Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley was bullied for being a mama’s boy. The kids were right about one thing: Elvis and his mama were very close, and throughout his life, he always had high regard for her. He was in deep mourning when she died shortly before he was deployed to Germany.
While on the rise to fame, having earned much from his music records, Elvis had intended to buy his mansion in Graceland for his parents. Even after his mother passed away, he had a hard time letting go so he had her clothes and personal belongings safely kept there.
Presley Met President Nixon
Elvis Presley certainly had his moments of spontaneity. He was like a firework, except you really couldn’t guess for sure which direction or in which colors he would explode. One day, out of nowhere, Elvis suddenly had the urge to meet a very important man, no less than the president of the United States, Richard Nixon.
Nixon granted the king’s request, and oddly enough, during this meet-and-greet, Presley requested a federal narcotics badge for no apparent reason. Stranger still, then President Nixon granted this outlandish wish as if he needed no valid reason to have one issued. It was a bizarre event on more than one level.
The King's Favorite Sandwich
As we improve our position in life, our tastes for certain things change as well. We develop an eye for classier treats, appreciate subtlety, and find the sublime in things we once couldn’t grasp. Imagine how the king of rock ‘n’ roll evolved over his rapid ascent from small-town country boy to the biggest star in the world.
In terms of sandwiches, though, he simply would not settle for the common favorites like peanut butter and jelly or tuna. No, no, and no. The sandwich fit for a king is much more complex than your usual homemade ones. He would settle for nothing less than the eclectic mix of peanut butter, bacon, banana, and honey, sandwiched in lush, soft white bread.
He Wanted the Perks of Religion
Somehow, religion and rock ‘n’ roll feel like an odd mix. Many Christians in Presley’s heyday described the two as mixing oil and water. It is not surprising that the king of the genre was not into religion himself. However, he did spend a lot of time pondering the matter.
He loved worldly things so much and imagined heaven would have to be an incredible experience he didn’t want to miss out on. Except he didn’t know which religion would get him there. For sure, he didn’t want to miss the opportunity due to a “technicality” and, therefore, would never use a cross or any other specific religious symbol. Rather, he maintained a neutral but interested position, hoping that would suffice.
Elvis Had Cosmetic Surgery
Like so many of his fellow artists, celebrities, and musicians, Elvis Presley was secretly concerned about his looks. He was the king, not lacking in talent, but as he aged, he gradually looked every bit of it, too. The formerly pristine star, whose success was built, at least in part, on his look, grew more jowly and flabby thanks to the abusive lifestyle, sleepless nights, and all the rest of it. He was concerned, among a mountain of other things, about his appearance.
At age 40, the king of rock decided to undergo surgery, according to his ex-girlfriend, Linda Thompson. Apart from the one and only facelift he’d ever undergo, he tried other ways to look younger, some that lay well outside his doctor’s recommendations. He risked many things just to hold onto the fading remnants of his youth.