It's December thirty-first, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley rang in the new year with a powerful 90-minute performance at the Civic Center Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The show was widely considered one of his best in years, with many crediting his strong energy to the presence of Ginger Alden. But the night took a somber turn when, shortly after the concert, Elvis was informed by his father, Vernon, that his cousin Bobbi Mann had died from a pill overdose. The group returned to Memphis at six-thirty in the morning.
It's December thirtieth, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley returned to Washington, D.C. with a group of eight close companions, including former sheriff Bill Morris, to visit the headquarters of the National Sheriffs Association. There, he secured honorary memberships and automatic life insurance policies for everyone in his entourage. Though an expected meeting with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover never happened, the group was given a private tour of FBI headquarters the following day—another badge added to Elvis’s ever-growing collection and his ongoing fascination with law enforcement.
It’s December twenty-ninth, and on this day in Elvis history:
In 1970, Elvis Presley returned to his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi, to receive a badge from Sheriff Bill Mitchell—a childhood acquaintance who had watched Elvis grow from a local boy into a global icon. The visit was emblematic of Elvis’s lifelong fascination with law enforcement and his deep ties to his Mississippi roots.
And on December 29, 1976, Elvis performed at the Birmingham-Jefferson County Coliseum in Alabama. Despite health struggles and the pressures of constant touring, he delivered a strong show before an enthusiastic Southern crowd. Draped in one of his iconic jumpsuits, Elvis proved once again that even in his later years, the magic was still very much alive on stage.
It’s December twenty-eighth, and on this day in Elvis history:
In 1970, Elvis Presley served as best man at the wedding of his longtime friend and bodyguard, Sonny West. True to form, Elvis arrived wearing a collection of guns and badges—his fascination with law enforcement on full display. After the ceremony, the celebration continued with a second reception at Graceland, where Elvis often played the generous and flamboyant host.
And on this same date in 1976, Elvis took the stage at the Memorial Auditorium in Dallas, Texas. It was one of the final performances of the year, and though his health was waning, the King still delivered a show that brought fans to their feet. Even in the later years, Elvis’s presence on stage remained undeniable.
It's December twenty-seventh, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed at Wichita State University’s Henry Levitt Arena in Wichita, Kansas. This show was part of a brief post-Christmas tour and came during a period of personal and professional turbulence, but Elvis still took to the stage, continuing to fulfill his commitment to fans even as the toll of the road grew heavier.
It's December twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1965… Elvis Presley hosted an intimate gathering at Graceland, catered by Monty’s. But the night took an unusual turn: after nearly a year of reading about it, Elvis decided to experiment with LSD for the first—and what is believed to be the only—time. The evening ended with a sci-fi movie, pizza, and a moonlit walk behind Graceland with Priscilla, Larry, and Jerry, sharing reflections on friendship and connection.
It's December twenty-fifth, and on this day in 1975… Elvis Presley spent Christmas evening in true Kingly fashion—gathered with family and friends aboard his private jet, the Lisa Marie. From the sky, he handed out personally selected jewelry from Lowell Hays’ collection, turning the plane into a glittering sleigh. But not all was calm and bright: the night ended with Aunt Delta, fueled by a little too much holiday cheer, voicing her frustrations at Elvis’s inner circle.
It's December twenty-fourth, and on this day in 1966… Elvis Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu, presenting her with a ring he had previously purchased from Harry Levitch. The moment was the culmination of their years-long relationship, marking a turning point in both their lives just hours before Christmas. The proposal took place at Graceland, surrounded by the elaborate holiday decorations that had become a Presley tradition.
It's December twenty-third, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black were pulled over for speeding while returning from a Louisiana Hayride show in Shreveport. Elvis, worried he'd lose his Christmas money to a fine, was relieved when the officer let them off with just a warning. Afterward, they parked the car and counted their show earnings by headlight—mostly in single dollar bills. The next day, Elvis spent every cent on Christmas gifts, a small but telling glimpse into his generous nature, even in the earliest days of his career.
It's December twenty-second, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley returned to Graceland bearing gifts for Priscilla and Lisa Marie, fresh from his whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., where he met with President Nixon and received a federal narcotics badge. Sharing stories from the trip, Elvis brought holiday cheer to his family, blending his larger-than-life adventures with the quiet joy of Christmas at home.
It's December twenty-first, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley met with President Richard Nixon at the White House in one of the most iconic and unexpected encounters in American pop culture history. After hand-delivering a letter to the White House earlier that morning, Elvis was granted a meeting arranged through Nixon’s deputy counsel. Accompanied by Jerry Schilling and Sonny West, Elvis spoke about his concerns over drug culture and youth unrest, and requested a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. The President agreed—and Elvis left the meeting with the badge in hand.
It's December twentieth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley received his official draft notice. That same day, he stopped by Sun Records before heading to Nashville, where he hand-delivered a red Isetta sports car to Colonel Tom Parker as a Christmas gift. The moment captured the dramatic intersection of Elvis's skyrocketing fame, looming military service, and his deeply personal loyalty to the manager guiding his career.
It's December nineteenth, and on this day in 1962… Priscilla Beaulieu arrived in the United States from Germany, traveling under the name Priscilla Fisher. She was picked up at Idlewild Airport in New York by Vernon Presley and his wife Dee, who brought her to Memphis. Elvis then met her at his father's house and took her on a drive past the Graceland lawn, where the life-size Nativity scene and Christmas lights were on full display. It marked Priscilla’s first holiday season in Elvis’s world—a quiet beginning to a very public chapter of his life.
It's December eighteenth, and on this day in 1968… filming wrapped on *The Trouble With Girls*, officially releasing Elvis Presley from his studio obligations. The movie, set in the 1920s and featuring Elvis as the manager of a traveling Chautauqua show, marked one of the final entries in his film career. With production complete, Elvis was free to focus on his renewed passion for live performance—just months after the triumphant broadcast of his ’68 Comeback Special.
It's December seventeenth, and on this day in 1963… Elvis Presley presented a \$55,000 check to the mayor of Memphis, benefiting 58 local charities. The donation was made just days before Christmas, reflecting Elvis’s deep commitment to giving back to the city he called home. The gift became one of the most notable public examples of his quiet, consistent generosity—a quality that often stood in contrast to the spectacle of his fame.
It's December sixteenth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley purchased a Santa sleigh and eight reindeer decorations for \$300 from the Bain Sign Company in Memphis. The festive display was placed on the front lawn of Graceland and has become a beloved holiday tradition, continuing to light up the grounds every Christmas season since. It’s one of the earliest public glimpses into Elvis’s deep love of Christmas—and his flair for going all in when it came to celebration.
It's December fifteenth, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley arrived in Shreveport, Louisiana, at 5:00 a.m. and checked into the Captain Shreve Hotel. That evening, he performed at the Louisiana Hayride at the Hirsch Youth Center. In the audience was director Hal Kanter, who was so inspired by Elvis’s onstage charisma that he made revisions to the screenplay of Elvis’s upcoming film. It was a moment where Elvis’s raw live presence directly influenced the shape of his Hollywood image.
It's December fourteenth, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley made his debut performance in Gladewater, Texas, at the Mint Club. The show was organized by local DJ Tom Perryman, who became a key early supporter of Elvis’s budding career. This appearance helped establish Presley’s presence in East Texas, setting the stage for a string of performances across the region in the year to come.
It's December thirteenth, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley recorded three master tracks at Stax Studios in Memphis, including the deeply emotional ballad *Loving Arms*. The session showcased a more introspective side of Elvis, as he channeled his personal struggles into powerful vocal performances. It was a standout moment from his final major studio sessions, capturing both the vulnerability and soul that defined his later work.
It's December twelfth, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed his final concert at the Las Vegas Hilton. After the show, he returned to his dressing room and broke down in tears, confiding in televangelist Rex Humbard that he felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Humbard prayed with Elvis as he wept. The moment revealed a rarely seen vulnerability behind the glittering stage persona—a man searching for meaning even as the curtain closed on one of his most iconic venues.