Austin Butler has been praised by many fans for his portrayal of Elvis Presley even though the movie isn't out yet. Recently, the actor received a big honor of playing the rock 'n' roll legend's instrument.
According to People Magazine, the 30-year-old actor traveled to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, to see Presley's 1956 Gibson J200 guitar, which he got a chance to play.
In an Instagram post, Riley Keogh, the late legend and Priscilla Presley's granddaughter, shared two photos of the actor playing the instrument.
"It was such a special and overwhelming experience I haven't quite processed. One of many sweet things that happened while we were there - Austin played my grandfather's guitar in the house," she wrote.
Keogh also revealed that many people hadn't played the guitar.
The granddaughter also shared a fun fact that the instrument was tuned by living legend Paul McCartney himself.
According to Graceland's official website, the guitar has Elvis' name printed on its fretboard. It is now part of the mansion's archival collection.
Austin Butler Continues to Embody Elvis Presley Even After Shooting 'Elvis'
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor revealed that he sometimes slips into Elvis' voice months after the production had wrapped up.
Butler explained that it's one of those things that triggers his voice impersonation.
"When you live with something for two years and you do nothing else, I think that you can't help it. It becomes a fiber of your being," he said.
Speaking about playing the late legend in a biopic, the actor said the responsibility of acting as Elvis put a "weight" on him that he had never felt before.
Since the late legend had so many misconceptions about him, Butler said he was responsible for giving fans Presley's true story.
The movie premiered last weekend, and most of the living family members - Keough, her mom Lisa Marie and grandmother Priscilla - were all present at the event.
The granddaughter revealed that she cried within the first five minutes of the movie.
Most of Presley's family gave the production a go signal for the biopic, but there have been mixed reviews about the movie.
However, most people still commend Butler for his portrayal and performance as the superstar.
"Elvis" by Baz Luhrmann will hit theaters on June 24. It will be available for streaming on HBO Max 45 days after the movie premiers.
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