Elvis Aaron Presley died in 1977 - one year before the first presentation of The Kennedy Center Honors for Lifetime Achievement in 1978. As a result, thus far, he has not received this honor because it is only awarded to the living. Nevertheless, no one human being has achieved more in terms of excellence in the combination of entertainment, patriotism, and humanitarianism required for consideration.

Elvis innocently rebelled against the status quo. He broke through racial barriers that contributed to segregation. He opened a path of opportunity for anyone who felt the desire to follow it and make it their own. He achieved the American Dream with such raw and unapologetic talent that even today he is still revered.  Perhaps nobody put it better than President Jimmy Carter who issued the following statement on August 17, 1977:

"Elvis Presley’s death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. More than 20 years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense, and he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country."

At the height of his fame he was drafted into the Army, and despite offers to entertain troops rather than join their ranks, he turned those offers down to serve alongside his fellow draftees.

"People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. They thought I couldn't take it and so forth, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise. Not only to the people who were wondering but to myself," he said of his decision.

In addition to entertaining millions of souls across the globe, he was also a great humanitarian. His generosity is legendary, from helping individual strangers, the March of Dimes, to raising money to complete the construction of the Pearl Harbor Memorial. The lists of achievements are too vast to list here.

His music and cultural influence still echoes throughout the world. Even during the 2018 Kennedy Award Ceremony his name was mentioned on stage; proof that decades after his death, he’s still a part of our nation’s fabric. The Kennedy Center has made exceptions to the rules in the past as to who is eligible. It is our hope that it will do so again. It is in this spirit, that we (the undersigned) are respectfully asking you to posthumously award Elvis Aaron Presley with The Kennedy Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019.

Thank you very much.