New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Elvis Presley is known and loved around the world as the King of Rock 'n' Roll, and now his legendary
Memphis home, Graceland, was voted #1 in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice contest for "Best Musical Attraction" from a field of iconic music-themed landmarks. As 10Best describes the win, "After four weeks of voting, one legendary attraction won the title of Best Musical Attraction by a landslide: Graceland." Elvis Presley's Graceland was voted into the top spot by readers of USA TODAY, who were asked to cast their online ballot for their favorite global music attraction from a pool of 20 museums, memorials, historic studios and epic record stores originally selected by 10Best's travel experts and journalists. Voting began on May 11 and ran through noon EDT June 8, 2015.
Based on the number of votes cast, 10Best announced that Graceland was a "clear favorite with our music-loving readers," in their voting recap, which is music to the ears of
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. CEO Jack Soden. "This honor confirms what our guests from around the world have been telling us for years -- that Graceland is a must-see destination, not only for Elvis fans, but for anyone who appreciates music and history. We have a rich story to tell here at the King's castle, as we honor Elvis' legacy and celebrate a music and pop culture revolution that started right here in Memphis, Tennessee," said Soden.
Graceland was in good company as neighbors in
Memphis and across the state of Tennessee also received honors in the 10Best poll. The city known as the "Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll" was well represented with Sun Studio, which cranked out hits not only for Elvis but Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lewis taking the second spot on the list along with the Stax Museum of American Soul
Music in the fifth position. The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville placed fourth in addition to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge with the sixth spot on the list.
"Readers of the nation's No. 1 newspaper have declared Tennessee the No. 1 best state for music," said
Kevin Triplett, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. "These five Tennessee attractions are at the top, but that's just the beginning of all Tennessee has to offer to music fans from around the world."
Additional nominees for Best Musical Attraction included the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Detroit's Motown Museum, the famed Abbey Road studio in London and historic Apollo Theater in New York.
Last month, Elvis Presley's Graceland was chosen "Best Historic Southern Attraction," by USA TODAY 10Best readers, ranking #1 in a list that included Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.
10Best is a division of USA TODAY Travel and USA TODAY's award-winning travel website, providing users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
To celebrate the honor, Graceland offers the Get Closer to Rock 'n' Roll Package for visitors, providing guests a chance to "get closer to the man who changed the world with his music" when they visit the home he loved and lived in for 20 years. The package includes two nights at Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel, two VIP Tours of Elvis Presley's Graceland, along with two tickets to fellow winners of the USA TODAY 10Best Musical Attraction Readers Choice award, Sun Studio and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
For details on the package and touring this iconic music landmark, visit: www.graceland.com/getcloser/
