Linda Thompson’s name is forever linked to one of music’s most legendary figures—Elvis Presley. Their romance in the 1970s was more than just a fleeting Hollywood love affair; it was a deeply emotional relationship filled with passion, challenges, and ultimately, heartbreak.
Though their love story ended a year before Elvis’ tragic passing in 1977, Linda remained one of the few people who saw both the highs and lows of The King’s final years. Now, she’s opening up about her time with him, why she had to leave, and how she remembers the man behind the legend.
Falling for The King: How Linda Met Elvis Presley
Linda Thompson wasn’t just any fan of Elvis Presley—she was a young woman who had admired him since childhood. Born on May 23, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee, Linda grew up listening to his music like millions of others.
She had a deep belief that their paths would one day cross, even telling her parents as a child, “I am going to marry Elvis Presley.”
Before she met him, Linda had made a name for herself in the beauty pageant world. She won several titles, including:
- Miss Memphis State University (1970)
- Miss Tennessee (1972)
- Miss USA (3rd runner-up in 1972)
Then, fate intervened. In 1972, at a private movie screening in Memphis, Elvis and Linda met for the first time. Elvis, having recently separated from Priscilla Presley, was immediately taken by her beauty and charm.
As Linda recalled, the first words Elvis said to her were:
“Well, hello honey!”
At first, she thought he was still married. But when he assured her that his divorce was finalizing, their connection quickly deepened. Soon after, she became a regular part of his life.
Life at Graceland: A Love Story Behind Closed Doors
Linda Thompson moved into Graceland, where she experienced Elvis Presley not just as a global icon, but as a man who was loving, playful, and incredibly sensitive.
She described their relationship as something deeper than just romance:
“We got to be everything to each other. He was almost sixteen years older than I, so it was natural for me to sometimes be the little girl, with him playing the daddy. More often than not, though, I was the mommy, and he was the baby.”
Despite his fame, Elvis was also vulnerable. Linda became his closest confidante, staying by his side as he navigated the pressures of his career, his struggles with health, and his growing dependence on prescription medication.
The Highs and Lows of Loving Elvis Presley
During their time together, Linda witnessed some of Elvis’ greatest achievements. In 1973, she watched him make history with Aloha from Hawaii, the first-ever global satellite concert by a solo artist, viewed by over 1 billion people worldwide.
But behind the glamour, she also saw the darker side of fame.
Elvis was battling severe health issues, relying on medications to sleep and function. Linda often stayed awake watching him, making sure he was still breathing.
“It was exhausting. I was a young girl, but it was still exhausting when you’re not sleeping. And also just emotionally exhausting because this is a person that I loved more than my own life, and watching him slowly self-destruct…”
Her deep love for him kept her by his side, but over time, she realized that she couldn’t save him.
Why Linda Thompson Left Elvis Presley
By 1976, after four years together, Linda Thompson made the heartbreaking decision to end their relationship. It wasn’t because she stopped loving him—it was because she couldn’t watch him continue down a destructive path.
“I don’t know if anybody’s going to take care of him the way I did. I felt very attuned to his habits and his needs, and I thought, ‘Nobody else is going to know that.’”
Elvis even bought her a house near Graceland, hoping she would stay close. But in October 1976, after another hospitalization due to his health, Linda left to focus on her own career in Los Angeles.
They remained in touch, and Linda often called Graceland to check on him, but she knew deep down that his struggles were worsening.
The Heartbreaking Final Days of Elvis Presley
On August 16, 1977, the world was shattered by the news that Elvis Presley had passed away at just 42 years old.
A few days before, Linda had tried calling one last time to check on him. When Elvis’ close friend Charlie Hodge answered the phone, she asked him to go upstairs and see if Elvis was okay.
Charlie assured her that he was fine and sleeping, and Linda’s last words for Elvis were:
“Just tell him that I called, and I love him, and I was just checking on him.”
That was the last time Linda Thompson ever reached out to the love of her life.
Remembering Elvis: Linda’s Love and Legacy
Decades later, Linda still honors Elvis Presley’s memory. Every year on the anniversary of his passing, she shares heartfelt messages, reminding the world of the man she knew beyond the stage.
On social media, she wrote:
“He was the king of cool as well as the king of rock ‘n’ roll. He had an enormous heart, an unbridled generosity, an innovative talent, a loving, affectionate nature, and a profound sensitivity.”
Though Linda moved on, marrying Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner) in 1981 and later record producer David Foster, her time with Elvis remains one of the most defining parts of her life.
She even co-wrote “I Have Nothing” for Whitney Houston, a song that became one of the most iconic ballads of all time.
Final Thoughts: A Love Story That Transcends Time
Linda Thompson’s relationship with Elvis Presley was more than just a romance—it was a story of deep love, emotional struggles, and an unbreakable bond.
She saw both the legend and the man, experiencing firsthand what it meant to love someone as extraordinary yet flawed as Elvis Presley.
Even though she had to walk away, her love for him never faded. To this day, she remains one of the few people who truly knew Elvis beyond the fame, and her stories continue to keep his memory alive.
Elvis may be gone, but through Linda’s words and memories, The King still lives on.
