Ann-Margret Celebrated Turning 82 With a New Rock Album
Ann-Margret is known for her role in the 1963 film Bye Bye Birdie, her beautiful voice, and of course, her ties to the fan-favorite star Elvis Presley. Ann-Margret infamously turned down Presley’s proposal after starring together in Viva Las Vegas. She opens up about their relationship in her book Ann-Margret: My Story and said that it had been a confusing situation. Ultimately, Presley married Priscilla in 1967 and Ann-Margret went on to marry Roger Smith the same year. They remained together until his death in 2017.
Ann-Margret’s career began in 1961 recording music for RCA Victor. A few years later, she got the role that would change her life as Kim McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie alongside the late Bobby Rydell and Dick Van Dyke. She went on to star in Stagecoach, Made in Paris, and Grumpy Old Men, to name a few. Her most recent blockbuster film was Queen Bees in 2021 but last year she appeared in a TV movie called A Holiday Spectacular. While she has seemingly slowed down her acting career, her music career is just heating up at 82 years old.
That’s right, Ann-Margret just released her very first rock album! Called Born to Be Wild, Ann-Margret admitted that she feels young again when she performs her music, especially when she delves into new styles. Pete Townshend shared praise about the album, “What she has done is extraordinary. She picked up the silver thread that links her to the very genesis of rock ’n’ roll history. There’s a mischievousness to that, a light touch that’s perhaps necessary but also real.”
Everett Collection
Ann-Margret beamed about her birthday and long career, “I’m just happy to be alive. I have the same friends I’ve had for 60 years, and I feel the way I felt when I first met them.” As humble as she seems, she truly has a lot to brag about. Ann-Margret has won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as well as five Golden Globe Awards and two Oscar nominations.
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Happy birthday, Ann-Margret!
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May 2021
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