Upon entering Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home, one of the most stunning visuals is turning to the right, standing at the doorway to the living room, and looking deep into the music room. Something about those two rooms gives Presley fans a deep insight into how he lived and enjoyed his private time at the home. One of the most striking elements of the music room is its pristine white piano. That instrument was is important to Presley’s legacy and has a mythic story.
The real reason Elvis Presley’s Music Room piano is so essential to his legacy
An official YouTube video hosted by Graceland’s VP of Archives and Exhibits, Angie Marchese, focused on the piano’s history and why it is important to the King of Rock and Roll’s legacy. The piano has become an integral part of Elvis Presley’s Graceland home.
The entertainer...
The real reason Elvis Presley’s Music Room piano is so essential to his legacy
An official YouTube video hosted by Graceland’s VP of Archives and Exhibits, Angie Marchese, focused on the piano’s history and why it is important to the King of Rock and Roll’s legacy. The piano has become an integral part of Elvis Presley’s Graceland home.
The entertainer...
- 5/22/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home is as iconic as the singer himself. Visitors worldwide descend on Memphis, Tennessee, to tour the residence and see how the King of Rock and Roll lived. Although Presley has millions of fans, how many visit the historic home each year?
Graceland draws hundreds of thousands of visitors per year
According to Graceland’s official website, the historic home draws more than half a million visitors annually. The 17,552-square-foot home is the second-most visited in the country, behind only the White House.
Summer is Graceland’s busiest season, as most visitors flock to the historic home between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Elvis’ home attracts between 2,000 and 3,500 tourists per day during this stretch. July is especially popular, with upwards of 4,000 fans visiting the home per day.
The website reveals that Graceland’s total economic impact on Memphis is estimated to be $150 million annually. Tourism includes Graceland and its surrounding hotels,...
Graceland draws hundreds of thousands of visitors per year
According to Graceland’s official website, the historic home draws more than half a million visitors annually. The 17,552-square-foot home is the second-most visited in the country, behind only the White House.
Summer is Graceland’s busiest season, as most visitors flock to the historic home between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Elvis’ home attracts between 2,000 and 3,500 tourists per day during this stretch. July is especially popular, with upwards of 4,000 fans visiting the home per day.
The website reveals that Graceland’s total economic impact on Memphis is estimated to be $150 million annually. Tourism includes Graceland and its surrounding hotels,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
An Elvis Presley concert was an event in the 1970s. Watching the King of Rock and Roll perform live was a moment in time most fans would not soon forget. However, receiving a token from Elvis was even more special. Scarves were one of the items the entertainer would share with the crowd. What was the real reason he began giving out scarves in concert?
Elvis’ tradition of handing scarves to fans began in 1970 in Phoenix, Arizona, on impulse
Elvis Presley traditionally interacted with fans during his live performances. He openly kissed his fans and presented some lucky followers with costume jewelry while performing a concert.
However, while handing out scarves is now part of Elvis’s legend, this practice only came into play in 1970, 16 years after he soared to the top of the charts with the song “Hound Dog.”
According to the Elvis History Blog, Elvis flew to Phoenix from Las Vegas,...
Elvis’ tradition of handing scarves to fans began in 1970 in Phoenix, Arizona, on impulse
Elvis Presley traditionally interacted with fans during his live performances. He openly kissed his fans and presented some lucky followers with costume jewelry while performing a concert.
However, while handing out scarves is now part of Elvis’s legend, this practice only came into play in 1970, 16 years after he soared to the top of the charts with the song “Hound Dog.”
According to the Elvis History Blog, Elvis flew to Phoenix from Las Vegas,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s dedicated staff tended to his beloved Graceland home. These people kept the residence running smoothly, from cooking to cleaning, maintenance, and security. One of Presley’s cooks claims that after his death, the King of Rock and Roll’s spirit made his presence known in the home by flickering lights and using other methods of communication.
Elvis Presley’s cook says strange things would happen at night at Graceland
Nancy Rooks began working at Graceland in 1967. She was part of a staff that cooked, served, and cleaned for Elvis Presley and his family.
In an interview with Classic Bands, Rooks shared her experiences working for Presley. She called the King of Rock and Roll “polite.”
Rooks said she was there on Aug. 16, 1977, when Presley died. She continued to work at Graceland for some time after that, tending to the home and the family members who continued to live there.
Elvis Presley’s cook says strange things would happen at night at Graceland
Nancy Rooks began working at Graceland in 1967. She was part of a staff that cooked, served, and cleaned for Elvis Presley and his family.
In an interview with Classic Bands, Rooks shared her experiences working for Presley. She called the King of Rock and Roll “polite.”
Rooks said she was there on Aug. 16, 1977, when Presley died. She continued to work at Graceland for some time after that, tending to the home and the family members who continued to live there.
- 3/18/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s Graceland is one of the most iconic private homes in the United States. For 42 years, the King of Rock and Roll’s private residence has been a mecca for music fans worldwide. However, some of the home’s most iconic rooms weren’t always open to the public and were considered off-limits to tourists. Here are the areas within Graceland that fans didn’t get to see.
Graceland’s downstairs area was open to fans except for two rooms
When Graceland opened for public tours in 1982, only some areas of the home were viewable. Initially, the mansion tour consisted of the living room, music room, dining room, TV room, pool room, and the trophy building.
The trophy building consisted of his gold record collection, awards, costumes, gun collection, and several other pieces of memorabilia. Fans were able to see Elvis Presley’s cars and motorcycles, which were lined up in the carport.
Graceland’s downstairs area was open to fans except for two rooms
When Graceland opened for public tours in 1982, only some areas of the home were viewable. Initially, the mansion tour consisted of the living room, music room, dining room, TV room, pool room, and the trophy building.
The trophy building consisted of his gold record collection, awards, costumes, gun collection, and several other pieces of memorabilia. Fans were able to see Elvis Presley’s cars and motorcycles, which were lined up in the carport.
- 3/15/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s Graceland visitors regularly leave tokens at the King of Rock and Roll’s gravesite. Many items, from teddy bears to flowers, have been placed upon Presley’s grave. However, when Paul McCartney visited the rock and roll icon’s home, he left a touching tribute behind. Here are all the details.
What was the tribute Paul McCartney placed at Elvis Presley’s grave?
Paul McCartney visited Elvis Presley’s Graceland home in 2013. He toured the premises, seeing how the King of Rock and Roll lived during the almost 20 years he occupied the Memphis estate.
All Graceland tours end at the Meditation Garden. This is where Presley, his father Vernon, his mother Gladys, and grandmother Minnie May are buried. In 2020, Presley’s grandson Benjamin Keough was interred opposite his grave, followed by his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 2023.
During this moment, McCartney, just like thousands of Presley fans before him,...
What was the tribute Paul McCartney placed at Elvis Presley’s grave?
Paul McCartney visited Elvis Presley’s Graceland home in 2013. He toured the premises, seeing how the King of Rock and Roll lived during the almost 20 years he occupied the Memphis estate.
All Graceland tours end at the Meditation Garden. This is where Presley, his father Vernon, his mother Gladys, and grandmother Minnie May are buried. In 2020, Presley’s grandson Benjamin Keough was interred opposite his grave, followed by his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 2023.
During this moment, McCartney, just like thousands of Presley fans before him,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley was well-known for giving gifts to family, friends, and strangers. Bill Belew, who designed the King of Rock and Roll’s iconic jumpsuits for almost a decade, witnessed his generosity firsthand. He recalled when Presley gifted a fan a diamond and emerald ring she admired with “love and gratitude.”
Elvis Presley gave a fan an expensive gift she admired but couldn’t afford
In an interview with Elvis.com.au, Bill Belew discussed one instance where he worked with a jeweler to create custom pieces for Elvis Presley to wear at Sonny West’s wedding to Judy Jordan in 1970. Presley sent him to Schwartz and Albusser on the new jewelry.
“And so I went down there, and that’s how I met Saul and Abe. And as time progressed, we got to know each other,” Belew explained.
“Saul was tellin’ me that a lady had been coming in...
Elvis Presley gave a fan an expensive gift she admired but couldn’t afford
In an interview with Elvis.com.au, Bill Belew discussed one instance where he worked with a jeweler to create custom pieces for Elvis Presley to wear at Sonny West’s wedding to Judy Jordan in 1970. Presley sent him to Schwartz and Albusser on the new jewelry.
“And so I went down there, and that’s how I met Saul and Abe. And as time progressed, we got to know each other,” Belew explained.
“Saul was tellin’ me that a lady had been coming in...
- 2/12/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Visitors to Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home can see how the King of Rock and Roll lived. Entering the Memphis abode allows fans a glimpse into his personal history as they tour some of the home’s most iconic rooms. However, the upstairs remains off-limits to visitors and most staff. Only one person is allowed to maintain and preserve Presley’s bedroom; here are the details.
The 1 person allowed to preserve and maintain Elvis Presley’s Graceland bedroom
Elvis Presley’s Graceland has hundreds of employees working throughout the year. The home’s official website states that 350 people are on staff annually. That number grows to 450 during peak season.
Graceland jobs include ground maintenance, security, tour guides, bus drivers, sales representatives, and many behind-the-scenes jobs that keep the home operational for the millions of visitors who arrive yearly.
But even with that large number of staff roles, only one person...
The 1 person allowed to preserve and maintain Elvis Presley’s Graceland bedroom
Elvis Presley’s Graceland has hundreds of employees working throughout the year. The home’s official website states that 350 people are on staff annually. That number grows to 450 during peak season.
Graceland jobs include ground maintenance, security, tour guides, bus drivers, sales representatives, and many behind-the-scenes jobs that keep the home operational for the millions of visitors who arrive yearly.
But even with that large number of staff roles, only one person...
- 1/31/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley was one of the biggest stars of his generation. He enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle and had access to the finest things money could buy. However, Elvis most enjoyed being at his Tennessee home, where his favorite creature comforts were always available. These comforts included his favorite foods, but that came at a cost. In the 1970s, Elvis’ weekly grocery bill was more than double that of most monthly mortgages.
The weekly food bill at Graceland was around $500 a week in the 1970s
Per a story published by the Los Angeles Times in 1993, Elvis Presley’s food bill at Graceland in the 1970s was around $500 a week. This was more than most monthly mortgages in the United States, estimated at around $126 in 1970, per The New York Times.
The newspaper reported on details made available in David Adler’s book, The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley. It stated, “Purchases...
The weekly food bill at Graceland was around $500 a week in the 1970s
Per a story published by the Los Angeles Times in 1993, Elvis Presley’s food bill at Graceland in the 1970s was around $500 a week. This was more than most monthly mortgages in the United States, estimated at around $126 in 1970, per The New York Times.
The newspaper reported on details made available in David Adler’s book, The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley. It stated, “Purchases...
- 12/6/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Can someone say method acting?
In a recent roundtable interview with Entertainment Weekly alongside “Priscilla” co-star Cailee Spaeny and director Sofia Coppola, Jacob Elordi revealed that he ate a pound of bacon a day to play Elvis Presley.
“You ate a lot of bacon,” Coppola said to Elordi. She then explained, “Priscilla [Presley] told us that Elvis liked really burnt bacon.”
“I averaged, like, a pound of bacon a day,” Elordi said. “It’s not that noticeable because I’m quite long, but I was the biggest I’ve ever been.”
Spaeny then brought up the popular story of the “Fool’s Gold” loaf: the massive 8,000-calorie sandwich comprised of a pound of bacon, a loaf of sourdough bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly that Presley first discovered at the Colorado Mine Company restaurant in Denver. As the story goes, the King of Rock and Roll...
In a recent roundtable interview with Entertainment Weekly alongside “Priscilla” co-star Cailee Spaeny and director Sofia Coppola, Jacob Elordi revealed that he ate a pound of bacon a day to play Elvis Presley.
“You ate a lot of bacon,” Coppola said to Elordi. She then explained, “Priscilla [Presley] told us that Elvis liked really burnt bacon.”
“I averaged, like, a pound of bacon a day,” Elordi said. “It’s not that noticeable because I’m quite long, but I was the biggest I’ve ever been.”
Spaeny then brought up the popular story of the “Fool’s Gold” loaf: the massive 8,000-calorie sandwich comprised of a pound of bacon, a loaf of sourdough bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly that Presley first discovered at the Colorado Mine Company restaurant in Denver. As the story goes, the King of Rock and Roll...
- 11/4/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
If you’re going to make a music biopic — and with new dramatic takes on the lives of Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley and Michael Jackson on the way, it appears everyone is — you’d better secure the music rights. Making a movie purporting to tell the story of a pop music legend without first clearing rights to use the pop music that made them legendary is a recipe for box office disaster.
Remember Stardust, Gabriel Range’s 2020 David Bowie biopic starring Johnny Flynn, shot without any music from Bowie? Or Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013) directed by John Ridley with André 3000 as Jimi Hendrix playing none of his original songs? How about England Is Mine, Mark Gill’s unauthorized Morrissey biopic with Jack Lowden and Jodie Comer? Probably not. Without the sing-alone tunes, those films sank without a trace.
The blockbuster pop biopics — Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman,...
Remember Stardust, Gabriel Range’s 2020 David Bowie biopic starring Johnny Flynn, shot without any music from Bowie? Or Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013) directed by John Ridley with André 3000 as Jimi Hendrix playing none of his original songs? How about England Is Mine, Mark Gill’s unauthorized Morrissey biopic with Jack Lowden and Jodie Comer? Probably not. Without the sing-alone tunes, those films sank without a trace.
The blockbuster pop biopics — Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman,...
- 11/2/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Elvis Presley was shocked by the contents of the 1977 book Elvis: What Happened? Written by Steve Dunleavy, it painted the King of Rock and Roll in a very unfavorable light. Published just weeks before Elvis’ death, dark secrets revealed between its pages “hurt” the entertainer, says his cousin Danny Smith.
Danny Smith reveals Elvis Presley had hurt feelings over ‘Elvis: What Happened?’
The publication of the tell-all Elvis: What Happened? shocked Elvis Presley, admits his cousin Danny Smith. The book’s contents deeply hurt the king of rock and roll’s feelings, Smith said on his YouTube Channel Memphis Mafia Kid.
Smith said, “I think we all know how he felt. It hurt him bad on a lot of different levels.” He continued, “It made him very, very angry. He was angry, upset, and hurt by it.”
Smith admitted his feelings regarding the tell-all that pulled the curtain back on Elvis’ private life.
Danny Smith reveals Elvis Presley had hurt feelings over ‘Elvis: What Happened?’
The publication of the tell-all Elvis: What Happened? shocked Elvis Presley, admits his cousin Danny Smith. The book’s contents deeply hurt the king of rock and roll’s feelings, Smith said on his YouTube Channel Memphis Mafia Kid.
Smith said, “I think we all know how he felt. It hurt him bad on a lot of different levels.” He continued, “It made him very, very angry. He was angry, upset, and hurt by it.”
Smith admitted his feelings regarding the tell-all that pulled the curtain back on Elvis’ private life.
- 10/26/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s daughter, Lisa Marie, threw her wholehearted support behind the 2022 feature film Elvis. She publicly applauded director Baz Luhrmann and star, Austin Butler for how her father was portrayed. Lisa Marie was so supportive of the movie she allowed its stars privileged access to Graceland, her father’s home. The cast was allowed to party in one of Graceland’s most sacred spaces to celebrate its premiere. Here are the details.
Lisa Marie Presley made Graceland accessible to ‘Elvis’ cast
Elvis producer Gail Berman shared her experiences working with Lisa Marie Presley so that the feature film would have a level of accuracy demanded by the King of Rock and Roll’s fans. Berman told The Hollywood Reporter, “[Lisa Marie] decided, completely independent of us, that she wanted to be supportive of it, Austin and Baz, and she opened up her home at Graceland to us.”
However, by opening up...
Lisa Marie Presley made Graceland accessible to ‘Elvis’ cast
Elvis producer Gail Berman shared her experiences working with Lisa Marie Presley so that the feature film would have a level of accuracy demanded by the King of Rock and Roll’s fans. Berman told The Hollywood Reporter, “[Lisa Marie] decided, completely independent of us, that she wanted to be supportive of it, Austin and Baz, and she opened up her home at Graceland to us.”
However, by opening up...
- 9/11/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Riley Keough, the daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter of Elvis Presley, has been named the sole heir to her mother’s estate, also putting her in charge of Graceland, the King of Rock and Roll’s iconic home.
Riley Keough had been actively pushing to become the heir since June, filing a 72-page petition that made a claim that she should be in charge of what is called the Promenade Trust. This victory also finds her overseeing the sub-trusts for her younger half-sisters.
The issues related to the trust began, not surprisingly, almost immediately after the January death of Lisa Marie Presley, with Priscilla (ex-wife to Elvis), who “challenged the validity” of her daughter’s will which essentially removed Priscilla as a trustee. As it stands, Priscilla will instead serve as a special advisor and receive a monthly payment from Riley Keough. Priscilla also wanted to be buried next to Elvis,...
Riley Keough had been actively pushing to become the heir since June, filing a 72-page petition that made a claim that she should be in charge of what is called the Promenade Trust. This victory also finds her overseeing the sub-trusts for her younger half-sisters.
The issues related to the trust began, not surprisingly, almost immediately after the January death of Lisa Marie Presley, with Priscilla (ex-wife to Elvis), who “challenged the validity” of her daughter’s will which essentially removed Priscilla as a trustee. As it stands, Priscilla will instead serve as a special advisor and receive a monthly payment from Riley Keough. Priscilla also wanted to be buried next to Elvis,...
- 8/5/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Patti Labelle will honor Tina Turner’s life at the BET Awards, Rolling Stone can exclusively reveal Friday. The singer will perform a set in honor of the Queen of Rock & Roll during Sunday’s awards show.
“Tina was a trailblazer and someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for because of all that she overcame and all that she accomplished,” Labelle tells Rolling Stone in a statement. “She was and is everything! And I am honored that I am able to pay tribute to her in this way.
“Tina was a trailblazer and someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for because of all that she overcame and all that she accomplished,” Labelle tells Rolling Stone in a statement. “She was and is everything! And I am honored that I am able to pay tribute to her in this way.
- 6/23/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
On Wednesday, the entertainment icon Tina Turner died at the age of 83 at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland. Though her recording career slowed down this century, she continued to tour until 2009. And you have to work pretty hard to not have a familiarity with her biggest hits.
The singer-actress-dancer-activist born Anna Mae Bullock and famously raised in Nutbush, Tennessee won eight Grammys out of 25 nominations as a solo artist, including Record of the Year for “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” and another Grammy plus three nominations with her abusive ex-husband, Ike Turner. She was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and a Kennedy Center honoree, and the recent Broadway musical “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” was nominated for a Tony Award in 2020. For a while, she was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for headlining the largest ticketed concert in history: 180,000 people in Brazil...
The singer-actress-dancer-activist born Anna Mae Bullock and famously raised in Nutbush, Tennessee won eight Grammys out of 25 nominations as a solo artist, including Record of the Year for “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” and another Grammy plus three nominations with her abusive ex-husband, Ike Turner. She was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and a Kennedy Center honoree, and the recent Broadway musical “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” was nominated for a Tony Award in 2020. For a while, she was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for headlining the largest ticketed concert in history: 180,000 people in Brazil...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Tina Turner in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Just two years after documentary Tina made its début at the Berlinale, the star whose story it tells has passed away. Aged 83, the Tennessee-born singer and actress had suffered from a long illness, according to her publicist.
Turner, often described as the Queen of Rock and Roll, rose to fame in the late 1950s but went on to stage a spectacular comeback as a solo artist in the 1980s, at one point making it into the Guinness Book of Records for attracting the largest ever crowd for a live show by a single performer. Although her love of singing meant that a serious venture into acting was never on the cards, she made her mark as the formidably Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, also appearing in Last Action Hero and Tommy. Her contributions to soundtracks include hit Mad Max theme We Don't Need Another Hero.
Just two years after documentary Tina made its début at the Berlinale, the star whose story it tells has passed away. Aged 83, the Tennessee-born singer and actress had suffered from a long illness, according to her publicist.
Turner, often described as the Queen of Rock and Roll, rose to fame in the late 1950s but went on to stage a spectacular comeback as a solo artist in the 1980s, at one point making it into the Guinness Book of Records for attracting the largest ever crowd for a live show by a single performer. Although her love of singing meant that a serious venture into acting was never on the cards, she made her mark as the formidably Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, also appearing in Last Action Hero and Tommy. Her contributions to soundtracks include hit Mad Max theme We Don't Need Another Hero.
- 5/24/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Netflix has released the first trailer of its upcoming adult animated action-comedy series Agent Elvis, which debuts Matthew McConaughey as the voice of Elvis Presley. “Elvis Presley trades in his jumpsuit for a jet pack when he is covertly inducted into a secret government spy program to battle the dark forces that threaten the country he loves – all while holding down his day job as the King Of Rock And Roll,” according to the official synopsis. In the trailer above, we see the many lives of Elvis, from being a rockstar to a military man and the most famous person on Earth, before the footage cuts to his fictional time as a pimp, an astronaut, and now a U.S. spy. McConaughey will voice Presley– a global superstar by day and ass-kicking vigilante by night who eventually joins the secret agency “Tcb” as Agent Elvis. The series comes from Sony Pictures Animation...
- 2/6/2023
- TV Insider
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