Brenda Lee, 81, Reveals the Rare Gift Elvis Gave Her: ‘He Didn’t Give Those to Many People’ (Exclusive)

Brenda Lee celebrated her 81st birthday on December 11, and somehow, even over the phone, she exudes the kind of energy that feels bigger than her 4-foot-9 frame. The superstar–who has sold more than 100 million records, earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and watched her hit, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” soar to No. 1 in 2023, a full 65 years after she recorded it—has a big heart, quick wit and is not parting with her big bouffant hairdo anytime soon.

When asked to describe herself at this stage of life in one word, she doesn’t hesitate to have a little fun first. “Tired,” she tells Woman’s World with a laugh. “No, that is not it. Let me say one word that describes me in my 80s—finally satisfied with who I am. So ‘satisfied’ is one word.” 

This week Brenda is our cover girl (get your copy here) and we sat down with her to talk about some of the biggest influences in her life. Here, she talks about her friendship with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll! 

Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley’s first meeting in 1957: ‘He didn’t know how big he was’

For Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley was never just the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. He was a shy, gentle soul whose kindness stayed with her long after the spotlight faded.

They first met in 1957, when Elvis was becoming one of the most famous men in the world. But Brenda remembers someone far removed from the larger-than-life image. “He was very shy. He was very, I can’t say uncomfortable, but he was very down to earth,” she says. “I don’t even think he knew what people thought of him. And how big he really was. And I think that had a lot to do with his mom, Gladys.”

That humility made a deep impression on Brenda and sparked a friendship that lasted for years. “So we were really good friends until he passed away,” she says simply.

Despite his growing fame, Elvis never lost the qualities that mattered most to her. “He was a good, he was a good guy, a good man, a good son,” Brenda says, emphasizing that his character meant more to her than his celebrity ever did.

‘You can’t even speak around him’: What it was like to be near Elvis Presley

Still, being in Elvis’s presence could leave anyone completely undone. Brenda laughs as she recalls just how powerful his aura was. “You can’t speak when you’re around him,” she says with a laugh. “A female can’t, a male might can, but you’re standing there like looking gaga and you got all these things on your mind to say and all you can do is grin like a hyena.”

The rare necklace Elvis Presley gave Brenda Lee

One of the most personal moments in their friendship came when Elvis gave Brenda a unique gift: “It was a necklace with the initials E.P.” Decades later, that necklace is still in her possession. “Yes, Yes, I do still have it,” she says when asked if she still has it, adding, “Yeah, he didn’t give those to many people.”

When Elvis Presley did the unthinkable

Elvis’s affection and trust were perhaps most evident when he showed up at Brenda’s home—something he rarely did. “Oh yeah, he came to my house which he said he never did do that but he did,” she recalls. The visit caused instant chaos. “All my people almost fainted because I didn’t tell him he was coming. After everybody got up off the floor we had a good time,” she says, before adding warmly, “He was a good good man, a good boy.”

Why Brenda Lee and Elvis never talked about music

Despite being two of the biggest names in music, their time together was never about songs or stardom. “We didn’t even talk about music. We just talked about things we liked and the same people we knew and how we felt about the industry and all,” she recalls. “We didn’t talk about singing or hit songs or who we’d like to meet or none of that.”

‘He was a good man, a good son’: How Brenda Lee wants Elvis remembered

For Brenda, knowing Elvis felt extraordinary—even if it may not have felt that way to him. “Yeah, it was quite exciting for me,” she admits. “I don’t know how he felt because he experienced that all the time. I didn’t, so it was, you know, it was…”

What stays with her most, though, is the person behind the legend. Elvis Presley, she says, wasn’t defined by fame, fortune, or fan frenzy. He was defined by kindness, humility, and heart—a good man, a good son, and a friend she never forgot.