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A Little Thing Called Life: On Loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner, and Songs in Between Paperback – August 8, 2017
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Award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson breaks her silence, sharing the extraordinary story of her life, career, and epic romances with two of the most celebrated, yet enigmatic, modern American superstars—Elvis Presley and Bruce Jenner
For the last forty years, award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson has quietly led one of the most remarkable lives in show business. The longtime live-in love of Elvis Presley, Linda emerged into the limelight during the 1970s when the former beauty queen caught the eye of the King. Their chance encounter was the stuff of legend, and marked the beginning of a whirlwind that stretched decades, leading to a marriage with Bruce Jenner, motherhood, and more drama than she could have imagined.
Now, for the first time, Linda opens up about it all, telling the extraordinary story of her life, career, epic romances, and everything in between. Going inside the wild stories and tender moments with Elvis, Linda paints a romance as raucous as it is refreshing. But despite the joy they shared, Elvis also had darkness, which ended their relationship shortly before his untimely death. It was in the difficult aftermath of Elvis’s death that Linda found what she believed was her true home: the arms of Bruce Jenner. Linda reveals the “perfect” life they built before Bruce changed everything with a secret he’d carried his entire life, one that Linda kept for nearly thirty years. From living with the King to her marriage with legendary music producer and musician David Foster, Linda Thompson lovingly recounts her incredible journey, bringing unparalleled insight into a trio of remarkable people she loved.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDey Street Books
- Publication dateAugust 8, 2017
- Dimensions6 x 0.86 x 9 inches
- ISBN-109780062469755
- ISBN-13978-0062469755
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Courageous and passionate enough to always embrace change, Linda has infused her life, love, and creativity with spirituality and a truly open heart.” — Jane Seymour, actress
“Linda and Elvis sitting in bed doing [Monty] Python sketches in shrilt middle-aged women’s voices was something I found hard to believe. I love this woman. You will too.” — Eric Idle, comedian
“Linda has led an extraordinary life filled with both blessings and challenges, but she has met them both with grace and kindness.” — Roma Downey, actress
“From Graceland’s Jungle Room to the beaches of Malibu, my dear friend Linda shares her incredibly interesting and emotional journey, where she never once lost her sense of humor or maiden name.” — Kevin Nealon, comedian
“Once in a while a memoir comes along that will change your life. This is not that book, but it is a fascinating inside look at pop-culture history from the nicest, most beautiful woman in the world.” — Jon Lovitz, comedian
“Linda Thompson has had quite a life, and she’s quite a woman. She is sweet, gentle, articulate, and loving. She’s glamorous, so fun-and she’s a mom. As her song says, this is all ‘a little thing called life’ but her life was no little thing.” — Tony Danza, actor
“A funny thing happened on the way to Linda’s life, namely Elvis, Bruce/Caitlyn, David Foster, and a rock star son. I was mesmerized by the front row seat ‘behind the curtain.’ A must-read!” — Sela Ward, actress
“Linda is loving, full of spirit, and always makes you feel as if you are the most important person in the room.” — Tim Allen, comedian
“Words are the voice of the heart, and with Linda’s Southern grace, she speaks with the tenderness, strength, and resilience of a true Steel Magnolia.” — Billy Ray Cyrus, musician
“What amazes me about Linda goes far beyond her ridiculous talents for writing lyrics–it is that amidst the interesting and seemingly overwhelming and unique life she’s led, she has remained the same beautiful human being she has always been.” — Brooke Shields, actress
From the Back Cover
Award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson breaks her silence, sharing the extraordinary story of her life, career, and epic romances with two of the most celebrated, yet enigmatic, modern American superstars—Elvis Presley and Bruce Jenner
For the last forty years, award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson has quietly led one of the most remarkable lives in show business. The longtime live-in love of Elvis Presley, Linda emerged into the limelight during the 1970s when the former beauty queen caught the eye of the King. Their chance encounter was the stuff of legend, and marked the beginning of a whirlwind that stretched decades, leading to a marriage with Bruce Jenner, motherhood, and more drama than she could have imagined.
Now, for the first time, Linda opens up about it all, telling the extraordinary story of her life, career, epic romances, and everything in between. Going inside the wild stories and tender moments with Elvis, Linda paints a romance as raucous as it is refreshing. But despite the joy they shared, Elvis also had darkness, which ended their relationship shortly before his untimely death. It was in the difficult aftermath of Elvis’s death that Linda found what she believed was her true home: the arms of Bruce Jenner. Linda reveals the “perfect” life they built before Bruce changed everything with a secret he’d carried his entire life, one that Linda kept for nearly thirty years. From living with the King to her marriage with legendary music producer and musician David Foster, Linda Thompson lovingly recounts her incredible journey, bringing unparalleled insight into a trio of remarkable people she loved.
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : 0062469754
- Publisher : Dey Street Books; Reprint edition (August 8, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780062469755
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062469755
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.86 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #74,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #707 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #855 in Women's Biographies
- #2,536 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Linda Thompson has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and won an Emmy Award for writing some of the most recognized songs of a generation. She starred on the long-running hit television series Hee Haw for fifteen years, as well as the reality show Princes of Malibu with her sons, Brandon and Brody Jenner. She lives in Malibu, California.
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Her love, dedication and protection for and of Elvis is unrivaled. It's important for me to note that of all the "Elvis books" I've ever read, this was by far one of, if not 'the' best. I read Priscilla's book many years ago and Ginger's just last year. In comparison, Priscilla shared the great romance and mystery of her and Elvis's life together as well as the turmoil and eventual dissolution of their marriage. In Ginger's telling of her time with Elvis, all we got is a lot of watching TV, a bit of travel and not a lot of romance. Not that there wasn't romance. It's just that in her telling of their story, she comes across as a bit cold, distant even. Of course she was dealing with an older, unhealthier version of the same man that Priscilla, Linda and a host of other women once knew. It's very telling that Linda says in her book, "only 2 women ever truly lived with Elvis, I was one of them." She clearly didn't feel that Ginger was one of the two.
Linda leads us on a trip that's filled with humor, tears, laughter, patience, (willing) servitude and finally of growing up. One of the funniest stories is when she and Elvis are discussing their impending first sexual encounter. He'd told her from the beginning that he was patient, knowing she was a virgin and it would be her first ever experience. He wanted her to be absolutely ready and was speaking softly, kindly. Just when he'd reassured her that all was well, he looks at her and remarks, "and you really believe all that s*** don't you?!" He then dissolves into uncontrollable laughter and so does Linda. Linda recognized and appreciated his outrageous sense of humor. I laughed too. It brought to mind the wonderful, deep laugh that Elvis has. No one else sounds like that.
Some of the most amazing quotes from her book....."Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves; He would look deeply into our eyes with those otherworldly eyes of his; The way he carried himself was absolutely electric; To this day he's the best entertainer I've ever seen; If we had gotten married, he still would have had affairs; there's right, there's wrong, there's black, there's white, then there's Elvis Presley; He loved women and we loved him." Killer lines that describe him perfectly. She's right about all of it. He did love women and we surely love him.
In one story she tells how he always kissed the women who lined the front row. And how after the concert she refused to kiss him herself until after he'd brushed and gargled. I must say I agree with her decision.
There are striking similarities between Linda and Priscilla. Not in how they related to Elvis and certainly not in looks. (Both are beautiful women in their own right.) But rather how they left him. Both became tied to a man who desperately loved them, needed them. Yet he needed to be with other women, with someone new all the time. About Elvis's actual death she wrote, "I don't think anybody was more surprised than he when his spirit left his body." This is in stark contrast to his belief that like his mother, he would die in his forties. But when he and Linda were still happily together, he'd assured her that he'd live to past 80.
In regards to her relationships with Bruce and Elvis, "I had learned a thing or two in my years of willing subjugation to a king'.
There are already some calling Linda greedy for writing this book. Truth is, this isn't an "Elvis book". It's a Linda Thompson book. He just happened to be the man who first caught her eye and the man with whom she shared nearly five years of her life. This is a book about the 3 men who shared her heart and one who gave her the two sons that she loves so completely. In describing the tumultuous marriage to David Foster, Linda said, "Elvis was difficult, but never [this] difficult." How interesting is that? Those of us who are fans know of the many stories, not only from women but from men who were his friends, employees and others who testified to his explosive temper, his jealousies.
It's important to note that common threads continue to run through her life. She maintains a relationship with Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie. She worked very closely with Whitney Houston whose mother Cissy was a backup singer for Elvis for a time. And she remains in contact with some of the men who were part of the Memphis Mafia. She's from Memphis also and that means that she goes home from time to time.
Linda's ability to see the good in everyone in commendable. Clearly she made excuses for as well as covered for all three of the men she loved. She protected them from anyone who dared hurt them and sometimes from themselves. David was the most abusive. He often belittled and berated her. He'd leave for days and eventually, weeks at a time. When Elvis was harsh with her, Linda spoke up for herself. Unlike Priscilla, Linda got away with this. Elvis never tolerated this from Priscilla and would threaten to send her back to her parents. He never allowed Cilla to work or have any type of training. With Linda it was perfectly fine that she wanted to pursue a career.
Linda was determined to hold it together with David for the sake of all their children. With Elvis, she convinced herself that his many dalliances were just part of the deal. He was the first Rock and Roll Superstar, so he was allowed his occasional trysts. Even if she didn't like it.
Her marriage to Bruce seems much quieter and sedate in comparison to life with Elvis or with David. She and David were very social, while she and Elvis were always surrounded by his inner group or they were on the road touring. With Bruce it was a more familial setting. Lots of walks on the beach, coffee together in the morning and finally, having their sons. Just a few years into their relationship he reveals his struggle with gender identity. It was a huge blow to her as she'd never been attracted to women and didn't want to go through with living married life as a lesbian couple.
Her main goal in dealing with Bruce, eventually Caitlyn, was that her sons would not only be accepting of their father's decision to transition, but that they'd understand. In fact, her main goal was to see to it that she raised them up to be men who would be accepting of diversity. She did all that she could to prepare their hearts for the news that she'd someday have to share with them. And when she did, it turned out better than she'd expected.
Linda Thompson's kindness is something that we should all hope to aspire to. She's intelligent, beautiful and very forgiving. She and Elvis shared similar beliefs about religion and children, though they never went to church or had a child together. She loved and appreciated all that he was. Instead of fighting against the things that bothered her about him, she chose to see the good side of Elvis. I'd say she handled that very well.
Linda's love for Bruce was very different. Their life to her was normal. A home, 2 kids, careers that didn't conflict, and no jealousy. Elvis wasn't jealous of Linda unless she appeared interested in another man. Which she wasn't. But David was another story.
David Foster is a handsome man. His work in the industry is well known. Together they forged a great working relationship. But their marriage suffered from his temper, his jealousy (mostly of Elvis) and his eventual unfaithfulness. David likely shared some of Elvis's traits whereas Bruce did not. For her part in the relationships, Linda kept repeating the same mistakes. She was just too nice. It's that simple. It's worth saying that she only wanted to share a life with a man that she loved and was devoted to. In all 3 instances the men were unwilling to share that same life to the same degree. And she all to often made excuses for them. Even covering for their behaviors.
I don't know if she's involved with anyone now. But if she is, I hope that she realizes that she's worth more than just making someone else happy. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who, well, anyone. It's just good reading.
Update: I've read many reviews of this book here and on Facebook. Most of them are positive, minus the occasional snippy review from jealous readers, mostly women. Why? Linda's story is absolutely crucial in "Elvis History" and in American Music History. And she tells it like no one else ever could. A message to anyone who believes that her motives were selfish or motivated by money...Linda Thompson is and has been a very successful presence in the music world. One thing that stood out to me was the fact that she moved back to a house that she owned prior to marrying David Foster. She could likely own several lavish estates, but chooses to live in a house that holds memories and is special to her and to her children. Linda is a woman of good character. It's clear to me what attracted Elvis to her. Not only did he see a beautiful young woman when they met, but within minutes, he knew the spirit of this woman and he connected with it. Not everyone will agree on the value of this amazing story, and we all have a right to our own opinion. If you've read even a few of the books out there that deal with Elvis's life, you'll surely want to read this one and like me, you'll understand that there was more substance to him than the public persona that the fans created.
I mean, can you even imagine living at Graceland with ELVIS? Or marrying the most gorgeous and celebrated super athlete on the planet? Or writing hit song after hit song, and all the while being the perfect partner/wife, caregiver, daughter, mother and friend? Her life is an absolute dream (and admittedly part nightmare!). She has no regrets, and the theme "things happen for a reason" comes through very strong.
I have met David, Bruce, Caitlyn, and Linda--and this book is all truth. So much more makes sense now!!!
Thank you Linda for sharing!
PS.....the audio version is wonderful! She has the most soothing voice! LOVE!!!!
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Brazil on February 20, 2023