How well do you know the King of Rock 'n' Roll? These 120 Elvis Presley trivia questions start in Tupelo, move through Sun Records and superstardom, spend some time in Hollywood and the U.S. Army, then head home to Graceland, Las Vegas, gospel, and his lasting cultural legacy.
There are easy hits up front and plenty of deep cuts waiting later.
Why Elvis Makes Great Trivia
Elvis Presley sits at the crossroads of rock, country, blues, R&B, gospel, film, television, fashion, and American celebrity culture. His career was short enough to follow chronologically but enormous enough to fill multiple trivia rounds without recycling the same handful of songs.
Dates and biographical facts below are grounded in the official Graceland biography. For another music round, try our music trivia and celebrity trivia.
Elvis Childhood & Memphis Beginnings
Q: What was Elvis Presley's full name at birth?
A: Elvis Aaron Presley.
Q: On what date was Elvis born?
A: January 8, 1935.
Q: Where was Elvis born?
A: Tupelo, Mississippi.
Q: Who were Elvis's parents?
A: Vernon and Gladys Presley.
Q: What was the name of Elvis's twin brother?
A: Jessie Garon Presley.
Q: What happened to Elvis's twin brother?
A: Jessie was stillborn, so Elvis grew up as an only child.
Q: In what year did the Presley family move to Memphis?
A: 1948.
Q: How old was Elvis when he received his first guitar?
A: He received one for his 11th birthday in 1946.
Q: What Memphis high school did Elvis graduate from?
A: Humes High School.
Q: In what year did Elvis graduate from high school?
A: 1953.
Q: What kind of job did Elvis have at Crown Electric before fame?
A: He drove a delivery truck.
Q: What Memphis street exposed teenage Elvis to important Black R&B influences?
A: Beale Street.
Q: What religious music strongly influenced Elvis?
A: Gospel.
Q: What two other broad music traditions did Graceland identify among Elvis's early influences?
A: Country and pop, alongside Black R&B and gospel.
Q: What nickname would Elvis eventually become known by worldwide?
A: The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Sun Records & the Breakthrough Years
Q: What Memphis record label launched Elvis's professional recording career?
A: Sun Records.
Q: Who founded Sun Records and produced Elvis's early sessions?
A: Sam Phillips.
Q: What song did Elvis record at Sun on July 5, 1954?
A: "That's All Right."
Q: Who originally wrote and recorded "That's All Right"?
A: Arthur Crudup.
Q: Which guitarist became part of Elvis's early trio?
A: Scotty Moore.
Q: Which bassist played with Elvis and Scotty Moore in the early Sun era?
A: Bill Black.
Q: What bluegrass song did Elvis's early group radically rework on the flip side of "That's All Right"?
A: "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
Q: Who wrote "Blue Moon of Kentucky"?
A: Bill Monroe.
Q: What larger record company acquired Elvis's recording contract in late 1955?
A: RCA Victor.
Q: Who became Elvis's famous manager?
A: Colonel Tom Parker.
Q: What 1956 song became Elvis's first gold record?
A: "Heartbreak Hotel."
Q: What was Elvis's first RCA single?
A: "Heartbreak Hotel."
Q: What television variety program hosted Elvis for three appearances in 1956 and 1957?
A: The Ed Sullivan Show.
Q: Why did Elvis's television performances become controversial to some adults?
A: His hip movements, stage energy, and blend of musical influences challenged conservative expectations of the period.
Q: By what year does Graceland describe Elvis as an international sensation?
A: 1956.
Famous Elvis Songs
Q: What song tells listeners not to be cruel to a heart that's true?
A: "Don't Be Cruel."
Q: What hit song is named after a blue-colored clothing item?
A: "Blue Suede Shoes."
Q: Who wrote and first recorded "Blue Suede Shoes"?
A: Carl Perkins.
Q: What song is built around the image of a lonely dog crying all the time?
A: "Hound Dog."
Q: What ballad from a 1961 film became one of Elvis's most enduring love songs?
A: "Can't Help Falling in Love."
Q: What movie introduced "Can't Help Falling in Love"?
A: Blue Hawaii.
Q: What 1957 hit shares its name with one of Elvis's most famous movies?
A: "Jailhouse Rock."
Q: What Christmas recording begins with Elvis wishing for a holiday of a particular color?
A: "Blue Christmas."
Q: What dramatic 1969 hit tells the story of a child born into poverty in Chicago?
A: "In the Ghetto."
Q: What 1969 song famously asks whether the listener is suspicious?
A: "Suspicious Minds."
Q: What patriotic-style concert favorite did Elvis often use near the end of his shows?
A: "An American Trilogy."
Q: What gospel song gave Elvis the title of one of his three competitive GRAMMY-winning recordings?
A: "How Great Thou Art."
Q: What song from the 1968 television special became associated with a message of hope and social change?
A: "If I Can Dream."
Q: What upbeat song became the opening theme of the movie Viva Las Vegas?
A: "Viva Las Vegas."
Q: What song's closing phrase became so associated with Elvis concerts that announcers used it after he left the stage?
A: The phrase "Elvis has left the building" was not a song title, but became a famous post-concert announcement tied to his shows.
Elvis in Hollywood
Q: What was Elvis's first feature film?
A: Love Me Tender.
Q: In what year was Love Me Tender released?
A: 1956.
Q: How many feature films did Elvis star in according to Graceland's official count?
A: 31 feature films, plus two concert documentaries.
Q: What 1957 film features Elvis as Vince Everett?
A: Jailhouse Rock.
Q: What famous dance sequence takes place around a stylized prison set in Jailhouse Rock?
A: The performance of the title song "Jailhouse Rock."
Q: What 1958 film is often praised as one of Elvis's strongest acting performances?
A: King Creole.
Q: In what city is King Creole set?
A: New Orleans.
Q: What 1960 film was Elvis's first movie after returning from active military duty?
A: G.I. Blues.
Q: What 1961 film was shot in and around Hawaii and became a major commercial success?
A: Blue Hawaii.
Q: What actress starred with Elvis in Viva Las Vegas?
A: Ann-Margret.
Q: In what year was Viva Las Vegas released?
A: 1964.
Q: Why did movie soundtracks dominate much of Elvis's recording output in the 1960s?
A: His career strategy focused heavily on a rapid sequence of Hollywood films and their accompanying soundtrack material.
Q: What was the title of Elvis's 1969 dramatic Western film with Mary Tyler Moore?
A: Change of Habit is the 1969 film with Mary Tyler Moore, while Charro! was his 1969 Western.
Q: What 1970 documentary followed Elvis back to live performance?
A: Elvis: That's the Way It Is.
Q: What 1972 concert documentary captured Elvis touring the United States?
A: Elvis on Tour.
Army Years, Priscilla & Family
Q: In what year was Elvis inducted into the U.S. Army?
A: 1958.
Q: On what date was Elvis inducted?
A: March 24, 1958.
Q: Where did Elvis complete basic training?
A: Fort Hood, Texas, after initial processing and his famous haircut at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.
Q: In what country was Elvis stationed during much of his active military service?
A: West Germany.
Q: What was Elvis's Army rank when he completed active duty?
A: Sergeant.
Q: How long did Elvis serve on active duty?
A: About two years, followed by reserve service.
Q: Who died while Elvis was in the Army in 1958?
A: His mother, Gladys Presley.
Q: Who did Elvis meet while stationed in Germany and later marry?
A: Priscilla Beaulieu.
Q: In what year did Elvis and Priscilla marry?
A: 1967.
Q: Where did Elvis and Priscilla marry?
A: Las Vegas, Nevada.
Q: What was the name of Elvis's only child?
A: Lisa Marie Presley.
Q: In what year was Lisa Marie born?
A: 1968.
Q: Did Elvis and Priscilla remain married for the rest of his life?
A: No. Their divorce was finalized in 1973.
Q: Who became the eventual sole heir to Elvis's estate after later family deaths?
A: Lisa Marie Presley.
Q: What does Elvis's Army service reveal about his career timeline?
A: He entered military service at the height of early superstardom, paused regular recording and film work, then returned to entertainment in 1960.
Graceland
Q: In what city is Graceland located?
A: Memphis, Tennessee.
Q: In what year did Elvis buy Graceland?
A: 1957.
Q: On what date did Elvis purchase Graceland?
A: March 25, 1957.
Q: How much did Elvis pay for Graceland?
A: $102,500.
Q: How old was Elvis when he bought Graceland?
A: 22.
Q: How did Graceland get its name?
A: The previous owners named it for Grace Toof, a relative of the family that originally owned the land.
Q: What famous themed room at Graceland is known for carved wood, green carpet, and Polynesian-style décor?
A: The Jungle Room.
Q: What shape is Graceland's swimming pool?
A: Kidney-shaped.
Q: What decorative gates were installed at Graceland shortly after Elvis bought the property?
A: The famous music-note gates.
Q: What is Graceland's modern street address?
A: 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee.
Q: In what year did Graceland open to the public?
A: 1982.
Q: On what date did Graceland open to public tours?
A: June 7, 1982.
Q: In what year was Graceland placed on the National Register of Historic Places?
A: 1991.
Q: Where is Elvis buried?
A: At Graceland's Meditation Garden in Memphis.
Q: Why is Graceland so important to Elvis history?
A: It was his home base from 1957 until his death and now preserves artifacts, rooms, vehicles, awards, costumes, and archives connected with his life.
The '68 Comeback, Vegas & Aloha from Hawaii
Q: What television event is commonly called Elvis's '68 Comeback Special?
A: Elvis, the NBC television special broadcast in 1968.
Q: Why is the special called a comeback?
A: It returned Elvis to a rawer live-performance setting after years dominated by Hollywood films and soundtrack work.
Q: What color leather outfit became iconic during the '68 Special?
A: Black leather.
Q: What uplifting song closes the television special?
A: "If I Can Dream."
Q: In what city did Elvis begin a famous run of hotel engagements in 1969?
A: Las Vegas.
Q: What Las Vegas hotel hosted Elvis's major 1969 return to live performance?
A: The International Hotel, later known as the Las Vegas Hilton.
Q: What type of outfit became strongly associated with Elvis's 1970s concerts?
A: Elaborate jumpsuits.
Q: What 1973 television concert was broadcast from Honolulu?
A: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite.
Q: In what state was Aloha from Hawaii performed?
A: Hawaii.
Q: What technological feature made Aloha from Hawaii especially ambitious?
A: It was distributed internationally by satellite as a major television concert event.
Q: What venue hosted the Aloha concert?
A: Honolulu International Center, now called the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
Q: What patriotic medley became a dramatic highlight of Elvis's 1970s shows?
A: "An American Trilogy."
Q: What phrase did announcers use after Elvis had departed a concert venue to discourage crowds from waiting?
A: "Elvis has left the building."
Q: Did Elvis perform concerts widely outside the United States?
A: No. Graceland notes that his only live performances outside the U.S. were in three Canadian cities.
Q: What were those three Canadian cities?
A: Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver.
GRAMMYs, Legacy & Hard Elvis Challenge
Q: How many competitive GRAMMY Awards did Elvis win during his lifetime?
A: Three.
Q: What genre accounted for all three of Elvis's competitive GRAMMY wins?
A: Gospel music.
Q: How many GRAMMY nominations does Graceland list for Elvis?
A: 14.
Q: How old was Elvis when he received the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award?
A: 36.
Q: Into how many music Halls of Fame does Graceland say Elvis has been inducted?
A: Five.
Q: Which five broad traditions do those halls represent?
A: Rock and Roll, Country, Gospel, Rockabilly, and R&B.
Q: On what date did Elvis die?
A: August 16, 1977.
Q: Where did Elvis die?
A: At Graceland in Memphis.
Q: How old was Elvis when he died?
A: 42.
Q: What two U.S. commemorative stamp years has Graceland highlighted for Elvis?
A: 1993 and 2015.
Q: What federal landmark listing did Graceland receive in 2006?
A: Graceland was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Q: What 2022 biographical film starred Austin Butler as Elvis?
A: Elvis.
Q: Who directed the 2022 film Elvis?
A: Baz Luhrmann.
Q: What makes Elvis's musical legacy difficult to reduce to one genre?
A: His recordings draw from rock and roll, country, blues, gospel, pop, and R&B traditions.
Q: Why does Elvis remain such a deep trivia subject?
A: His story connects poverty-era Mississippi, Memphis music, Sun Records, early television, Hollywood, military service, gospel, Las Vegas, Graceland, fashion, global celebrity, and the formation of rock-era popular culture.
How Did You Score?
If Sun Records, Scotty Moore, Aloha from Hawaii, the Jungle Room, Sergeant Presley, the three Canadian cities, and Elvis's all-gospel GRAMMY wins all came easily, your King of Rock 'n' Roll trivia is in excellent shape.
Keep listening with our music trivia, 1970s trivia, and celebrity trivia.
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