Elvis Presley was already a global icon when he met Ann-Margret in July 1963 on the set of Viva Las Vegas. She was Hollywood’s rising star—a fiery dancer with a sultry voice, Scandinavian beauty, and magnetic charm. What began as a professional collaboration soon ignited into a powerful, passionate love affair that would be both exhilarating and doomed.
From the moment they met, the chemistry was undeniable. Whether singing duets in the studio or performing steamy dance routines on screen, Elvis and Ann-Margret moved as one—every hip thrust, every spin, perfectly in sync. But it wasn’t just performance. They shared a profound connection: both came from humble beginnings, valued family and privacy, and were deeply devoted to music, God, and each other.
Behind the scenes, their relationship blossomed quickly. Long talks under the stars, quiet dinners, and moments of raw honesty revealed a vulnerable side of Elvis few had ever seen. “He had dreams, fears, and desires he never showed the world,” Ann-Margret would later recall. “But with me, he opened up.”
While Priscilla Presley waited anxiously in Memphis, Elvis and Ann-Margret were living out a whirlwind romance in Hollywood. His friends confirmed the depth of his feelings—this was no fleeting affair. Some believe that if Ann-Margret had been willing to leave her career behind, Elvis would have chosen her as his life partner. But she was determined to pursue her dreams.
Tensions began to rise when the press caught wind of their romance. When Ann-Margret confirmed their relationship during a promotional event, it sent shockwaves through Elvis’s world. Priscilla was furious. Elvis, under pressure from Colonel Tom Parker and Priscilla’s family, was forced to make a choice. With his career and image on the line, he ended things with Ann-Margret.
She didn’t give up easily. She wrote him letters, made phone calls, even sent a telegram—but Elvis never replied. The affair was over. Weeks later, Elvis married Priscilla. And shortly after, Ann-Margret married actor Roger Smith.
Yet the connection never truly disappeared. Elvis continued to send Ann-Margret elaborate floral arrangements shaped like guitars for each of her Las Vegas openings. They attended each other’s shows, exchanged backstage visits, and remained close friends throughout the 1970s. When Elvis died in 1977, Ann-Margret defied advice and attended his funeral, where his father Vernon Presley took her hand and said, “Elvis truly loved you.”
In the years since, Ann-Margret has remained fiercely loyal to his memory. She’s defended him against critics and spoken with warmth and sorrow about the man she once loved. Their story—part romance, part tragedy—lives on as one of the most compelling chapters in Elvis’s life.
Had things gone differently, many believe Ann-Margret might have been the one to save Elvis from the destructive path he ultimately followed. But life, as their story reminds us, doesn’t always allow for second chances.
They were fire and grace, passion and poise—two stars whose brief time together still sparks wonder. And in that lingering “what if,” their love affair lives on.