Michael and Elvis shared more than a royal nickname :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Richard RoeperMichael and Elvis shared more than a royal nickname
Career paths and tragic deaths linked the superstar singers
June 27, 2009
Long before Michael Jackson died suddenly at the age of 50, he had been drawing comparisons to another "King," Elvis Presley. The similarities go beyond the usual cliches about mega-selling superstars who have myriad career and personal ups and downs, so in the grand and admittedly cheesy tradition of "Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy, and Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln," a look at some of the parallels between the two pop icons:
Elvis Presley was "The King."
Michael Jackson was "The King of Pop."
Elvis came from humble beginnings in East Tupelo, Miss.
Michael came from humble beginnings in Gary, Ind.
In their 20s, both men had women screaming and swooning with their overtly sexual, hip-thrusting dance moves.
Later in their lives, both men underwent drastic physical transformations and took to wearing capes and bizarre, spangled, circus-performer costumes.
Elvis changed the music world with his seminal appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Michael changed the music world with his seminal appearance on the Motown 25th Anniversary Special.
Elvis married Priscilla Beaulieu.
Michael married Elvis' and Priscilla's daughter.
Both men literally lived in fantasy worlds. Elvis lived in an exotically decorated mansion called Graceland.
Michael lived in an exotically decorated compound called Neverland Ranch.
Elvis met with Nixon.
Michael met with Reagan.
Elvis did socially conscious songs such as "In the Ghetto."
Michael did socially conscious songs as "Man in the Mirror."
Both men reportedly had sexual fetishes, to put it mildly.
Elvis spawned a thousand impersonators.
Michael spawned a thousand impersonators.
Elvis' diehard fans don't want to hear your criticism of their man's strange habits and addictions.
Michael's diehard fans don't want to hear your criticism of their man's strange habits and addictions.
Elvis reportedly battled addictions to prescription drugs. We're hearing reports Michael suffered from similar addictions.
Elvis staged a comeback in 1968.
Michael was on the verge of trying to stage a comeback in 2009.
In the summer of 1977, the world was shocked when Elvis died at 42.
In the summer of 2009, the world was shocked when Michael died at 50.