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On Sept. 9, 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” taking an already fast-rising career to another level.
The 21-year-old had a No. 1 hit with “Heartbreak Hotel” and several national TV appearances behind him, but nothing matched Sullivan’s reach. About 60 million people – roughly one-third of the country and 82% of everyone watching television that night – tuned in. Elvis performed from Los Angeles while filming “Love Me Tender,” and the response was enormous.
The appearance cemented him as a household name and cultural phenomenon, making rock ’n’ roll impossible for mainstream America to ignore.