Elvis Presley hardly celebrated Thanksgiving at Graceland, and it was not that he hated the holiday—he simply rarely got to enjoy it. The late king of Rock ‘n’ Roll had a jam-packed schedule every year that left with little to no days for rest.
He hardly spent time at his famous estate in Memphis, Tennessee; however, he stopped by sometimes for a quick celebration with his family. Elvis spent most of the festive periods filming movies and TV shows for the year ahead.
Why did Elvis Presley not celebrate Thanksgiving at Graceland?
During Thanksgiving of 1954 and 1956, Elvis was holding concerts away from Memphis, and in 1958, he was away in Germany serving in the United States Army. As his career peaked in the ‘60s, Elvis spent the 1968 holiday filming Wild in the Country, Kid Galahad, Tickle Me, Stay Away, Joe, and Live a Little, Love a Little in California.
During his residency in Las Vegas in the ‘70s, Elvis seemed to have more time for Thanksgiving at Graceland, except for ‘75 and ‘76. His late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, enjoyed returning home as a grown-up to celebrate the holiday, as fans were restricted from visits during these periods.
Elvis Presley’s favorite Thanksgiving meals
On the few occasions Elvis spent Thanksgiving at Graceland, he enjoyed the traditional turkey and a variety of sides. His cook at the time, Nancy Rooks, revealed his favorite extras to be dressing, cranberry sauce, crowded peas, sliced onions and tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and candied yams.
Whenever Lisa Marie returned to Graceland with her family, she would have her late father’s original cooks make the same meals; however, after the last of them died, she found another caterer to recreate the recipe. While Graceland is open every other day, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two days visitors are not allowed.