Five things you never knew about Elvis Presley
To celebrate the start of Elvis Week 2025, we’re taking a look at the lesser-known parts of the Tupelo-born superstar’s illustrious life.
It’s that time of the year again, and Elvis Week 2025 is taking Tennessee by storm. In honour of ‘the King of rock ‘n’ roll’, Memphis’ Graceland mansion is due to welcome thousands of guests for seven days of exclusive live performances, a host of world-class tribute acts, and expert-led panel shows. Whether you’re looking forward to seeing Elvis Week 2025 in person, or just missed out this year, there’s a whole host of other Presley-themed events to enjoy across Tennessee, Mississippi and the American Deep South.
To mark the occasion, our team have been taking a closer look at the life and legacy of North America’s most iconic rockstar. From his humble beginnings in suburban Tupelo to his smouldering signature look, here are five things you might not have known about ‘the King of rock ‘n’ roll’.
1. The high life was always on his mind
Given that he spent most of his childhood in a small shotgun house in Mississippi, you might forgive a young Elvis Presley for thinking big after finding fame. Once his career took off in 1954, ‘the King’ bought his legendary, columned Memphis mansion, Graceland, when he was just 22 years of age. At the time of purchase, the property was around 14 acres and slightly over 10,000 square feet. These days, the site occupies more than 17,500 square feet.
2. Can’t help falling in love with the USA
There’s no denying it: over the years, Elvis achieved global fame and became a household name across every continent. From his chart-topping records to his success on Hollywood’s silver screen, ‘the King’ became an icon of rock ‘n’ roll. Despite 40% of the artist’s music sales coming from outside of theUnited States, he never actually performed anywhere but North AmericaandCanada during his career.
3. His signature hound dog hairdo
‘The King’ is famed for his smouldering looks, in part due to his dark black hair that was characteristically slicked back into a 1950s pompadour. But did you know that his hair was naturally less striking? He famously had it dyed black in order to give more of an edge to the mousy brown hair he had inherited.
4. All shook up in the army
While it’s difficult to imagine Elvis in any career other than music and show business, he actually served in the US army. What’s even more interesting is that he had already achieved a high level of fame when he began his two years of active army duty. During the late fifties, he served in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Division in Friedberg, a town in Bavaria,Germany.
5. A little less conversation – and even less songwriting
Unlike many singers on the charts these days, Elvis was no singer-songwriter. Across his dazzling 24 years in the industry, he recorded 600 tracks, despite never writing any of the lyrics. That’s not to say that they’re any less impressive, though, and you can hear him work his magic with our Presley-inspired playlist.
Follow in the footsteps of ‘the King’ with Newmarket Holidays
So, now you have a better grasp of the man behind the music. The best part, though, is that we’ve only scratched the surface! To delve deeper into the Deep South’s musical heritage, give one of our friendly holiday planners a call. You can also view the full range of rock ‘n’ roll itineraries on our dedicated Elvis Presley page or check out holiday hotspots across the world with a look at our destinations. For more inspiration on your own musical getaway, discover the most iconic spots from Elvis’ life with our rock ‘n’ roll roadmap or hear from one of our expert tour managers with a special Presley-themed Q&A.
