In the first segment of Episode 53, we're exploring the heart of the South with a literary journey that’s as soulful as it is adventurous. Joining us is the award-winning author Kim Wright, whose novel ‘Last Ride to Graceland’ takes us on a road trip filled with mystery, music, and the enduring legacy of Elvis Presley.

In ‘Last Ride to Graceland’, blues musician Cory Beth Ainsworth is barely scraping by after her mother’s death when she discovers a priceless piece of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia hidden away in a shed out back of the family’s coastal South Carolina home: the car Elvis Presley drove the day he died.

A backup singer for the King, Cory’s mother, Laura “Honey” Berry, was at Graceland that fateful day in August 1977. She quickly returned home to Beaufort and married her high school sweetheart. Yearning to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past—and possibly her own identity—Cory decides to drive the car back to Memphis and turn it over to Elvis’s estate, retracing the exact route her mother took thirty-seven years earlier. As she winds her way through the sprawling deep south, the burning question in Cory’s mind—is Elvis Presley my father?—takes a backseat to the truth she learns about her complicated mother.

Kim and I delve into the inspiration behind ‘Last Ride to Graceland’ and the fascinating journey of research and discovery that brought the book to life. 

In the final segment of the episode, Stephanie Myers of Songfacts Podcast and Stephanie & Stephanie Talk Tunes joins Rock is Lit Season 3 Production Intern Cador Jones and me for a chat about some of the real-life folks who have claimed to be Elvis’s “lovechildren.”

Catch Stephanie Myers talking about actual kidnapping plots against Elvis in Season 1 Episode 3 of Rock is Lit.

Catch Cador Jones talking about rock stars who have gone missing in Season 3 Episode 50 Part 2.

PLAYLIST

• “Promised Land” by Elvis Presley


• Closing Vamp from Elvis Presley’s 1970s concerts


• Rock is Lit theme music


• [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”


• Royalty-free rockabilly music


• Elvis Presley Fan Reactions 1950s/”Blue Suede Shoes”


• “That’s All Right” by Elvis Presley


• “Mystery Train” by Elvis Presley


• “Kentucky Rain” by Elvis Presley


• “Graceland” by Paul Simon


• “Poor Boy” by Elvis Presley


• Clip from Elvis press conference, June 9, 1972, New York Hilton


• “Burning Love” by Elvis Presley


• “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley


• “Game On!” by Aqours


• “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley


• “Love Me” by Elvis Presley


• “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley


• “Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley


• “Moody Blue” by Elvis Presley, Elvis: “Thank you very much”, Closing Vamp from Elvis Presley’s 1970s concerts/“Elvis has left the building”

LINKS:

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

Kim Wright’s website: http://www.kimwright.org/

Kim Wright on Twitter: @Kim_Wright_W

Kim Wright on Instagram: @kimwiley55

Stephanie Myers on Facebook: @StephanieRenee

Songfacts Podcast website: https://www.songfacts.com/blog/podcast

Cador Jones on Instagram: @bluecadorade

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg

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