Priscilla Presley named American Queen godmother

The Great American Steamboat Company has named Priscilla Presley as the godmother of the steamboat American Queen. Presley, who is synonymous with Graceland in the steamboat’s homeport of Memphis, will name the vessel in a christening ceremony at the revitalized Beale Street Landing on April 27. Highlights of the festivities will include performances by local musicians, a bottle of champagne crashing against the stern and the sounds of the American Queen Calliope as it steams off up the Mississippi River. The Great American Steamboat Company has also entered into an exclusive partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises. This collaboration will present the first Elvis Cruise on the American Queen from Memphis to New Orleans in December, as well as signature Graceland experiences for guests. “It is quite a thrill for Memphis as steamboating returns once again with the arrival of the American Queen,”explains Presley. “I look forward to her guests visiting Graceland and experiencing true Southern hospitality, which is why this city holds such a special place in my heart.”After a sunset christening, the American Queen will depart for its inaugural voyage up the Mississippi River to the Ohio River with stops in Henderson, Ky., Louisville, Ky., and Madison, Ind., before arriving in its disembarkation city of Cincinnati. (http://www.GreatAmericanSteamboatCompany.com)