NBC will air “Elvis All-Star Tribute” on Sunday, February 17, 2019

Today marks the exact date (December 3, 1968) 50 years ago that the NBC aired “Singer Presents… Elvis,” now known as the “68 Comeback Special,” sponsored by Singer Corporation, the sewing machine people. The special played a pivotal role in relaunching Elvis Presley’s career.

The 50th Anniversary “Elvis All-Star Tribute” will be hosted by Blake Shelton. The special will feature an all-star group of music superstars who will pay tribute to Elvis, recreating the spectacle – even the staging – of that legendary night. In addition to the musical performances, the two-hour special will showcase rare footage of Presley and interviews from those involved in the special, including Priscilla Presley and director Steve Binder. The A-list musicians who are participating in the special will be announced in early 2019.

In addition to the musical performances, the special will showcase rare Elvis footage and interviews from those involved in the special, including Priscilla Presley and director Steve Binder.

Elvis’ December 3, 1968 special was his first live television performance since 1961 and a monumental TV event. Dressed in a black leather jumpsuit and playing with a full band in front of an intimate audience, the telecast was hugely popular.

“The 50th Anniversary of the Elvis Comeback Special” is being produced by Ken Ehrlich (Grammy Awards, Global Citizen Festival), the event will see several prominent artists re-create the 1968 performance that propelled Presley back onto the world stage after years of absence. Ken Ehrlich: “I can remember sitting in front of my television set and watching the Elvis special. I already knew that I could never do what he did as an artist, but seeing that show had a great deal to do with my dreams of having a career in television production. To this day, I’ve been grateful to Elvis and producer/director Steve Binder for inspiring me to be able to revisit that event 50 years later and pay our own homage to what an iconic moment that was in both music and television.”