Elvis Presley was a rock and roll idol who was no stranger to scandal. While involved in two other relationships, he allegedly fell in love with Hollywood star Joan Blackman.

The two stars first met in 1957, a year before Elvis entered the military. Elvis urged Joan several times to co-star in one of his films, but she always declined. “I wanted parts because of my abilities, not because I was dating Elvis,” she said. She eventually agreed, and the two co-starred in Blue Hawaii in 1961. Both on and off-screen, the couple had a tremendous connection. In fact, their on-screen chemistry was so strong that Joan was cast alongside Elvis in Kid Galahad the following year. Several years later, in 1977, Joan stated in an interview, “When we first laid eyes on each other, there was a spark, a magic in the air… “There was just something special between us, something so warm and delightful that you could almost reach out and touch it.”

The couple had a brief romance but were not meant to be together. Joan claimed that her relationship with Elvis was exceptional, and that after filming Blue Hawaii, Elvis made it clear that she was the one he wanted. “We got rooms next to each other in the hotel, and for weeks we just lived together. He was adamant on having me as his wife.” Joan, in fact, had feelings for someone else. “I was in love with another actor, Hampton Fancher III. Elvis was well aware of it. When he’d ask about Hampton, I’d tell him, ‘I adore him, El. I adore him the way a woman loves a man she wants to spend her life with.’

Joan Blackman appeared to be in the midst of her own love triangle. She was married to Joby Baker when she told Elvis she was in love with Hampton. Their marriage lasted barely two years, and one can surmise that her inquisitive gaze had a role in her divorce. Joan never married Hampton and married Rockne Tarkingington in 1968. They, too, had a brief relationship but produced two children before divorcing in 1970.

So, what became of Anita and Elvis? After Elvis returned home from his military service, he and Anita got into a quarrel about “fan mail” from Priscilla. Elvis told to a buddy a few months later that he couldn’t select who to be with. Anita overheard the conversation and chose to leave, assisting Elvis in making a decision.

Elvis was a fantastic musician with a voice that charmed women all over the world. Furthermore, he was a handsome man, which made him even more alluring to his supporters. However, it’s apparent that he fought within to figure out what he truly desired. Maybe he was never content.

Perhaps it was because the woman he actually loved did not reciprocate his feelings. In any case, Elvis moved on with his life, had a lovely family, and tragically died young. Unfortunately, his unexpected demise at the age of 42 broke the hearts of people all around the world. He died of a heart attack, which is thought to have been caused by his prescription medicine addiction.

The King of Rock n Roll lives on in the hearts of his fans and is still regarded as one of the greatest musical influences of all time.