--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show…" description: "\"I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time.\" — Ed Sullivan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg" --- # I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time. ![“I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time.” quote by Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg) > “I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time.” [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sullivan refused to feature Elvis because he feared the singer's style would clash with his show's family‑friendly image. **In simple terms:** Sullivan avoided Elvis to keep his show safe for all audiences. Key Takeaway Consider audience expectations when booking guests. Themes media control public perception entertainment decisions Mood cautious protective Type advisory historical When to use this quote - TV programming - live performances - artist management - audience demographics Key Concepts censorship brand alignment cultural clash Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tradition with emerging trends? - What risks arise from excluding popular acts? A Different Perspective May limit artistic diversity and alienate younger viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In Presley's time, you didn't dare not to be a fan of his, because you were part of a club. Now you can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-clark/in-presley-s-time-you-didn-t-dare-not-to-be-a-fan-of-his-because-you/) [Dick Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-clark/) > [ELVIS PRESLEY was bigger than life. His success was documented and laid out for him. He came to the first show I had in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/elvis-presley-was-bigger-than-life-his-success-was-documented-and/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [Elvis Presley is all there is. There just ain't no more. Everything starts and ends with Elvis. He wrote the book. He is everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/elvis-presley-is-all-there-is-there-just-ain-t-no-more-everything/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When I heard Elvis Presley, then I knew I had to do music. Music is my god, and is the only love that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ville-valo/when-i-heard-elvis-presley-then-i-knew-i-had-to-do-music-music-is-my/) [Ville Valo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ville-valo/) > [I think the best analogy for where we are right now is that America is Elvis Presley -- the most beautiful, talented, rebellious nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/i-think-the-best-analogy-for-where-we-are-right-now-is-that-america/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [Almost no one sings like Elvis Presley any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-bono/almost-no-one-sings-like-elvis-presley-any-more/) [Sonny Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-bono/) > [I would love to do musicals, sitcoms and even television talk shows. I think I have the potential. But most importantly, my ultimate goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-park/i-would-love-to-do-musicals-sitcoms-and-even-television-talk-shows-i/) [Jamie Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-park/) > [Elvis Presley, you can't define him in a couple of sentences, but he was a country boy and he was very respectful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-leiber/elvis-presley-you-can-t-define-him-in-a-couple-of-sentences-but-he/) [Jerry Leiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-leiber/) > [People don't realize what they had till it's gone. Like President Kennedy, there was no one like him, the Beatles, and my man Elvis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/people-don-t-realize-what-they-had-till-it-s-gone-like-president/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique, irreplaceable. More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/elvis-presley-s-death-deprives-our-country-of-a-part-of-itself-he-was/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I guess I thought I was Elvis Presley but I'll tell ya something. All Elvis did was stand on a stage and play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-guess-i-thought-i-was-elvis-presley-but-i-ll-tell-ya-something-all/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [Elvis Presley had nothing to do with excellence, just myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/elvis-presley-had-nothing-to-do-with-excellence-just-myth/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [Elvis Presley is the king, he's the giant of the day, paved the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-beach-boys/elvis-presley-is-the-king-he-s-the-giant-of-the-day-paved-the-way/) [The Beach Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-beach-boys/) > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## More by Ed Sullivan > [The Beatles first appeared on our show on February 9, 1964, and I have never seen any scenes to compare with the bedlam that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/the-beatles-first-appeared-on-our-show-on-february-9-1964-and-i-have/) [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) > [If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/if-you-do-a-good-job-for-others-you-heal-yourself-at-the-same-time-2/) [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) > [Tell me, Connie, is your mother still dead?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/tell-me-connie-is-your-mother-still-dead/) [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) > [If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time, because a dose of joy is a spiritual cure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/if-you-do-a-good-job-for-others-you-heal-yourself-at-the-same-time-3/) [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) > [I wanted to say to Elvis Presley and the country that this is a real decent, fine boy, and wherever you go, Elvis, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/i-wanted-to-say-to-elvis-presley-and-the-country-that-this-is-a-real/) [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) [Explore all 6 Ed Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) ## More Elvis quotes > [Elvis was sincere, and he was - he was so loyal. And he was so homespun. He loved his mother, he loved America. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thompson/elvis-was-sincere-and-he-was-he-was-so-loyal-and-he-was-so-homespun/) [Linda Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thompson/) > [I can guarantee you one thing, we will never agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-can-guarantee-you-one-thing-we-will-never-agree-on-anything-as-we/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Elvis deserves a lot of credit for bringing the blues to middle America, not the Vegas stuff. The early stuff, The Sun records, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tork/elvis-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-bringing-the-blues-to-middle/) [Peter Tork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tork/) > [“If you threw Elvis and a scarecrow in a blender, topped the whole thing off with Seagram's 7 and pressed dice, you would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/if-you-threw-elvis-and-a-scarecrow-in-a-blender-topped-the-whole/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Elvis a fight the dying light, Johnny Ray he's always crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/elvis-a-fight-the-dying-light-johnny-ray-he-s-always-crying/) [Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/) > [Elvis was the firstest with the mostest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/elvis-was-the-firstest-with-the-mostest/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [Elvis' early music has drama because as he sang he was escaping limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/elvis-early-music-has-drama-because-as-he-sang-he-was-escaping-limits/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [I was very keen on people like Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/i-was-very-keen-on-people-like-elvis-carl-perkins-jerry-lee-lewis-and/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [When I was a little kid, I was very impressed with Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-very-impressed-with-elvis/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Elvis helps Santa Clause make toys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honey-boo-boo-child/elvis-helps-santa-clause-make-toys/) [Honey Boo Boo Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honey-boo-boo-child/) > [It was very nerve-wracking for me. I had to be drunk and have a threesome. I'm not that guy. Bobby Cannavale is that guy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/it-was-very-nerve-wracking-for-me-i-had-to-be-drunk-and-have-a/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [“His body walks out onto the darkened stage , and a roar goes up from the crowd. He stands in front of the mic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-garraty/his-body-walks-out-onto-the-darkened-stage-and-a-roar-goes-up-from/) Joseph Garraty Browse all 508 Elvis quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Sullivan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show-at-any-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Elvis" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show-at-any-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/ed-sullivan-53379_elvis_i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show_2437840.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time.” — Ed Sullivan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ed Sullivan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show-at-any-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/i-wouldn-t-have-elvis-presley-on-my-show-at-any-time/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```