Cybill Shepherd Spills Details About Steamy Love Affair With Elvis Presley

Hollywood icon Cybill Shepherd is getting candid about one of her most famous romances, her brief but unforgettable relationship with Elvis Presley. The 75-year-old actress stunned fans with fresh details about their 1970s love affair during her live show, "An Evening with Cybill Shepherd: Music, Conversation & Stories," held Friday at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles. Shepherd, best known for "The Last Picture Show" and "Moonlighting," revealed that her song "Graceland (Revisited)" was inspired by her time with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who passed away in 1977 at just 42 years old.

The Memphis-born actress, who’s long been linked to several Hollywood heavyweights, reflected on the connection she shared with Presley, describing him as magnetic, spiritual, and unlike anyone she’s ever met. “[Elvis] was a little bit too close to God or somebody,” she told the audience, according to PEOPLE, adding that despite his larger-than-life persona, “Elvis was really cool though.”

Before launching into her emotional tribute song, "Graceland (Revisited)," co-written with former musical director Tom Adams, Shepherd channeled her inner Presley, playfully mimicking his signature drawl for the crowd before calling him "a great guy. She then transitioned into the soulful performance that had audience members hanging on every note.

Their fling, which took place in the early 1970s, came at a time when both stars were at the height of their fame. While Shepherd has previously hinted that their romance didn’t last long, her tone this weekend was filled with nostalgia rather than regret, a clear sign that the King left a lasting mark.

The two-hour event wasn’t just about Elvis. The actress also dished on her other famous entanglements, including her steamy fling with Don Johnson at the peak of his Miami Vice stardom. “Don Johnson and I did not do scenes together, but we did have a lot of fun,” she teased. “No, we didn’t do scenes in front of the camera; we messed around behind the camera.”

Shepherd explained that while working on the 1985 TV miniseries "The Long Hot Summer," she was initially eyeing a different role, but producers told her she was “too pretty” for the part originally played by Joanne Woodward. “I didn’t hit that part, but I got another one,” she said with a laugh.

While much of the evening focused on Cybill Shepherd’s famous romances, the "Taxi Driver" star also took a moment to honor one of the most important figures in her professional life, none other than Orson Welles. The legendary actor, writer, and director, best known for "Citizen Kane," served as what Shepherd called her “mentor.” She revealed that their connection went far beyond film sets and red carpets. “He came to live with [director] Peter Bogdanovich and I,” Shepherd shared with the crowd, recalling a time in her life filled with creativity and chaos. “And Orson and I got very close, and he was a great influence in my life.”

Shepherd credited Welles with helping her stay grounded amid the whirlwind of Hollywood fame, especially as her rising stardom in the 1970s drew constant media attention. “He helped me stay focused on what was important,” she said. “Keep my focus on that and just keep moving. So that was good.”

Long before she was sharing stories about Elvis Presley and Don Johnson, Cybill Shepherd had already cemented her place as one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars, both on and off the screen. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Shepherd’s career skyrocketed in the early 1970s when she was cast in Peter Bogdanovich’s "The Last Picture Show," a performance that earned her a Golden Globe nomination and instant sex-symbol status. She followed it up with unforgettable turns in "The Heartbreak Kid" and Martin Scorsese’s "Taxi Driver," proving she was more than just a pretty face. She was a powerhouse of talent and charisma.

But just as her acting career exploded, so did her love life.

The blonde bombshell quickly became one of the most sought-after women in Hollywood, famously linked to some of the industry’s biggest names. Beyond her romance with Elvis Presley, Shepherd had high-profile relationships with director Peter Bogdanovich, her "Moonlighting" co-star Bruce Willis (whom she’s admitted to having “real chemistry” with), and musician James Naughton, among others.

She’s been married twice, first to David Ford from 1978 to 1982, with whom she shares daughter Clementine Ford, and later to Bruce Oppenheim, from 1987 to 1990, with whom she welcomed twins Ariel and Cyrus.