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Anita Wood

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Wood and Presley on a Ferris wheel, 1960

Anita Marie Wood Brewer (May 27, 1938 – June 29, 2023), also known as Little Bitty and Little, was an American television performer, recording artist and girlfriend of Elvis Presley.

Biography

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Wood was born on May 27, 1938.[1] A vocalist, she won the 1954 Youth Talent Contest at the Mid-South Fair, and a runner-up that same year for Miss Tennessee. A couple of years later, she worked with Wink Martindale on the "Top 10 Dance Party."[2]

Anita recorded for ABC-Paramount (1958); Sun (1961); and Santo (1963). She also worked on The Andy Williams Show (summer 1958).[3]

Presley and Wood met in 1957 and in the same year Presley referred to Wood as his "No. 1 Girl".[4][5][6] The two dated seriously for several years[7] from 1957 to 1962.[8][9] Wood signed a contract to work as an actress for Paramount Pictures, but later gave it up for Presley.[10]

Elvis and Anita in Waco, Texas

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Elvis did his basic military training on Fort Hood (later renamed Fort Cavazos), Texas. He and Anita became close friends with local business man Eddie Fadal. On his weekends, Elvis and Anita spent time in Fadal's house. Fadal later gave an interview to the state of Texas archives, in which he says Anita and Elvis had such a close relationship, that everybody expected them to get married, and were surprised when it didn't work out that way. [11]

Personal life

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She was married to National Football League player Johnny Brewer for 46 years from 1965 until his death in 2011.[12][13]

In 1976, Johnny Brewer sued the Memphis Publishing Company for libel when it reported that Anita Brewer was divorced from Brewer and reunited with Presley in Las Vegas.[14][15][16] Anita Wood appeared on the Larry King show in 2005 to talk about her romance with Elvis Presley.[17]

Brewer died of pneumonia at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 29, 2023, at the age of 85.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Morals and Manners". St. Petersburg Times. 1957-08-29. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  2. ^ Lollar, Michael (2024). "Note to Elvis fans gathering to celebrate his birthday: Before Priscilla, there was Anita". www.commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ Barrett, Jonnita Brewer (2012). Once upon a time: Elvis and Anita: memories of my mother. Jackson, MS: BrewBar Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9858056-0-9. OCLC 823306179.
  4. ^ "Elvis's Girlfriend Loses Appeal Bid". The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States of America. UPI. 1981-06-24. p. 31. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  5. ^ Tillery, Gary (2013). The seeker king: a spiritual biography of Elvis Presley (1st ed.). Wheaton, Illinois: Quest Books,Theosophical Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-8356-0915-9.
  6. ^ Bradley, Barbara (2007-05-07). "Elvis' alma mater down the steps". Knox News. Archived from the original on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  7. ^ "Anita Wood Interview". Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  8. ^ Burk, Bill (1957-09-14). "Anita Flies Into Arms of Elvis". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  9. ^ Miller, Patricia (1991-07-18). "Elvis? He was nothin' but a hound dog". Evening Standard. London, Greater London, England. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  10. ^ "Interview with Anita Wood". elvis.com.au. 2006-11-25. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  11. ^ "Eddie Fadal on Elvis and Anita Wood (1991)". Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  12. ^ "John Brewer Obituary (2011) - Madison, MS - Clarion Ledger". Legacy.com. June 2011. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  13. ^ Finstad, Suzanne (1997). Child Bride: The Untold Story of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-307-33695-8. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  14. ^ "John L. Brewer, v. Memphis Publishing Company, Inc". United States Court of Appeals. 1976-09-13. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  15. ^ Dato, Robert M. (1983). "The Effect of Passage of Time on the Status of Inactive Public Figures". Federal Communications Law Journal. 35: 235.
  16. ^ Duhart, Olympia R. (2002–2003). "When Time Stands Still: An Argument for Restoring Public Figures to Private Status". Nova Law Review. 27: 365.
  17. ^ "Remembering Elvis Presley". 2005-01-14. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  18. ^ Staff Reports (2023-06-30). "Anita Marie Brewer". The Vicksburg Post. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
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  • Author Jonnita Brewer Barrett: Once upon a time: Elvis and Anita: memories of my mother [1]


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  1. ^ Barrett, Jonnita Brewer (2012). Once upon a time: Elvis and Anita: memories of my mother. Jackson, MS: BrewBar Pub. ISBN 978-0985805609.
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