At the beginning of 1956, Elvis Presley was just 21 years old. He already had a growing following in the South, but millions of Americans still had no idea who he was. By the end of that same year, everything had changed.
Elvis had produced an extraordinary run of hit records, topped the charts, appeared on America’s biggest television programs, released two hugely successful albums and even entered Hollywood.
Graceland’s official history credits Elvis with five No. 1 pop singles during 1956. It was one of the fastest rises to superstardom popular music had ever seen. The breakthrough began with “Heartbreak Hotel.” Elvis recorded the song in Nashville on January 10, 1956, only two days after his 21st birthday.
Elvis Presley Performs “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956
A few months later came “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.”
Then Elvis entered RCA’s New York studio on July 2, 1956, and recorded two songs on the same day that would become inseparable from his early career: “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog.” Together, the songs dominated American radio during the second half of the year.
But Elvis was not becoming famous through records alone. Television turned him into a national obsession. His performances on The Milton Berle Show caused controversy because of the way he moved onstage.
Then, on September 9, 1956, Elvis appeared for the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show. An enormous television audience tuned in. That night, Elvis performed hits including “Don’t Be Cruel” and introduced viewers to another song that had not even been officially released yet: “Love Me Tender.” Demand for the song exploded. When RCA released it later that month, “Love Me Tender” climbed to No. 1 and remained there for weeks.
His debut album, Elvis Presley, reached No. 1 and spent 10 weeks at the top. His second album also reached No. 1. He was appearing on major television programs including Stage Show, The Milton Berle Show, The Steve Allen Show and The Ed Sullivan Show.
And before the year was over, Elvis conquered another industry. In November 1956, his first movie, Love Me Tender, opened in theaters.
Think about how quickly that happened.
Billboard maintained several separate charts based on record sales, radio airplay and jukebox popularity, which is why different sources can sometimes count the No. 1 records of 1956 differently.
But there is no disagreement about the bigger picture. 1956 was the year Elvis Presley exploded. He started it as a rising young performer. He ended it as one of the most famous entertainers in America. And he was only 21 years old when it happened.