The world premiere of a remarkable documentary was last night – part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. I, and the audience, loved Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story.
The documentary is based on her blockbuster memoir by the same name (the audiobook was recently nominated for a Grammy). Watching this documentary felt like opening a time capsule packed with charisma, chaos, and the unmistakable spark of a woman who refuses to dim.
Carol Connors is the kind of dynamo who could write a hit, charm a legend, and still get herself kicked out of a studio by Dionne Warwick – all before lunch.
To know her, is to love her – say all of Carol’s friends.
I heard the name before, but admittedly I didn’t know a lot about Carol Connors, other than she dated Elvis Presley (after he co-starred with Ann-Margret in “Viva Las Vegas”), co-wrote the iconic Rocky theme song (minimalist but powerful lyrics to “Gonna Fly Now” – which was nominated for an Academy Award) and had a #1 hit single (“To Know Him Is to Love Him”) recorded by The Teddy Bears, which became a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1958, where it stayed for three weeks and launched producer Phil Spector’s career. It went on to have several renditions after that – my favorite sung by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and EmmyLou Harris (their version became a #1 country hit and was featured on their Grammy-winning album “Trio“).
I guess that alone seems like enough right? However, there’s so much more that I wasn’t sure where to begin writing this post because…
Before the documentary even begins, you realize Carol Connors didn’t just witness pop culture history…she helped write it, one hook, one heartbreak, and one heavyweight anthem at a time.
I did a bit of research beforehand, but had no idea of the scope of her legacy. Some people live a life. Carol Connors lived a soundtrack. One that starts with Phil Spector, flirts with Elvis Presley, and punches its way into the Oscars with Rocky.
The documentary is interspersed with interviews on major talk shows and snippets of conversations she’s had with Hugh Hefner, Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson.
Believe me, I’m still not giving too much away. Remember the legendary Shelby Cobra roadster designed by Carroll Shelby? Connors wrote “Hey Little Cobra.” Here’s the fun part: she didn’t just write it about the car – she wrote it for Carroll Shelby himself, after he told her that if she wrote him a hit, he’d give her a Cobra. And he actually did. The song became a major hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Only Carol Connors could turn a conversation with Carroll Shelby into a chart‑topping hit, and drive away in the car she wrote about.
At the end of the documentary, there was a Q&A followed by Carol singing a song called “You Loved My Night Away“that she wrote (music & lyrics) on the day Elvis Presley died. They stayed friends up until the end. She still has a beautiful voice and the song is also beautiful.
What a glamorous, fabulous life.
Director/Producer: Alex Rotaru
Executive Producer: Julian Warshaw.
Screenwriters: Dahlia Heyman, Alex Rotaru
Cast: Carol Connors, Bill Conti, Talia Shire, Mike Tyson, Diane Warren, Dionne Warwick, Barbi Benton, Irwin Winkler.
The Film Festival is on until January 12th, 2026. Film Finder and Tickets:
https://www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder/elvis-rocky-and-me-the-carol-connors-story
*You can buy Carol Connors’ memoir Elvis, Rocky and Me from major online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, or directly from the publisher BearManor Media, with options for paperback, hardcover, and Kindle e-book, plus an audiobook narrated by Kathy Garver.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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