In the annals of rock and roll, few moments are as electrifying as Elvis Presley’s groundbreaking 1968 NBC special, Singer Presents Elvis—better known as his Comeback Special. Now, Netflix’s Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley takes us behind the scenes of this pivotal performance, revealing how it marked the King’s triumphant return to live music after years of professional and personal struggles.
The High Stakes of a TV Special
On paper, a TV special starring one of the world’s most iconic musicians might seem like a safe bet. But in 1968, Elvis Presley’s career was teetering on the edge. After a decade of uninspired, formulaic films that critics and fans derisively called his “movie jail” years, Elvis had lost much of his cultural relevance. The British Invasion and the rise of artists like Jimi Hendrix had further pushed him to the sidelines. On top of that, his personal life was in turmoil. His fame was fading, and he had become a nostalgic figure, more a relic of the past than a force in contemporary music.
As Priscilla Presley reflects in Return of the King, Elvis was acutely aware that this special could either save his career or permanently tarnish his legacy. “He was definitely aware of the stakes,” she recalls. “And he knew that this could be a failure, and that would be it—it could ruin his career.”
A Bold Transformation
Despite the weight of the pressure, Elvis rose to the occasion. He shed over 20 pounds, getting in the best shape of his life, and made a bold decision to return to live performances. This special would mark his first live show since 1961, and Elvis was determined to reclaim his crown. He embraced a fresh look: a sleek black leather outfit, a stark departure from the gaudy costumes of his past. But it wasn’t just his appearance that had transformed—his sound had, too.
For the special, Elvis reunited with his original bandmates, including guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer DJ Fontana. Together, they jammed in a stripped-down, intimate setting that felt ahead of its time—reminiscent of what would later become the MTV Unplugged format decades later. This was a return to authenticity, raw and unscripted, where the music truly spoke for itself.
However, not all went smoothly behind the scenes. Under the heavy influence of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, the special’s producers pushed for corny skits, including a sequence where Elvis performed karate moves—his latest obsession at the time. During filming, Elvis was visibly nervous, sweating under the lights, missing cues, and even expressing his frustration to the director. “It’s getting embarrassing standing out here. I gotta do something,” he lamented in an outtake.
A Moment of Redemption
Despite the behind-the-scenes struggles, something magical happened when Elvis took to the stage for the live segments. His raw emotion and magnetic energy poured through in every note. The moment that sealed his comeback came during the closing number, where Elvis delivered a powerful, soulful rendition of “If I Can Dream.” In that one performance, he redefined himself as an artist and a man, showing the world that he was far from a washed-up icon. The electrifying energy he exuded reminded everyone why he was the King.
In Return of the King, director Jason Hehir (known for his work on The Last Dance) gives us unprecedented access to Elvis’s personal archives, showing footage from the special’s creation and offering interviews with fans and artists who draw inspiration from Presley’s triumphant return. Among them are Conan O’Brien, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Corgan, all of whom reflect on the profound impact Elvis’s comeback had on the music world. Even Baz Luhrmann, who brought Elvis’s life to the big screen in his 2022 biopic, shares his thoughts on why this special was such a crucial moment in Presley’s career.
Breaking the Mold
What makes Elvis’s 1968 comeback so extraordinary is how it shattered the conventions of the time. While most TV specials were predictable and overly polished, Elvis’s return was raw and intimate. He eschewed the flashy gimmicks of his earlier career for a more authentic, stripped-down approach that breathed new life into his music. At a time when pop culture was obsessed with commercialization and spectacle, Elvis returned to his roots, proving that he could still captivate an audience without relying on the glitz and glamour of his past.
This authenticity helped propel him back to the forefront of popular music. Rather than becoming a relic of a bygone era, Elvis reinvented himself for a new generation, showing that even in the face of doubt and uncertainty, the King still had the power to rule the stage.
The Aftermath: A New Era for Elvis
In the years that followed, Elvis would go on to have some of the most iconic performances of his career, including his legendary Las Vegas shows and the historic Aloha from Hawaii broadcast. But none of this would have been possible without the groundbreaking 1968 comeback. It was a turning point, a defining moment that not only revived Elvis’s career but also cemented his status as one of the greatest musical artists of all time.
Return of the King reminds us that Elvis Presley was not just a cultural icon of the past—he was a living, breathing artist capable of reinvention and redemption, and his 1968 NBC special marked the rebirth of the King.
