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CNN Live Today

Commemorating 25th Anniversary of Elvis' Death at Graceland

Aired August 16, 2002 - 10:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Heavy rains, maybe even heavier hearts lingered outside the gates of Graceland last night. As many as 30,000 storm-soaked fans solemnly amassed at the Memphis mansion where Presley died 25 years ago today.
CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman is there at Graceland. He joins us live.

Good morning to you -- Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Marty, good morning to you.

And we've seen an incredible display of loyalty to a legend. Despite torrential rains, tens of thousands of Elvis fans participated in a candlelight vigil in honor of him on this the exact 25th anniversary of his death. People started lining up outside the gates of Graceland 25 hours before the candlelight vigil was scheduled to start.

Now they do this candlelight vigil every August 15 and 16, the anniversary of his death. But because this was the 25th anniversary, it was anticipated this would be their largest crowd ever; and indeed it was. As a matter of fact, the night he died, 100,000 people came out here to mourn. This was the largest crowd since then. People came in with their candles, they walked through the 13 acres of Graceland ground and they then went to the gravesite of Elvis Presley, his mother and father and grandmother.

At times it was a joyous ceremony as Elvis Presley's songs were played continuously. But for most of the people when they got to the gravesite, it was very difficult emotionally for them. It was almost as if we were attending a funeral of someone who had just died. The emotions were that fresh.

Among the tens of thousands of people who were here included Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. She came here with her newlywed husband, Nicholas Cage. Lisa Marie is the owner of Graceland now. Although it's open for tours to the public, she still occasionally uses this home.

And we will see Lisa Marie and her mother, Pricilla Presley, later today. A concert is being held tonight here in Memphis also to commemorate the life and times of Elvis Presley.

Marty, back to you. SAVIDGE: Gary, we say 25 years. Another way to put it is a quarter of a century since the passing of Elvis Presley. I'm just wondering, you have your own memory of where you were, what you were doing when you heard the news of his death?

TUCHMAN: It's funny, very vivid memory, Marty, because I was -- do some math here -- I was 16 years old back then. I was on vacation in Hawaii, and it was a very big deal when he died in Hawaii because Elvis Presley loved Hawaii, he shot the movie "Blue Hawaii" there. So very vivid memory because it was all over the press and the television in Hawaii back then when it happened.

SAVIDGE: Very true.

Gary Tuchman, we'll stay in touch with you, too, in the rain. Thank you very much.

And we want to hear your memories. Where were you the day that Elvis died? You can share your thoughts in an e-mail to livetoday@cnn.com.

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