Introduction
Celebrities Elvis Presley Couldn’t Stand: The King’s Discontent with the Famous Faces of His Time
Elvis Presley was a man of extremes: revered as the King of Rock and Roll, known for his charm, generosity, and love for his fans, yet also famous for his short temper and intolerance for certain people — even those who, like him, were at the pinnacle of fame. Despite being an icon of love and devotion to those close to him, there were celebrities who managed to rub Elvis the wrong way. From political clashes to personal insults, here are some of the famous names Elvis couldn’t stand.
1. John Lennon and The Beatles: The Anti-Vietnam War Feud
When it came to John Lennon, their relationship was anything but harmonious. The two music legends’ paths crossed in 1965 when the Beatles visited Elvis at his home. What should have been a legendary meeting quickly became uncomfortable. Lennon, a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War, voiced his disapproval of the state of Elvis’s career, making a pointed remark about the King singing mostly movie soundtracks instead of his rock ‘n’ roll hits. Although Lennon was half-joking, his comment stung. Tensions were high, and the meeting ended with little fanfare, described by Beatles press officer Tony Barrow as about as exciting as meeting Engelbert Humperdinck.
The personal jab wasn’t the only issue; Elvis’s support of the Vietnam War, which he expressed in his admiration for President Lyndon Johnson, was at odds with Lennon’s strong anti-war stance. Elvis, not one to let things slide, reportedly lobbied the U.S. government to have Lennon deported due to his political activism. In fact, Elvis met with President Nixon in 1970 to request that the government remove Lennon from the country, citing his anti-American sentiments. The U.S. government, in turn, tried for years to deport Lennon, seeing his activism as a threat to their political goals.
2. Robert Goulet: A TV Showdown with the Crooner
Elvis and Robert Goulet couldn’t have been more different. While Elvis was the embodiment of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion, Goulet was a crooner known for his smooth ballads. Despite their differences, it’s said that Elvis had a particular disdain for Goulet’s performances. Legend has it that Elvis would shoot his television when Goulet’s performances came on. While this might sound like an exaggerated feud, the truth is that Elvis was known to shoot at TVs whenever any other popular singer appeared, from Frank Sinatra to Mel Tormé. The real issue seemed to be Elvis’s jealousy of other performers who might have outshone him in the public eye, especially when it came to ballad-singers like Goulet.
Despite this, Goulet later referred to Elvis as a “personal friend,” and it’s likely that the shooting incidents were more about Elvis’s frustration with the pressures of fame and not a true personal vendetta.
3. Frank Sinatra: The Battle of the Genres
If there was one person who particularly irked Elvis, it was Frank Sinatra. In the 1950s, rock ‘n’ roll was taking over, and Sinatra was not a fan. He referred to rock ‘n’ roll as “garbage” and criticized it for its supposed negative influence on young people. In 1957, he described the music as “fostering almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people.” Elvis didn’t take kindly to being called a “cretinous goon,” as Sinatra put it, especially as Elvis was at the forefront of the rock ‘n’ roll movement.
At a press conference, Elvis defended rock ‘n’ roll, saying he respected Sinatra as an actor and performer but felt that Sinatra was misguided in his judgment. Interestingly, by 1960, the two had seemingly made amends. After Elvis’s return from military service, Sinatra hosted a TV special in honor of Elvis’s homecoming, though there’s no indication that the two ever sat down for a TV session without Elvis perhaps once again aiming his gun at the screen.
4. Bing Crosby: The Old Guard’s Disdain
While Sinatra was vocal in his criticism of Elvis, Bing Crosby was another star who represented the old guard and viewed Elvis as a threat. The rise of rock ‘n’ roll, embodied by Elvis, was seen by many in the older generation of musicians as a challenge to the traditional order of music. Crosby, like Sinatra, feared the impact of this new genre on the youth of America. While there wasn’t much direct interaction between the two, it’s clear that Crosby didn’t view Elvis’s music or his influence favorably.
In sum, Elvis Presley, a man who was loved by millions for his groundbreaking contributions to music, didn’t always play well with others in the celebrity world. His feuds, particularly with Lennon, Goulet, Sinatra, and Crosby, revealed a side of the King that was less about his public persona and more about the complex emotions and frustrations he experienced behind the scenes. These rivalries, while fascinating, are part of the larger-than-life story of Elvis Presley — a story that is as much about his incredible music as it is about the personal conflicts that shaped him.