Songwriter Carol Connors on Her Memoir, Grammy Nomination & One Surprising Regret About Dating Elvis (Exclusive)
What To Know
- Carol Connors, Grammy-winning co-writer of Rocky theme “Gonna Fly Now,” has received a second Grammy nomination for her audiobook memoir, Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, which has also been adapted into a documentary.
- In her memoir, Connors shares personal stories about her life, career, and relationships, including her romantic involvement with Elvis Presley, whom she describes as her first boyfriend.
- Connors emphasizes embracing both the highs and lows of life, revealing that her journey through music and love mirrors universal experiences and offers inspiration to others.
Elvis would have turned 91 on January 8, 2026 — making it the perfect time to talk to singer-songwriter Carol Connors. Connors is not only lead singer for the Teddy Bears and the co-writer of the Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated 1976 Rocky film theme song “Gonna Fly Now;” she also the author of the 2025 book Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, a memoir which received a nomination at this year’s Grammys for Best Audiobook and has been turned into a documentary, which is currently on the film festival circuit.
Carol chatted with ReMIND about her now second Grammy nomination, how she started dating Elvis, and what it was like to kiss the King.
How does it feel to get nominated again for a Grammy for your audiobook?
Carol: Well, it’s been 47 years since my last Grammy nomination, and I was so emotional. [Songwriter] Diane Warren was my first call in the morning. I call her the GOAT, and she calls me the trailblazer. I just started crying. I couldn’t believe that after all these years, I would be up for another Grammy and it’s not just for a song, but it’s for my life, Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, it’s my life.
Credit: Roger Neal
What will listeners learn about you in the audiobook? What secrets did you tell? And what secrets did you not tell that you can tell us?
Carol: Oh, my God. Well, I think that my book shows that you should embrace every single day that you’re alive. That there are going to be good days, and there’s going to be bad days. I’ve had plenty of both. One of my mantras, when I am really depressed, I say to myself over and over again. ‘Out of bad … comes good.’ Until I actually start to believe it myself. The book is not only a journey through music and my songs, but it’s a journey through my life, which sort of mirrors other people’s lives. That’s what I think.
Now, regarding the secrets. Steve Bergsman who I wrote the book with, I would dictate twice a week and this went on for almost a year. But he was asked by the BBC, “Well, what did you learn about Carol that you didn’t know before?” He rolled his eyes, and he said, “A lot of sex.” Mike, are you there?
Yes, Carol, I’m on the floor now. (laughing) I’m on the floor!
Carol: Oh, you’re on the floor?!? (laughing) I’ve had wonderful love affairs. See, I’m a Scorpio. When I’m in love, I’m totally in love. Every one of my boyfriends in the past has said that when I went with them, I made them feel so special, because they were to me. I’ve not had many, but the ones that I have had, I have been very dedicated to my feelings about them.
Credit: Everett Collection
I must ask about your boyfriend, Elvis.
Carol: Elvis was my first boyfriend and every lady who reads this will know what I mean by my very first boyfriend.
How did you meet Elvis?
Carol: I was the singing voice of the Teddy Bears and our song went on to become the number one record in the world. It was called ‘To Know Him is to Love Him.” So, this creepy guy [Currie Grant] came up to me in a market and he was part of Elvis’ Memphis Mafia. That’s what they were called. I was holding a bottle of milk, and he asked, “Aren’t you the girl who sang ‘To Know Him is to Love Him’?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Elvis Presley would love to meet you” and I replied, “Of course he would. Sure, what else is new?” As I dropped the carton of milk, but I gave him my phone number, ’cause I was my father’s daughter, and I live on the edge. About two weeks later, the phone rings and my mother answers in her little voice, she goes, “Annette La, there’s an Elvis Presley person on the phone for you.” I took the phone, and he said, “Elvis would really love to meet you and I’ll come pick you up.”
My father said, “Go.” My mother said, “No.” So, I went. I was taken to Elvis’ home on Bellagio. This was ’64. I walked down these steps, and he was standing in the corner. I love cats. He looked like this beautiful cat. His movements were very, very, very, very fluid. Very beautiful, and all of a sudden, I felt like a mouse. He finally came up to me, and he said, “So, why’d you name the group the Teddy Bears?” I looked up at him and said, “I just wanted to be your teddy bear.” That started our love affair.
I went with him for a little bit over nine months. Elvis even told Shelley Fabares in front of me that we dated for two and a half years, and I said, ‘Elvis, it was more off than on. It was not two and a half years, but it was approximately nine months.’
Any regrets about dating Elvis?
Carol: I didn’t have a baby ’cause I was too stupid. He was my first boyfriend, and we stayed friends up until the end.
Visualize your favorite date with Elvis.
Carol: Elvis never went out – well, not with me. I mean, he really didn’t go out. He was like Hugh Hefner, who was a very good friend of mine, because of Barbie [Benton], my best friend. Hefner never went out either. It’s a thing. I always felt that Elvis felt that he would be mobbed and probably would have been. He loved being at home with his Memphis Mafia.
And if you were dating one of the guys like Lamar or Joe Esposito, which was his head dude, Elvis would not pay any attention to you. But remember, I was brought up to his place, because he fell in love with my voice. He didn’t know if I looked like Dracula’s daughter. He just had fallen in love with my voice.
We would stay in, and we would watch TV. Elvis would tell jokes. I remember he told a joke once and it was the worst joke I ever heard, I didn’t laugh and everybody else did. I’ll never forget this because I can still see it. He said to me, “Oh, why didn’t you laugh?” I said, “Elvis, that’s one of the worst jokes I’ve ever heard in my life.” He said, “You know it. I know it. But they’ll laugh.”
Okay, so how was Elvis as a kisser?
Carol: How do you think? (laughs)
I don’t know, I never kissed him.
Carol: I did! Delicious.
Was Elvis the best kisser you’ve ever kissed?
Carol: Oh, come on, Michael. He was my first boyfriend, so you always remember your first … I’ve had some remarkable love affairs in my life, not many, from David Janssen (The Fugitive, Harry O) to Robert Culp (I, Spy), they’ve all been great kissers. I think they’ve had a lot of experience on camera, if you know what I mean. I’m a true Scorpio and I adore love affairs, but I can’t stay in them for long. I had to pursue what my dream was, which was music, and I would get sidetracked whenever I got into a love affair. All my energy would go to them and not into my music.
Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story is available both as a book and audiobook on Amazon and at your local bookstore. For more about Carol Connors, visit her website.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, on CBS. Catch live highlights at Grammy.com and YouTube.
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