Yes, Elvis Presley had to get his iconic long hair and famous sideburns cut into a standard, short Army buzz cut when he was inducted in March 1958 at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, as military regulations required no special treatment for him, much to the dismay of his fans. This drastic change marked a significant shift in his public image, pausing his rock and roll career for his service.
The Chaffee Barbershop and Military Museum, which opened in 2008, is dedicated to preserving the history of the base and its unique place in pop culture. Visitors have long been attracted to this location, eager to see the barbershop where Elvis Presley famously received his Army haircut in March 1958.
Dolly Parton said no to Elvis Presley recording "I Will Always Love You" because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of the publishing rights, which Parton refused to give up, as she wanted to keep ownership and the future earnings for her family. Despite her heartbreak at the missed opportunity, she held firm to her business principle, understanding that retaining the copyright was crucial for her financial security and legacy, a decision that paid off immensely after Whitney Houston's cover became a global phenomenon.
He never thought he had a problem because he was taking "prescription drugs". Lab reports indicated that 14 drugs were found in Presley's blood at the time of his death, including "near toxic levels" of codeine, morphine, Placidyl and other prescription drugs.
Elvis Presley served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960, and during that time, he was stationed at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, West Germany. Arriving in October 1958, the King of Rock 'n' Roll served as a regular soldier with the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor, 3rd Armored Division.
“Usually you pass it all in two or three days, but at the autopsy we found stool in his colon which had been there for five months or more because of the poor motility of the bowel.”
Elvis Presley wiggled because his strong connection to the music naturally made him move his hips and legs, influenced by gospel and blues, combined with stage fright that he channeled into his movements, and amplified by the overwhelmingly positive, screaming reaction from his young female fans. He initially didn't intend it but leaned into it as audiences clearly desired the "sexual" and "primitive" display, making it his iconic, rebellious signature style.
He needed rest and true friends and time far away from the stage. Instead, he got more pills and another tour and another empty hotel room. What people saw as fat was really the body of a man worked to the edge, bloated by the medicine meant to keep him standing.
We don't know if Elvis had ADHD, but if he did it would have probably been treated with methylphenidate/Ritalin. Back then, ADHD was only treated in children, and methylphenidate was preferred; amphetamines were second line.
Elvis actually disliked denim. To him, as to most people from real working-class backgrounds, it was just a reminder of working hard and being poor. The less denim Elvis wore, the happier he was.
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe apparently had a clandestine affair. Tons of tabloids and biographers have claimed that the two icons engaged in a secret romantic relationship in their time. According to these accounts, it was an on-and-off thing that continued sporadically over the years.
From high school, Elvis grew his sideburns and groomed his hair using products like Vaseline and Rose Oil hair tonic.
In the 1950s, while this hairstyle was not yet called the pompadour, it was donned by James Dean and Elvis Presley. It was known by other names (Quiff, DA, ducktail, jelly roll, Rocker, Greaser, or simply "the Elvis cut").
A young Elvis Presley did just that, with the help of Lansky Brothers Men's Clothing Store. Elvis began shopping at this Memphis store when he was still in high school. He wanted to be an entertainer, and he followed many of the city's local entertainers into Lansky Brothers.
Whatever else he was, Elvis was a chronic pain patient. 1,2 He suffered for years from debilitating stomach pain resulting from Crohn's disease. He was prescribed chronic steroids for this inflammatory disease, and this was the only treatment that offered him some relief.
It was so indulgent it became part of his public image—decadent, Southern, over-the-top. But his last meal was quiet. A bowl of ice cream. Some cookies.
It's a debate with no single answer, as Elvis Presley was bigger in US chart dominance (114 Top 40 hits vs. MJ's 36) and pioneering rock, while Michael Jackson achieved greater global reach, international tours, and broader multimedia influence (music videos, dance). Both are among the biggest artists ever, selling over a billion records, but Elvis was the original King of Rock, while Jackson became the King of Pop with unparalleled global cultural saturation.
Elvis Presley suffered from severe, chronic constipation, with autopsy findings revealing up to four to five months' worth of impacted fecal matter in his colon, a condition exacerbated by prescription medications and poor bowel motility, contributing significantly to his overall decline and eventual heart failure while straining on the toilet.
Dolly Parton refused to let Elvis Presley record her song, "I Will Always Love You," because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half the publishing rights, which Parton would not give up, believing the song was her most important copyright and retirement fund. Although Elvis loved the song and sang it to Priscilla Presley after their divorce, the deal fell through due to Parker's insistence on the publishing cut, a decision Parton later recognized as prescient when Whitney Houston made the song a global phenomenon.
Elvis Presley was with his then-fiancée, Ginger Alden, when he died at Graceland on August 16, 1977; she discovered his body in the bathroom of the master suite, where he had fallen, and she was the one who called for help, leading to his transport to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on 5-MAR 1960, and received his discharge from the Army Reserve on 23- MAR 1964. Elvis had attained the rank of Sergeant and was considered by peers as a very good soldier.
On this day in 1977,Elvis Presley gave his last performance. The performance was in Indiana. Elvis died 2 months later at the age of 42. Elvis weighed 350 pounds at the time of his death.