It seems, in the land of celebrity, that there are no lengths a star will not go to for a chance to be young again. Not to relive old memories, but to create new ones, to feel fresh, and to once again stand at the height of their fame and power.
Elvis Presley was no different. He fought a difficult battle to stay young and it ultimately became a desperate one. He battled with subscribed substances and weight issues. He was plump and ungainly and underwent a two-week sedation period in an attempt to counter it. During this time, he’d only rise from bed to eat minimal portions of food and use the bathroom.
He Wanted the Perks of Religion
Somehow, religion and rock ‘n’ roll feel like an odd mix. Many Christians in Presley’s heyday described the two as mixing oil and water. It is not surprising that the king of the genre was not into religion himself. However, he did spend a lot of time pondering the matter.
He loved worldly things so much and imagined heaven would have to be an incredible experience he didn’t want to miss out on. Except he didn’t know which religion would get him there. For sure, he didn’t want to miss the opportunity due to a “technicality” and, therefore, would never use a cross or any other specific religious symbol. Rather, he maintained a neutral but interested position, hoping that would suffice.
Elvis Had Cosmetic Surgery
Like so many of his fellow artists, celebrities, and musicians, Elvis Presley was secretly concerned about his looks. He was the king, not lacking in talent, but as he aged, he gradually looked every bit of it, too. The formerly pristine star, whose success was built, at least in part, on his look, grew more jowly and flabby thanks to the abusive lifestyle, sleepless nights, and all the rest of it. He was concerned, among a mountain of other things, about his appearance.
At age 40, the king of rock decided to undergo surgery, according to his ex-girlfriend, Linda Thompson. Apart from the one and only facelift he’d ever undergo, he tried other ways to look younger, some that lay well outside his doctor’s recommendations. He risked many things just to hold onto the fading remnants of his youth.
The Time Elvis Could Hardly Eat
The king of rock, at a later stage in his life, didn’t look kingly at all. He was standing but down for the count, able to be knocked off his feet by the slightest bump. He had put his body through too much, stubbornly self-medicating, much to his doctor’s chagrin. Every solution he came up with just dug his hole deeper, and he refused to listen to the advice of professionals.
For a while there, Elvis could barely eat, sometimes even falling asleep during meals. His stepbrother, David Stanley, would often have to help him out in finishing his food. This was a rough and sensitive period for Elvis, but he did his best to tough it out.
Elvis Called President Carter
Elvis Presley was not the king of rock for nothing. He had connections, which meant power. He was granted a meeting with former president Nixon purely on the basis of a whim. Now, armed with his federal narcotics badge, Elvis had another flash of insight. He wanted another presidential audience, this time with Jimmy Carter.
His plan ended up as a telephone call instead, with President Carter on the other end, struggling to get what the slurring voice was trying to say. Elvis wanted him to pardon a friend who was undergoing legal troubles, and for whatever reason, he felt validated in making such a request. Former President Carter was patient and polite enough to listen, but that was as far as it went.