By Modern60
Published On August 29, 2025
Elvis Presley, also known as the famous “King of Rock’ n Roll,” was not just a singer and an actor; he was a walking-talking headline, a magnet for controversy, and a cultural icon all rolled into one. Despite what you may know about him, a significant part of his life and popularity remained a mystery. This secret aura around him, even today, is one of the reasons why Elvis is loved by many!
Young Elvis faced early rejection in his musical journey, which may seem unbelievable now. During his school years, his music professor failed him, telling him that he had no musical talent. He went on to have no training in music and never learnt to read music notes. Yes, you read that correctly!
To add to the sting, the singer also failed to make a local musical quartet despite giving his best shot at the auditions. He was unable to impress the judges and had to leave disappointed. In addition, the critics bluntly told him that he could not sing. Imagine if he had taken all those comments to heart and given up on singing altogether!
Fortunately, he continued to chase his passion regardless. He taught himself to play the guitar and drew inspiration from hit gospel and blues records of the time. Gradually, he built a career as an all-round musician and entertainer.
While filming his blockbuster movie Jailhouse Rock, one of the biggest fan favorites, the icon suffered a scary mishap. During a scene that involved him sliding down a pole, he accidentally knocked off his porcelain cap from one of his teeth. In a bizarre turn of events, he ended up swallowing the cap, which happened to settle in his right lung. Fortunately, he received immediate treatment, and the cap was successfully removed, turning this incident into one of the most nostalgic stories about Elvis.
After his recovery, he managed to maintain his iconic vocal cords, and the world breathed a sigh of relief!
Elvis’s relationship with his parents had an interesting link to the amount of $4. When he was just a toddler, his father, Vernon, got into trouble for forging a $4 check and was sentenced to three years in prison. Fortunately, his father served less than a year behind bars.
Fast forward to 1953, the 18-year-old Elvis walked into Sun Records to record his first song, My Happiness and That’s When Your Heartaches Begin. The songs were a birthday gift for his mother, Gladys, and the cost that was required to produce them was exactly $4!
The demo of My Happiness marked the beginning of the legendary Elvis music legacy! Also, the first record was sold at an auction for $30,000 on what would have been his 80th birth anniversary.
Of all the Elvis Presley facts on this list, this one is truly surprising!
Elvis was a distant relative to not just one but two former presidents – Abraham Lincoln and Jimmy Carter! According to a commercial genealogy website, he was the 10th cousin (4 times removed), of President Lincoln. According to the New York Times, the singer was a sixth cousin, once removed, to President Carter.
As a child, Elvis was fascinated by Captain Marvel Jr. In fact, much of the singer’s style was a mirror image of the comic book character. In Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film Elvis, you can see him reading those comic books. The singer dyed his naturally blonde hair jet black as a nod to the superhero. He also incorporated Captain Marvel Jr.’s cape and logo to elevate his style and image.
Having grown up in poverty, Elvis dreamed big, much like the character Freddy Freeman. His larger-than-life persona was literally based on the idea of a superhero!
Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s ex-wife, opened their estate to the public after the singer passed. The number of visitors to their Graceland Mansion each year is proof of how much his fans continue to adore him and the legacy he left behind.
On average, his mansion attracts 600,000 fans annually, making the property the second-highest visited home in the country after the White House. The Presidential home welcomes about 1.25 million visitors every year.
Elvis bought his mansion in 1957 for just $102,500, when he was only 22 years old. Today, the money generated from the visitors amounts to an amazing $150 million every year! In a way, the late singer is still contributing to his country’s economy even today through tourism and related spending.
As it was evident, Elvis loved his jumpsuits, which is why he wore them for most of his performances. He first began wearing them in the early 70s, each iconic suit weighing about 25 to 30 pounds.
As his fame grew, his suits became increasingly elaborate, featuring intricate jewels and meticulous stitching patterns. His heaviest suit, known as The American Eagle, or the Aloha, weighed a whopping 75 pounds and was priced at $65,000 in 1973!
If you were to recreate a similar suit today, it would likely cost four times that amount!
Elvis remains a platinum-selling superstar even over 40 years after his passing! As recent as 2023, the artist earned $100 million in album sales. To this day, Elvis’s music, singles, and albums continue to sell across various formats, including cassettes, CDs, vinyls, and digital, with sales reaching millions.
In the late 1950s, Elvis performed in Canada in a series of electrifying concerts, captivating the audiences with his performance and his superstar charm. However, despite his immense success, he never ventured beyond the borders of the country.
The exact reason for this unusual decision has not been confirmed yet. But the star’s music and persona gained worldwide popularity even without touring internationally.
Speaking of iconic artists, Freddie Mercury, Queen’s lead vocalist, wrote the song “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” as a tribute to Elvis Presley in just five to ten minutes. In other words, he came up with the song and penned it down quicker than the time it takes for someone to shower! The song, released in 1979, still captures the legend’s unique energy and style.
The list of such fun facts about Elvis seems endless, just like his legacy. The list also includes his love for karate, his peculiar habit of watching three TV sets, and his collection of expensive cars.
The Editorial Team at Modern60 is a group of highly skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds in journalism, content creation, editing, and digital media. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to ensure that every piece of content meets our strict editorial guidelines and quality standards. The team is dedicated to delivering accurate, well-researched, and engaging content across various subjects, including health, wellness, lifestyle, and current events. With their commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism and content creation, the Modern60 Editorial Team is the driving force behind our mission to empower and inspire our readers.
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