Anita Wood

Anita Marie Wood Brewer (May 27, 1938 – June 29, 2023), also known as Little Bitty and Little, was an American television performer, recording artist and girlfriend of Elvis Presley.

Biography

Wood was born on May 27, 1938.[1] A vocalist, she won the 1954 Youth Talent Contest at the Mid-South Fair, and a runner-up that same year for Miss Tennessee. A couple of years later, she worked with Wink Martindale on the "Top 10 Dance Party."[2]

Anita recorded for ABC-Paramount (1958); Sun (1961); and Santo (1963). She also worked on The Andy Williams Show (summer 1958).[3]

Presley and Wood met in 1957 and in the same year Presley referred to Wood as his "No. 1 Girl".[4][5][6] The two dated non-exclusively from 1957 to 1962.[7][8][9] Wood signed a contract to work as an actress for Paramount Pictures, but later gave it up for Presley.[10]

Personal life

She was married to National Football League player Johnny Brewer for 46 years from 1965 until his death in 2011.[11][12]

In 1976, Johnny Brewer sued the Memphis Publishing Company for libel when it reported that Anita Brewer was divorced from Brewer and reunited with Presley in Las Vegas.[13][14][15] Anita Wood appeared on the Larry King show in 2005 to talk about her romance with Elvis Presley.[16]

Brewer died of pneumonia at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 29, 2023, at the age of 85.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Morals and Manners". St. Petersburg Times. 1957-08-29. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  2. ^ Lollar, Michael (2024). "Note to Elvis fans gathering to celebrate his birthday: Before Priscilla, there was Anita". www.commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ Barrett, Jonnita Brewer (2012). Once upon a time: Elvis and Anita: memories of my mother. Jackson, MS: BrewBar Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9858056-0-9. OCLC 823306179.
  4. ^ "Elvis's Girlfriend Loses Appeal Bid". The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States of America. UPI. 1981-06-24. p. 31. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  5. ^ Tillery, Gary (2013). The seeker king: a spiritual biography of Elvis Presley (1st ed.). Wheaton, Illinois: Quest Books, Theosophical Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-8356-0915-9.
  6. ^ Bradley, Barbara (2007-05-07). "Elvis' alma mater down the steps". Knox News. Archived from the original on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  7. ^ "Anita Wood Interview". Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  8. ^ Burk, Bill (1957-09-14). "Anita Flies Into Arms of Elvis". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  9. ^ Miller, Patricia (1991-07-18). "Elvis? He was nothin' but a hound dog". Evening Standard. London, Greater London, England. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  10. ^ "Interview with Anita Wood". elvis.com.au. 2006-11-25. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  11. ^ "John Brewer Obituary (2011) - Madison, MS - Clarion Ledger". Legacy.com. June 2011. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  12. ^ Finstad, Suzanne (1997). Child Bride: The Untold Story of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-307-33695-8. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  13. ^ "John L. Brewer, v. Memphis Publishing Company, Inc". United States Court of Appeals. 1976-09-13. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  14. ^ Dato, Robert M. (1983). "The Effect of Passage of Time on the Status of Inactive Public Figures". Federal Communications Law Journal. 35: 235.
  15. ^ Duhart, Olympia R. (2002–2003). "When Time Stands Still: An Argument for Restoring Public Figures to Private Status". Nova Law Review. 27: 365.
  16. ^ "Remembering Elvis Presley". 2005-01-14. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  17. ^ Staff Reports (2023-06-30). "Anita Marie Brewer". The Vicksburg Post. Retrieved 2023-06-30.


  1. ^ Barrett, Jonnita Brewer (2012). Once upon a time: Elvis and Anita: memories of my mother. Jackson, MS: BrewBar Pub. ISBN 978-0985805609.
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