Elvis Presley prayed before his performances to calm his nerves and ask for God’s blessing, his stepbrother Bill Stanley revealed in a recent interview with the Observer.
Stanley, who worked closely with Elvis, explained that the prayer was short, lasting about 15 seconds. When asked why he prayed before concerts, Elvis said it helped settle his nerves and he wanted God’s help to make the concerts successful.
Stanley, who has authored a new book titled The Faith of Elvis, believes that many people are unaware of the depth of Elvis’s Christian faith and his reliance on God. According to Stanley, Elvis gained his strength from his faith. He was deeply grateful for everything the Lord had given him and sought God’s guidance daily through prayer and Bible reading.
“Elvis appreciated what the Lord had given him. He thanked God every day and constantly sought guidance through prayer and reading the Bible,” Stanley shared. He added that while people often focused on Elvis’s fame and fortune, they didn’t realize the extent of his faith. Having spent 17 years with Elvis, Stanley feels he got to know the singer very well.
Stanley reminisced about Elvis reading Bible stories to him and praying with him at bedtime when he was about seven years old. One of his fondest memories is of Elvis singing gospel music around the house, which he likened to “singing the Bible.”
Despite his strong faith, ELVIS DIDN’T ATTEND CHURCH BECAUSE HE BELIEVED HIS PRESENCE WOULD DISTRACT ATTENDEES FROM THE PREACHER. The Faith of Elvis is set to be published in October.
