EPIC with Karla and Lauren

I think you'll really enjoy this month's Meemaw Music Monday episode of The Happy Meemaw podcast. I grew up in a house full of music. My mother had a console stereo, an Early American piece of furniture that spun all the latest hits - in country music, not my preferred genre. Among the albums by Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Steve Wariner, and Conway Twitty, there was some Elvis gospel. My mom preferred this to the rock and roll music I loved, a genre pioneered by Elvis. But as far as Elvis was concerned, I was never a fan.

My best friend Karla, however, is probably the most rabid, knowledgeable Elvis fan I know. She grew up with a mom who idolized him, and over the years, she treated her mom to Elvis conventions and often visited Graceland, his home in Memphis. She has read every book about him and met and had conversations with the men who wrote them. She's even watched all of his movies. So it isn't difficult to believe that her daughter-in-law, Lauren, was thrilled when she truly discovered Elvis while visiting Memphis a couple of years ago - and realized her mother-in-law was more than a kindred spirit.

I visited Karla in January, and she mentioned that she was excited about the release of "EPIC" in February. I had no idea what she was talking about, so she excitedly told me about director Baz Luhrmann's new Elvis documentary, which features concert and behind-the-scenes footage taken in rehearsals and shows after Elvis's 1968 comeback special. Then she said something that excited me - she thought it would be fun to create a podcast episode with her, me, and her daughter-in-law, who just became an Elvis fan in the last couple of years. Despite my lack of affection for The King, I do love music and especially a music doc, so I was in.

You can listen to our conversation at the link below. We had a great time chatting about the movie and our impressions. One thing is for sure - we all three highly recommend seeing it. It's an intimate look at one of the most recognizable figures in history, and a window into his love of music. Not only will you learn a lot, but you'll also hear some fantastic songs.

Thanks to Karla and Lauren for joining me. I hope we can record together again soon.

Listen now at https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pUrbkcWmsdetKwHiViSNA?si=OTqEADDQTUifCgOfdOl1bA