A little wonder, every day

an Elvis song with three credited writers

Elvis Presley publicity photo, 1956. Author Edward Roth; Wikimedia Commons file page https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elvis_Presley_Publicity_Photo,_1956.jpg; U.S. public domain, published 1956 without copyright notice as documented on file page. No attribution required; credit Edward Roth when practical.

Presley performing at Miami’s Olympia Theater, Aug. 3, 1956. Don Wright for Miami Herald; Wikimedia Commons file page https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elvis_Presley_at_Olympia_Theater,_Aug_3,_1956.jpg; U.S. public domain, copyright not renewed per file page. No attribution required; credit Don Wright/Miami Herald when practical.

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Elvis Presley publicity photo, 1956. Author Edward Roth; Wikimedia Commons file page https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elvis_Presley_Publicity_Photo,_1956.jpg; U.S. public domain, published 1956 without copyright notice as documented on file page. No attribution required; credit Edward Roth when practical.

Listen to fact0:00 / —

The absolute claim that Elvis Presley never co-wrote any song does not hold up: the official page for his recording of “Heartbreak Hotel” lists Presley, Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden as songwriters. Elvis’s official site also says Axton promised the singer a third of the writer’s copyright. This supports a co-writing credit, but does not by itself establish each person’s contribution to the lyrics or music.