Podcast: Today In Elvis History

  • February 11th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 11th in Elvis History
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    It’s February eleventh, and on this day in 1956, Elvis Presley made his third appearance on CBS’s *Stage Show*, hosted by the Dorsey Brothers. But this wasn’t just another TV performance—this was the night America heard “Heartbreak Hotel” for the first time on national television. Elvis paired the haunting ballad with a blistering rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes,” giving audiences a double shot of rock ‘n’ roll that would help launch him into superstardom.

    And on this day in 1960, Elvis celebrated a major personal milestone—he was officially promoted to sergeant in the United States Army. Having commanded a three-man reconnaissance unit in the 32nd Scout Platoon of the Third Armored Division, he now earned $122.31 per month. Speaking to Armed Forces Radio, Elvis said, “People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up. They thought I couldn’t take it, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise.”

  • February 10th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 10th in Elvis History
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    It’s February tenth, and on this day in 1967… Elvis Presley went on a buying spree to outfit his newly acquired Circle G Ranch, purchasing over two dozen pickup trucks and other vehicles. The King wasn’t just building a getaway—he was creating a working ranch for himself, his friends, and his entourage. This extravagant move marked one of the biggest lifestyle shifts in Elvis’s personal life, reflecting his love for horses, the outdoors, and providing for those close to him.

  • February 9th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 9th in Elvis History
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    It’s February ninth, and on this day in 1974… Elvis Presley closed out a shortened but memorable engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton with back-to-back performances—one at 8:15 p.m. and another at midnight. Originally booked for four weeks, the run was reduced to two at the advice of Dr. Nick, Elvis’s physician. Despite signs of emotional strain behind the scenes, including reports that Elvis shot out a chandelier and several TV sets during his stay, the shows themselves were a triumph. Elvis was described by observers as being in good humor and at the top of his form, delivering powerful performances to packed crowds on the Strip.

  • February 8th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 8th in Elvis History
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    It’s February eighth, and on this day in 1967… Elvis Presley, while on a horse-buying trip in Mississippi with Priscilla and several of the boys, stumbled upon a 160-acre cattle ranch called Twinkletown Farm, just ten miles south of Graceland. Drawn in by the sight of a 65-foot lighted cross standing tall on the property, Elvis made an impulsive decision—he bought the ranch on the spot, putting down $5,000 toward the $250,000 price tag.

    He soon renamed it Circle G Ranch, with the “G” standing for Graceland, and over the following weeks, transformed it into a cowboy paradise. Elvis spared no expense, investing $437,000 in trailers for his entourage, pickup trucks, a stocked fishing pond, and fifty head of cattle. When he learned a Texas ranch already held the Circle G brand, he later modified the name to the Flying Circle G. It became a rustic retreat where Elvis could ride, relax, and live out his cowboy dreams just a short drive from home.

  • February 7th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 7th in Elvis History
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    It's February seventh, and on this day in 1963… Priscilla Beaulieu officially made the move to Memphis after years of negotiations between Elvis and her family. That day, Priscilla and her father Joseph Beaulieu flew to Los Angeles to meet Elvis, who gave them a tour of the city before all three traveled to Memphis. Priscilla then enrolled at Immaculate Conception High School, a strict all-girls Catholic academy run by nuns. While the press was told she’d be staying at Vernon Presley’s house next door, Priscilla later revealed that she moved directly into Elvis’s bedroom at Graceland as soon as her father left town.

  • February 6th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 6th in Elvis History
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    It's February sixth, and on this day in 1955, Elvis Presley performed two Sunday shows at Memphis’s Ellis Auditorium—but the real action happened backstage. Between the 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. performances, a pivotal meeting took place between Elvis, Colonel Tom Parker, Sun Records president Sam Phillips, and members of Elvis’s inner circle, including Tom Diskin, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black. The topic? Elvis’s future.

    Colonel Parker was already pushing the idea that Elvis needed a bigger label than Sun to go national, telling Phillips that RCA was interested in buying Elvis’s contract. Phillips didn’t take kindly to the suggestion that Sun was holding Elvis back, and the meeting quickly went cold. While nothing was signed that day, the tension between ambition and loyalty set the stage for one of the most significant transitions in Elvis’s career—the eventual sale of his contract to RCA later that year.

  • February 5th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 5th in Elvis History
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    It's February fifth, and on this day in 1968… Elvis brought Priscilla and their newborn daughter, Lisa Marie, home from the hospital. Just four days earlier, the King had become a father for the first and only time. The arrival of Lisa Marie marked one of the most personal milestones of Elvis’s life—a moment of joy and tenderness that stood in contrast to the whirlwind of his career. He doted on her from the very beginning, and this homecoming to Graceland marked the start of a new chapter as a family man.

  • February 4th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 4th in Elvis History
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    It's February fourth, and on this day in 1973, Elvis Presley met heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas, where Ali was training for an upcoming title defense. During their meeting, Elvis gifted Ali an ornate custom robe emblazoned with “The People’s Champion” on the back. Ali, touched by the gesture, later reflected that he felt sorry for Elvis, noting how much time he spent secluded indoors. Ali returned the favor by giving Elvis a pair of his own boxing gloves, inscribed with the messages, “You’re the greatest, from the greatest,” and “To Elvis, my main man, from Muhammad Ali.”

  • February 3rd in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 3rd in Elvis History
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    It's February third, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley held a recording session inside his beloved Graceland. The plan was to create music in a comfortable, homey environment, but the results told a different story. Over the course of more than 13 hours, Elvis recorded only one song—"Solitaire." Observers noted he seemed increasingly distracted, retreating to his bedroom at one point and confiding in Sonny and Red West about elaborate, paranoid plots involving Memphis drug dealers. It was a chilling glimpse into the darker edges of Elvis's private world during his later years.

  • February 2nd in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    February 2nd in Elvis History
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    It's February second, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley, in the middle of his Las Vegas engagement, exchanged heartfelt gifts with boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Elvis presented Ali with a custom-made robe that read "The People's Champion" across the back. Ali, touched by the gesture, later reflected on their meeting with sympathy, noting Elvis’s isolation: "He stayed indoors all the time. I told him he should go out and see people." In return, Ali gifted Elvis a pair of boxing gloves, one inscribed with "You're the greatest" and the other with a personal dedication: "To Elvis, my main man, from Muhammad Ali."