‘The Faith of Elvis’: Billy Stanley Recounts the Prayers of an Icon

By: Laura Bennett

In the recent Elvis movie the life one of the most successful superstars was explored with Baz Luhrman giving it the glitzy Hollywood treatment only he can.

As fans learned about the highs and lows of Elvis’ glamorous stage career, the trappings of fame and the impact he had on audiences Elvis’ stepbrother Billy Stanley now wants to shed light on another side of the icon’s life: his Christian faith.

In The Faith of Elvis Billy recounts his first meeting with his new brother at 7 years of age, and the moment Elvis introduced him to prayer and faith.

“That first night he led us in a prayer,” Billy said in a podcast interview.

“I’d heard a little bit about prayer, but I’d never had anyone lead me in a prayer like that.

“Here’s this guy that’s the ‘King of Rock ‘n Roll’ and he’s on his knees at the end of the bed with my brothers – and [it stuck] with me.

“[Elvis] said, ‘Dear Heavenly Father we thank you for this day and all its blessings. Thank you for bringing these three little boys into my life. I promise to love and protect them for the rest of my life’.”

“For the next 17 years it was an education. Elvis was really like my Bible school teacher.

“You used to hear him walking around the house singing gospel songs to himself and [I thought], ‘Wow. If people could only see this guy’.”

Billy Stanley’s book The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell is out now.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: book cover, supplied

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.