He died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. He had been famous for barely twenty-one years. In that time he became the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music, changed what a live concert could be, and left behind a house that people still fly across oceans to stand outside. … Read more
Every August, Graceland fills up with people who loved Elvis Presley from a distance. But scattered through the schedule are a handful of people who knew him up close — the bodyguards, the tour managers, the co-stars, the girlfriend. Elvis Week 2026 ran from August 8 to 16 and marked 49 years since he died. … Read more
Graceland is already one of the most famous homes in America. It was where Elvis Presley lived, entertained friends and family and surrounded himself with the unusual objects that reflected his personality. But even after years of cataloging the house, Graceland’s archivists occasionally discover something that makes them stop and wonder. One such discovery was … Read more
Elvis Presley had gold records, expensive cars, extravagant clothes and more money than he could spend. But one of the things he collected most enthusiastically was something far less glamorous: police badges. His fascination with law enforcement was not a passing celebrity obsession. Elvis collected honorary badges from police departments and agencies around the country, … Read more
The photograph looks almost surreal: Elvis Presley standing inside the White House beside President Richard Nixon, dressed in a dark suit with his characteristic sunglasses and sideburns. But the reason Elvis was there was even stranger than the photograph itself. He had come to Washington with a very specific request. Elvis wanted to become a … Read more
Michael Jackson had already achieved something most performers could only dream of before he was old enough to understand what fame meant. As the lead singer of the Jackson 5, he had become a global sensation while still a child. His voice, dancing and extraordinary stage presence made him famous around the world. But by … Read more
In 2001, Michael Jackson walked into one of Britain’s most prestigious debating chambers and did something few people expected from the King of Pop. He did not come to talk about records, concerts or his extraordinary career. He came to talk about children. Jackson appeared at the Oxford Union on March 6, 2001, as part … Read more
For most people, a quiet family living room is hardly something worth remembering. A sofa, a television, children playing on the floor and a grandmother watching over them might seem like the most ordinary scene imaginable. But for Michael Jackson, those moments could feel almost magical. Long before he became known as the King of … Read more
In 1983, the two biggest voices in popular music sat down together in a home studio in Encino, California, and started making an album. Michael Jackson had just released Thriller. Freddie Mercury was fronting Queen at the height of their powers. They liked each other enormously; they had been to each other’s shows, and they … Read more
In 1982, the phone rang at Eddie Van Halen’s house. He was the biggest rock guitarist on the planet at the time, and the voice on the other end said it belonged to Quincy Jones, who was producing an album for Michael Jackson and wanted him to play a guitar solo on it. Van Halen … Read more
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