A Little Thing Called Life: On Loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner, and Songs in Between

by Linda Thompson

Overview

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.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062469755
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/08/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	460,441
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 The King Is Gone 1

Chapter 2 Made in Memphis 8

Chapter 3 Love at First Sight 20

Chapter 4 A Vegas Fairy Tale 37

Chapter 5 The Other Elvis 55

Chapter 6 TCB with TLC 78

Chapter 7 A Little Breathing Room 94

Chapter 8 You'll Always Be Safe with Me 110

Chapter 9 Our Hospital Home 128

Chapter 10 The Pain of Too Much Tenderness 143

Chapter 11 Hee Haw Honey 161

Chapter 12 A Final Goodbye at Graceland 170

Chapter 13 Gold Medal Love 180

Chapter 14 A Model Family 199

Chapter 15 I Married a Woman 217

Chapter 16 Music and Lyrics by Us 233

Chapter 17 Navigating Life 248

Chapter 18 No Filter 257

Chapter 19 Voices That Care 270

Chapter 20 No Hallmark Memories 279

Chapter 21 Academy Award-Nominated Songwriter 295

Chapter 22 Villa Casablanca 302

Chapter 23 Party of One 318

Chapter 24 Princes of Malibu 333

Chapter 25 Caitlyn Coming Out 345

Acknowledgments 363

Song Credits 367

Editorial Reviews

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 Publisher

Linda has led an extraordinary life filled with both blessings and challenges, but she has met them both with grace and kindness.

Roma Downey

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linda is loving, full of spirit, and always makes you feel as if you are the most important person in the room.

Tim Allen

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

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