Graceland Blog

BY JON WATERHOUSE It may be mid-afternoon in the middle of Elvis Week, but a Polynesian pop of a party shakes its figurative grass skirt in the Jungle Room Bar, a fresh-out-of-the-box libation station in the new, sprawling Graceland Exhibition Center.   Elvis music echoes off the walls as fans hoot over a game of name-that-tune. Yet the real action flows from behind the bar. Carlos Rivas, wearing a replica of Elvis’ red floral button-up shirt from “Blue... Read More

By Jon Waterhouse Many dyed-in-the-wool Elvis admirers make a lifelong commitment to fandom. Some display it in the most permanent way possible: an Elvis tattoo.  They view it as a badge of honor where artistic expression meets affection that runs beyond skin deep. Elvis Week vet Christina Holgate of Calgary, Canada is one of a myriad of fans who took the plunge, braving the needle for the love of the king.   Spanning from the top of her left shoulder to her elbow,... Read More

By Jon Waterhouse Dean Z was born to be a rocker, literally. And evidence exists. A video circa 1987 shows a 3-year-old, jumpsuit clad Dean performing “Jailhouse Rock” with more swagger than a post-toddler should have, just a month after the kid saw Elvis on TV for the first time.  Today the 2013 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist keeps rolling upward, achieving some of the highest acclaim and visibility of any performer of his kind. Using an intense appreciation and... Read More

By Jon Waterhouse For Elvis devotees like entertainer Jeff Lewis, the music never stops. Moments after last night’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Semifinal Concert at the Graceland Soundstage, the celebration continues as fans hurriedly migrate into the neighboring Graceland Exhibition Center for the after-party. As it makes its Graceland campus debut this year, Lewis’ annual, all-star, Elvis-infused jam session concept proves more popular than ever. Fans already inside... Read More

BY JON WATERHOUSE To quote Elvis’s “All Shook Up,” right about now “I’m itchin’ like a man on a fuzzy tree.” My seventh time around as Elvis Week blogger has me coming down with a seven year itch of another kind, one with excitement and anticipation for the ultimate Elvis-themed celebration. And I’ll get relief by diving head first into all Elvis Week has to offer. The challenge? Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland have a whopping... Read More

Elvis Week 2019 is only weeks away.  For some Elvis fans, this will be their first Elvis Week. Looking at the schedule, it may all seem a little daunting – so much to do! So many cool things to see! So many shows to attend, so many autographs to get. We asked Elvis Week veterans for their best tips and tricks to help Elvis Week first-timers navigate their first Elvis Week. Here are a few of their tips – with a few of ours mixed in.  Thank you, thank you very much... Read More

Elvis Presley’s Graceland opened to the public 37 years ago today, on June 7, 1982. Since then, more than 21 million people have walked through the door, the experience has evolved and delved deeper into Elvis’ life, the campus has more than doubled and – best of all – Graceland has helped continue and strengthen Elvis’ legacy. New fans are made every day as they explore the mansion and Graceland’s museums and exhibits.  Need a list of fun things... Read More

This past Sunday, 19 of music’s biggest stars honored Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with the two-hour NBC special, “Elvis All-Star Tribute.” Long-time Elvis fans loved the show’s ’68 Special theme, the Elvis clips and personal home movies, and the way the stars honored the king with their thoughtful tributes. What we hope is that the fans of those 19 stars – Yolanda Adams, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Pistol Annies, Darius... Read More