Elvis Presley called another singer the greatest in the world, but ended up turning down one of his songs. Since his debut in the 50s, Elvis Presley has been one of the biggest artists in music history. He is still considered the best-selling solo artist of all time, with Michael Jackson as his closest competition.

However, Presley still respected, and was inspired by, other artists in the music industry. Presley famously took inspiration from Black artists like Little Richard and B.B. King after seeing them perform on Beale Street. However, the singer considered this fellow '60s rock singer the greatest in the world.

Elvis Is Reported To Have Called Roy Orbison "The Greatest Singer"

Presley & Orbison Deeply Respected Each Other

While many would consider Elvis Presley to be the greatest artist of all time, it was Roy Orbison that Presley ired. While there's no evidence of the performance, the "Hound Dog" singer allegedly called Orbison "the greatest singer in the world" while performing at his Las Vegas residency. Presley and Orbison were both taking over rock music at the same time, so it makes sense that Presley would enjoy Orbison's music too. Orbison's first album was released in 1961, five years after Presley's debut.

Orbison's final album, before his posthumous work, was released in 1987, ten years after Presley's last studio album. Oddly, both singers were also found ed out in the bathroom before their deaths were officially declared. While the two never performed together, there are several photos floating around online of the pair hanging out. While they may have technically been musical rivals because of their similar sound, the two highly respected each other.

"Only The Lonely" Could Have Been An Elvis Song

Presley Turned Down Singing Orbison's Song

As much as Elvis Presley thought Roy Orbison was a great artist, Orbison thought he was just as great. According to the official Elvis Presley fan club website Elvis.com, Orbison was impressed by Presley's energy. He called it incredible and said there was nothing else in the music industry to compare it to. Orbison also spoke about Presley turning down one of his songs, as the singer wrote "Only The Lonely" and offered it to Presley and the Everly Brothers before performing it himself.

Presley turned down the song because he didn't believe he could do it justice the way Orbison's vocals could.

Allegedly, Presley turned down the song because he didn't believe he could do it justice the way Orbison's vocals could. However, another story goes that Orbison showed up at Presley's Graceland to give the song to Presley, but he wasn't home, so he ended up recording it himself. While Presley never officially covered an Orbison song, there are recordings of him singing a few lines from Orbison's song "Running Scared" while in the studio in the 1970s. However, the King of Rock and Roll referenced Orbison's musical style in his 1970 cover of Ernest Tubb's "Tomorrow Never Comes."

While Orbison never sang any of Presley's songs either, he did perform a cover to honor him after his death. Tommy Stuart's "Hound Dog Man" was written for the 1959 movie of the same name. In 1982, five years after Presley's death, Orbison covered the song to honor the singer, referencing one of his most popular songs.

Roy Orbison Influenced Elvis & Many Others

The Beatles Took Inspiration From Orbison

The two rock singers left tremendous legacies after their deaths. While both artists clearly influenced each other, they also inspired the artists who came after them. One of the most popular bands to take inspiration from Orbison was The Beatles. John Lennon listed Bing Crosby's "Please" as an influence for The Beatles' song "Please, Please Me," but he also itted that Roy Orbison inspired him.

He said the day he wrote "Please, Please Me," he had heard Orbison singing "Only the Lonely." However, later on, he would it the song was his attempt at writing a Roy Orbison song. While Elvis Presley may be more famous in pop culture, Roy Orbison was just as influential of a singer who inspired so many of the well-known artists throughout music history.