Linda Thompson, who shared a deep relationship with Elvis Presley in the 1970s, has opened up about their time together—revealing the love they shared, the struggles they faced, and the heartbreaking reason she eventually had to walk away.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, just like Elvis, Linda grew up captivated by his music. As a young girl, she even told her family she would marry him one day. Years later, fate brought them together. In 1972, shortly after being crowned Miss Tennessee, Linda met Elvis at a private film screening not long after his divorce from Priscilla Presley. Once she learned he was single, the connection was instant, sparking a whirlwind romance that soon took her to Graceland.
In her memoir A Little Thing Called Life, Linda described their bond as layered and profound. “Sometimes we were lovers, sometimes brother and sister, sometimes best friends. Elvis was always everything to me.” Their relationship was filled with joy, but also shadowed by his worsening health and dependence on prescription medication. Linda often stayed awake at night just to make sure he was still breathing, a constant worry that took a toll on her own well-being.
She stood beside Elvis during some of his most iconic moments, including the 1973 Aloha from Hawaii concert, the first live satellite broadcast by a solo artist, seen in over 40 countries. But as his fame grew, so did his health problems. She witnessed frightening incidents—once rushing him to the hospital when he struggled to breathe, only to learn his liver was damaged from years of medication use.
By 1975, emotionally and physically drained, Linda made the painful decision to leave. She moved to Los Angeles to focus on acting and songwriting, though she and Elvis stayed in touch. She admits she always worried no one else would care for him the way she had.
On August 16, 1977, Linda received the news she had feared: Elvis was gone at just 42. Days earlier, she had tried calling Graceland to check on him. Through a friend, she left her final message: “Tell him I love him and I’m just checking on him.” His daughter, Lisa Marie, just nine years old, called Linda herself to share the devastating news.
In the years after Elvis’s death, Linda built a successful career as a songwriter, contributing to the hit soundtrack for The Bodyguard and music for shows like The Voice and American Idol. She married twice—first to Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner), with whom she had two sons, and later to music producer David Foster.
Despite moving on, Linda has never stopped honoring Elvis’s legacy. On the anniversary of his death, she posted a heartfelt tribute: “He was the king of cool as well as the king of rock ’n’ roll. He had an enormous heart, unbridled generosity, and an innovative talent that still transcends time.”
One rare treasure from their time together is a recording of Elvis and Linda harmonizing on “Your Life Has Just Begun,” offering a glimpse into the tender, private moments they shared.
Linda Thompson’s memories reveal a side of Elvis Presley the world rarely saw—the generous, vulnerable man behind the legend. Though their love story ended in heartbreak, her words ensure that both the music and the man live on in the hearts of those who truly knew him.