After splitting from his wife Priscilla, Elvis Presley’s next major lover was Miss Tennessee model Linda Thompson.
The 37-year-old King started dating the 22-year-old model in 1972 and she lived with him at Graceland until they amicably split four and a half years later.
Next week will mark 46 years since the singer’s untimely death and now for the first time ever his old flame has been officially invited by Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises to take part in Elvis Week.
The annual celebrations of the rock icon’s life and career have already kicked off at the Memphis mansion, with fans around the world able to attend virtually via live stream too.
Ahead of her return to Graceland, Linda has posted a special tribute to Elvis with a clip of a previous visit back in the mid-2000s.
Linda, now 73, wrote on her Instagram: “Once again, I am headed back to Memphis to pay tribute to the iconic king of rock ‘n’ roll…the one and only true original… Elvis Presley. It has now been 46 years since the untimely passing of this legendary performer. Thanks to his fiercely loyal and faithfully dedicated fans, Elvis’s memory and legacy are still very much alive!
“Thank you to Graceland and EPE for inviting me to Elvis Week and including me in the full participation of this upcoming special time! Pictured in this clip is Nancy Rooks, who sent me Christmas cards every single year until her passing. We also spoke on the phone often, and I still appreciate her friendship throughout all these years.
“Also pictured is Bernard Lansky, the fashion innovator who dressed Elvis. May the knowledge that love never dies extend some comfort to those who have lost loved ones. Love is the only thing that we can truly take with us and the thing of most value we leave behind. Let’s love one another… that’s the true path to peace…”
At Elvis Week 2023, Linda is giving sold-out $1000 in-person tours of the Graceland mansion. She will also be interviewed in front of fans as part of the Elvis In Conversation segment.
As is the case each year, Graceland will live stream the annual Candlelight Vigil at Elvis’ grave in the Meditation Garden on the evening of August 15 for free here.
For more information on Virtual Elvis Week 2023 and what’s included in each package, click here.