seeing my golf cart key. And it’s just completely worn out. That was the key to my life.”

She continued, “I hadn’t seen it in probably thirty years. It was sort of the key to my freedom, my demons, and my friends, and having fun when I was here was to get the key to my own golf cart. You can barely understand that it says my name on it because I just wore it out. It was always on me at all times.”

Elvis Presley’s lavish gift continued to influence Lisa as a mother

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When she became a mother to Riley and Benjamin Keough, and to twins Harper and Vivienne Lockwood, Lisa Marie continued to visit Graceland and ride golf carts with her children. Riley discussed these visits in the book From Here to the Great Unknown.

She wrote, “For many years, Elvis’s original chefs would cook for us when we were at Graceland. My mom would have them cook everything she loved, all the things she ate with her dad growing up.”

“Fried chicken and catfish, hush puppies, and greens, banana pudding. When we’d come to town, the staff would always have our golf carts waiting and after dinner, we’d go outside and wreak havoc on the lawns; we barely ever drove on the roads. This was a family tradition.”

Riley concluded, “Billy Idol once came to Graceland and my mom was ecstatic about it. She and Billy were off somewhere together on the grounds, but suddenly my mom went running in breathless. ‘I just accidentally flug Billy Idol off the back of my golf cart,’ she said, laughing hysterically.”

In 2023, the family golf carts were utilized during the NBC special Christmas at Graceland. Riley picked up Post Malone in a golf cart and drove him to her grandfather’s pool, where the singer played “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” on a platform placed on top of the water.

Lisa Marie’s golf cart and her precious key remain on display at Graceland. Elvis Presley died in August 1977. Lisa Marie died in January 2023.

Elvis Presley’s Grinch Moment Recording ‘Blue Christmas’: ‘Let’s Get This Over With’

Lucille Barilla — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:25:09 +0000

Elvis Presley recorded over 20 songs dedicated to his favorite time of year, Christmas. However, when it came to recording the iconic holiday tune “Blue Christmas” he had a Grinch moment, saying “Let’s get this over with.”

Recording ‘Blue Christmas’ wasn’t one of Elvis Presley’s favorite moments

Elvis Presley recorded “Blue Christmas” with Nashville singer Millie Kirkham as one of the background vocalists on Sept. 5, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It was included on Elvis’ Christmas Album, released on Oct. 15, 1957.

Kirkham recalled recording with Elvis in 2012 as reported by The Tennessean. She revealed he had been asked to re-record the song, and wasn’t really into the prospect of doing it.

“He turned around to us,” Kirkham said. “The musicians and the singers, and he said, ‘OK, let’s just get this over with.”

She continued that he said, “‘Just do anything. Have fun, have a good time, do something silly.’ So I started going, ‘Woooo,’ and he motioned for me to keep doing it, and grinned at me.”

Kirkham continued, “So I just did it all the way through the whole song. When we got through, we all laughed and said, ‘Well, that’s one record that the record company will never release.’ (laughs). But they did, and if I was getting royalties, I’d be a rich old woman.”

The King of Rock and Roll’s Christmas album was his only release to achieve Diamond certification

Elvis’ Christmas Album, released in 1957, was a blockbuster collection of holiday tunes that topped the pop charts a month after its release. This recording was one of the most popular albums of Elvis’ career.

Elvis received his only Diamond Award for the holiday album. Graceland’s Vice President of Archives and Exhibits Angie Marchese said in a Gates of Graceland video that Elvis’ Christmas recording was “one of his biggest selling albums.”

She explained, “In 2014, Graceland received an award from his record label, and it’s the only Diamond Award Elvis ever received.” The award is inscribed, “Diamond Award presented to Elvis Presley in recognition of Elvis’ Christmas Album on RCA Camden & Pickwick. Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America with 10 million in U.S. Sales.”

Marchese explained, “Diamond is the largest award you can get. We have one of them and it’s for his Christmas record.” The award remains on display at Graceland.

What songs other than ‘Blue Christmas’ were on ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album?’

The original tracklist for Elvis Christmas Album includes a mix of traditional Christmas songs and religious-inspired tunes. The secular Christmas songs including “Blue Christmas” were on side one, while the gospel songs and carols were on side two.

Side one contained the songs, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “White Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” and “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me).”

On the flip side, the songs included, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night,” “(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me),” “I Believe,” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” and “It Is No Secret (What God Can Do).”

In 1971, a Camden/Pickwick reissue of the recording changed some of the songs on side B of the album. Added were “If Every Day Were Like Christmas,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “Mama Liked the Roses.” The total number of songs on the reissue was 10 compared to 12 on the original recording.

Forbes reported on Dec. 4, 2024, that Elvis’ Christmas Album reappeared on four different Billboard charts including the Top Rock Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Country Albums, and Billboard 200 chart.

Elvis Presley’s Hilarious Christmas Food Prank Stunned the Memphis Mafia

Lucille Barilla — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:54:29 +0000

Elvis Presley loved Christmas but also had a devilish streak that presented itself during holiday gift-giving. The King of Rock and Roll once pulled a hilarious food prank that stunned members of the Memphis Mafia who were expecting gifts quite different than what they received.

Elvis Presley pulled a jaw-dropping food-filled Christmas prank on the Memphis Mafia

In a Gates of Graceland video, the home’s archivist Angie Marchese shared details of one Christmas when Elvis Presley decided to play a food-filled prank on members of the Memphis Mafia. It happened in 1972 when Elvis heard some men who worked for him discussing their Christmas bonuses.

Marchese said, “For Elvis at Christmas it wasn’t about receiving, it was about giving. It was about seeing the reaction on people’s faces when he would give them things.”

“Probably one of the best stories that I heard was the year that he overheard some of the entourage guys talking about their Christmas bonuses. So he went down the street and got them all McDonald’s gift certificates.” The certificates were worth 50 cents apiece.

After getting a kick out of the shock registering on his friends’ faces, Elvis went on to distribute the yearly bonus to his team. The joke was his way of pulling a fast one on his friends.

Elvis later received a letter from the manager of the McDonald’s thanking him for purchasing the gift certificates from the local eatery. It read, “It certainly was a pleasure reading of your recent practical joke in utilizing McDonald’s Christmas gift certificates.”

The letter continued, “I am happy that you felt that even though the value of these certificates was only 50 cents each, the quality of the product was good enough for your closest friends. It is my understanding that you occasionally stop at McDonald’s yourself, and we are happy to have you as one of our customers.”

It concluded, “If in the future we can be of any assistance in any personal charitable endeavor you take on, we will certainly attempt to fulfill any needs you may have.”

Elvis Presley celebrated Christmas with family and friends for days

According to Danny Smith, Elvis Presley’s cousin, a celebratory mood took over Graceland in the days leading up to Christmas. The King of Rock and Roll spent those days having fun with family and friends, with the celebration leading up to the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Day.

Then, most of Elvis’ inner circle would depart, leaving him and Prisiclla and later, Lisa Marie, to enjoy the holiday with their immediate family. Elvis deeply enjoyed this time of year and made it a point to ensure the Christmas holiday was memorable for those he loved.

Although Elvis was a great gift-giver, he wasn’t as interested in receiving them. Danny admitted on his Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel that family members typically purchased everyday items for the King of Rock and Roll.

“Believe it or not, we bought him your normal stuff. One year, we were excited because we bought him a new recliner. It was upstairs in his office. He kept it up there and used it.”

What was Christmas like at Graceland?

Elvis Presley’s Graceland all decked out for Christmas | Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty Images

Elvis Presley ensured that Christmas at his Graceland home was a time of joy and happiness. After a year of hard work, it was a time for fun, good food, and generosity.

Elvis hosted the holiday every year, welcoming those who worked for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor. There was plenty of food, drinks, delicious desserts, and music in the home during that time, where visitors were encouraged to help themselves to however much they wanted.

The home was decorated for the holiday with festive red drapes, and poinsettia plants. Elvis also had two stunning Christmas trees in the dining room and living room.

The dining room tree was a traditional green, covered in family ornaments and tinsel. In the living room, a stark white tree with red balls added a festive touch to the room.

Elvis kept his Christmas decorations up through the beginning of January. They were taken down after Jan. 8, his birthday.

Elvis Presley Filled His Sweet Tooth With These Go-To Desserts During Christmas at Graceland

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:48:58 +0000

Christmas at Elvis Presley‘s Graceland was a special time for the King of Rock and Roll, his family, and his friends. The music legend indulged in the tastes of the season, as prepared by many of Graceland’s most loyal and talented cooks. Here are some go-to desserts served at the historic Memphis estate.

Elvis Presley celebrated Christmas with traditional Southern desserts

Graceland was a hub of excitement and energy during the holiday season. Elvis Presley’s family home was filled with family and friends. They enjoyed weeks of delicious meals and desserts, prepared by Graceland’s dedicated cooks.

Some of Elvis’ favorite desserts that likely appeared on the family’s table between Thanksgiving and Christmas were traditional favorites such as pumpkin and pecan pies. However, some of the King of Rock and Roll’s personal favorites were also in the rotation.

Elvis’ favorite sweet treats included peach cobbler, pound cake, banana pudding, sweet potato pie, and chocolate cake. In The Presley Family Cookbook by Vester Presley and Nancy Rooks, Elvis’ cousin and longtime cook shared recipes in Graceland’s regular rotation.

Other than Elvis’ dessert favorites, other Presley family sweet treats on their table included fruitcake, Red Devil cake, Coconut Pound cake, Sweet Potato cake, Chess Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, and rice pudding.

Elvis always wanted one dessert in Graceland’s refrigerator, no matter the season

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One of Graceland’s cooks, Pauline Nicholson, said in The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley, that Elvis Presley always wanted banana pudding in the refrigerator. Nicholson said the dessert was made fresh each evening.

Graceland’s Food and Beverage Director Daniel Clark stood in Graceland’s kitchen and demonstrated how to make Elvis’s favorite treat in a 2021 Instagram video. Angie Marchese, the VP of Archives and Exhibits at Graceland shared stories as Clark cooked.

Not only was this recipe a favorite of Elvis’s but it was also beloved by his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. She often requested this dessert when visiting her family home.

According to The Presley Family Cookbook, the ingredients include eggs, milk, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, salt, vanilla wafers, bananas, cream of tartar, and powdered sugar.

Elvis celebrated Christmas at Graceland with an abundance of food, family, and fun

Santa Claus and Elvis Presley | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

During the Christmas season, Elvis Presley turned his Memphis mansion into a festive wonderland, combining his love for the holiday with his larger-than-life personality. Graceland was transformed into a holiday spectacle worthy of the King of Rock and Roll.

Graceland’s exterior featured life-sized Nativity scenes, Christmas lights, and a huge, illuminated Santa displays. Indoors, Elvis adorned his home with multiple Christmas trees, red velvet drapes, poinsettias, and other elements of the season.

The holiday season was Elvis’ favorite. He lavished gifts on his family, friends, and staff; from cars to jewelry, and cash. It was also a time for gratitude for his many professional and personal blessings. Elvis regularly made charitable donations during the holiday season to help those less fortunate.

Elvis’ family and close friends gathered in Graceland’s dining room to enjoy a holiday meal. This feast included turkey, ham, and all the trimmings. Elvis would also sit at the piano and play holiday classics, and everyone sang along.

Elvis Presley moved into Graceland in 1957. Except for three years, Elvis spent every Christmas at Graceland until 1976. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, at 42.

Elvis Presley Went ‘Full-Throttle’ During His ‘Sentimental’ First Christmas at Graceland

Lucille Barilla — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:13:20 +0000

Elvis Presley ensured that his first Christmas at Graceland was unlike any other his family had ever experienced. He went “full-throttle” his first “sentimental” holiday season at Graceland, where big changes lay ahead for the King of Rock and Roll that would alter his life forever.

Elvis Presley made sure his first Christmas at Graceland was magical

Angie Marchese, Vice President of Archives and Exhibits at Graceland, shared details of Elvis Presley’s first Christmas at his historic Memphis, Tennessee home. She explained life was very different for the Presley family after moving from Audobon Drive to the palatial estate.

“Elvis’ first Christmas in ’57 was kind of one of those sentimental Christmases,” Marchese explained in a Gates of Graceland video. “Not only was it his first Christmas here at Graceland, but he also did just receive his draft notice.”

“He knew he was getting ready to go into the army so he was kind of mentally preparing for that. But he didn’t let that dampen his Christmas spirit,” she continued.

“Elvis definitely went full-throttle. One of the first things he bought was a gigantic piece of lawn art, which is still in the yard today. It’s the Santa with the reindeer that says, ‘Merry Christmas to All, Elvis.'”

Marchese concluded, “Now it’s on the north lawn. But Elvis displayed it right in front of the house in the center of the yard so everyone could see it. We still have the receipt for that lawn art, which cost Elvis around $300.”

That wasn’t the only time that iconic piece of art would be seen by Elvis’ family and friends

Elvis Presley found a way to share his beloved holiday decorations with the world. The Santa lawn art wasn’t only on display at Graceland but shared on a family Christmas card too.

The Presley family Christmas card was a photograph of Graceland, featuring the image of Santa and his sleigh. The card came in several colors including blue, red, and green.

When the card opened up, the interior read, “At Christmas, we send warm greetings to you as a friend and we share with you some views of Graceland, our home. The Presleys.”

Elvis Presley’s first Christmas at Graceland would be his last until 1960

Elvis Presley photographed while serving in the United States army in Germany in 1959 | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The King of Rock and Roll wouldn’t return to Graceland to celebrate the Christmas holidays until 1960. That was the year he was discharged from the United States Army and returned home to Memphis, Tennessee.

He had just finished basic training when his mother, Gladys Presley, died in August 1958. Elvis was granted an extended leave to mourn her passing before returning to the military. Just one month later, Elvis was stationed in West Germany.

December 1958 was Elvis’ first Christmas without Gladys. However, his father Vernon, and grandmother Minnie Mae Presley, spent the holiday with Elvis at the Hotel Grunewald, near his army post. Vernon gifted his son an electric guitar.

One year later, in 1959, Elvis spent a second Christmas in Germany, at a rented home Goethetrasse. By that time, he was casually seeing Priscilla Beaulieu but was also involved with longtime girlfriend Anita Wood.

That Christmas Priscilla gave Elvis a set of bongo drums. He generously gifted his new girlfriend a ring and a watch.

Elvis returned home to Graceland to celebrate Christmas in 1960. In 1961 he spent the holiday season in Las Vegas, but after that, spent every Christmas at Graceland until his death in August 1977.