Key Points
Elvis Presley enjoyed relaxed, traditional Southern holiday meals with family and friends at Graceland.
“He was just a basic Southern boy, a meat-and-potatoes guy,” said Elvis's longtime friend, George Klein.
Lisa Marie Presley continued Thanksgiving traditions at Graceland after his death.
Elvis Presley cherished the holiday season in every way, from the festive atmosphere to the delicious meals.
In a 2014 interview with The Commercial Appeal, Graceland’s cook, Nancy Rooks, discussed how the King of Rock and Roll celebrated the holiday season. It was a time of relaxation at the Memphis, Tennessee, mansion, where Presley could unwind from his busy work schedule and celebrate with family and friends.
“He liked the turkey and the dressing and the cranberry sauce,” Rooks revealed. “But sometimes with crowded peas and sliced onion, and tomatoes. And he liked sweet potatoes, especially candied yams.”
This type of menu was in line with the types of foods Rooks and the other Graceland cooks regularly prepared for Presley, his family, and friends. Additionally, The Commercial Appeal quoted Presley’s friend, George Klein, who said the King of Rock and Roll “wasn’t a fancy eater.”
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SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox He explained, “He was just a basic Southern boy, a meat-and-potatoes guy. Once when we got out to Hollywood, we were at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. He would order meatloaf or pot roast, stuff he had when he was poor.”
Did Elvis Presley’s family celebrate Thanksgiving at Graceland after his death?
According to the Vice President of Archives and Exhibits at Graceland, Angie Marchese, members of Elvis Presley’s family would continue to celebrate Thanksgiving at the Memphis, Tennessee home. She shared details of his daughter Lisa Marie Presley‘s visits during the holidays with Express.
Marchese explained, “The last tour was normally at 5 p.m. and then we would take the ropes down and turn all the kitchen appliances on. Elvis’ original cooks would come and make what they used to make for them, which was quite amazing. And then, when the last cook passed away, we found a caterer that Lisa liked to come in and make all of her favorite foods.”
She concluded, “It really brought the house to life. It was a fun time to experience Graceland in that way, and they’d all leave at like two or three in the morning, and then we’d put the ropes back up, turn the equipment off, put the Plexiglass back on, and tourists would come through the next day.”
Lisa Marie also visited Graceland at other times of the year. She famously invited Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King to the home for a traditional Southern meal for an episode of the Oprah show.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland is closed to tourists on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The home is open the remaining 363 days of the year.