ELVIS’ HIDDEN 1968 LOVE STORY? Susan Henning Opens the Door to a Side of the King Few Fans Ever Saw
For decades, Elvis Presley fans have watched the legendary images from the 1968 Comeback Special, but behind those famous black-leather performances and unforgettable moments was another story—one involving a young actress named Susan Henning.
Now, through her personal book 68, Henning offers her own intimate memories of the time she spent with Elvis during one of the most important periods of his career.
Susan Henning was already familiar with the entertainment world. She had been crowned Miss Teen USA in 1965 and later appeared in films and television, including Live a Little, Love a Little, the 1968 Elvis movie that brought the two together. But according to Henning’s recollections, their connection quickly became more personal than an ordinary Hollywood encounter.
Their first meeting was anything but ordinary.
While filming Live a Little, Love a Little at Marine World in 1968, Henning was dressed as a mermaid for one of her scenes. She describes the unusual circumstances of their first encounter and recalls an immediate sense of attraction between them.
After filming ended that day, Henning says Elvis invited her to join him on the Marine World revolving tower. Joe Esposito accompanied them, giving her a first glimpse into Elvis’ world and the close-knit group of friends and associates who surrounded him.
As they slowly rose above the landscape, Henning remembers the sunset, the peaceful atmosphere, and the feeling that the world had temporarily disappeared around them.
In her book, she describes that evening as the beginning of something deeply emotional.
According to Henning’s account, their relationship developed through music, laughter, conversations, shared interests, and private moments away from the cameras. She remembers Elvis not simply as the superstar everyone knew, but as a playful and affectionate man who enjoyed joking around, talking about faith, and spending time with people he trusted.
One particularly revealing part of her memories involves Elvis’ sense of humor.
Henning recalls playing with his hair and creating different hairstyles for him. She says Elvis would laugh and enjoy experimenting with different looks. Those small moments, rather than the spectacular performances seen on stage, are what she remembers as meaningful.
She also describes Elvis’ spiritual side.
Henning recalls conversations about the Bible and says Elvis taught her to recite the Lord’s Prayer slowly and with understanding. She writes that she continues to say the prayer in his memory.
But perhaps the most fascinating memories come from the 1968 Comeback Special.
Henning was cast in the famous production, and she recalls walking into a rehearsal room where Elvis was standing with his back toward her. Known for his playful personality, she decided to surprise him.
Her recollection describes a playful moment during rehearsal that ended with laughter, an embrace, and Elvis telling her that he had missed her.
For Henning, those moments represented something more than simply performing a scene.
She remembers the chemistry, laughter, excitement, and affection that existed between them while working together. Her account presents a picture of Elvis during a critical turning point in his career—a man preparing to return to the live stage while also enjoying private moments of friendship, romance, humor, and spiritual conversation.
Yet perhaps the most intriguing sentence in the entire story concerns secrets.
Henning writes that Elvis told her things that she promised never to reveal. She says she has kept that promise.
That may help explain why she has remained relatively private about her relationship with Elvis for so many years.
Rather than presenting 68 simply as another celebrity romance story, Henning dedicated the book to preserving what she describes as special memories of Elvis. She also connected the book to a charitable cause, dedicating part of the proceeds to the Faith Alive Clinic in Nigeria, which provides medical and spiritual support.
That detail adds another dimension to the story.
Susan Henning was not simply remembering Elvis the superstar. She was remembering the man she says she knew privately—the man who laughed at her jokes, enjoyed having his hair styled, talked about faith, loved animals, appreciated family, and could step away from the cameras and become simply Elvis.
For longtime fans, that is what makes 68 so intriguing.
The 1968 Comeback Special is remembered as the moment Elvis dramatically reclaimed his place in popular music. But behind the leather suit, the cameras, the rehearsals, and the roaring audience was a complicated human being whose private relationships were rarely visible to the public.
Susan Henning’s memories offer one woman’s personal window into that world.
Whether every romantic detail can be independently verified is another question. But her recollections remain fascinating because they reveal how she remembers Elvis—and how deeply those memories continued to matter to her decades later.
The King may have belonged to the world on stage. But according to Susan Henning, there was another Elvis waiting when the cameras stopped rolling.