Premiere set for Graceland Christmas movie

“Christmas at Graceland,” the Hallmark Channel holiday romance filmed this summer at Elvis’ home and other Memphis locations, will have a “world premiere” Nov. 15 at Elvis Presley’s Memphis, the recently opened complex of museums, shops and other attractions located across the street from the mansion that is one of America’s most visited homes.

The 7 p.m. screening in the Soundstage auditorium at Elvis Presley’s Memphis will follow a Graceland tradition: the 6 p.m. public lighting of the Presley mansion’s holiday decorations, which include hundreds of blue lights (in recognition of Elvis’ hit, “Blue Christmas”), a life-sized Nativity display and a colorful Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, among other displays.

Country music stars Scotty McCreery and Marty Stuart will “flip the switch” on the holiday lights, Graceland officials said Thursday. (The “Hillbilly Rock Exhibit” of country-rockabilly currently on display at Elvis Presley’s Graceland consists of artifacts from Stuart’s collection.) Eric Close, director of “Christmas at Graceland,” and actor Wes Brown, who stars opposite country singer-turned-actress Kellie Pickler in the film, will attend the ceremony and the premiere.

The premiere is a by-invitation, ticketed event. However, some complimentary tickets will be available for fans that night, at the door. Also, anyone who purchases a Nov. 15 ticket to a Graceland attraction prior to Nov. 2 may reserve a seat to the premiere.

One of 34 new happily-ever-after holiday movies that will air between Oct. 27 and Dec. 29 on the Hallmark Channel and its sister station, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, “Christmas at Graceland” stars Pickler as a Chicago finance executive who returns to her Memphis hometown for a bank deal. While in Memphis, Pickler’s character reunites with a promoter played by Brown, her old partner in music as well as romance.

For tickets and more information, visit graceland.com/christmas.