Linda Thompson

Linda Diane Thompson (born May 23, 1950) is an American songwriter, former actress and beauty pageant winner.

Thompson began her acting career as a "Hee Haw Honey" on the American television variety show Hee Haw. She was also a girlfriend of Elvis Presley, before marrying Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner, and later music producer David Foster.

Thompson was born on May 23, 1950 in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of Margie (née White) and Sanford Abel Thompson. Her older brother, Sam, was one of Elvis Presley's bodyguards.

In 1969 Thompson was named Miss Shelby County. In 1970, she was named "Miss Mid-South Fair" in Memphis.

Also in 1970, Thompson was named "Miss Memphis State University" and was third runner-up in the 1970 Miss Tennessee pageant.

Thompson was named Miss Tennessee in 1972.

I was Miss Tennessee. I was Miss Tennessee Universe in 1972, and Elvis was Elvis. And I was invited to go to the Memphian Theater, which he rented out after midnight to screen films. ... So, I was invited to go to the theater. And Miss Rhode Island, Jeannie LaMay, was my roommate in the Miss USA pageant. She was living in Memphis. And she and I went to the theater and were introduced to him properly.

Jeanne LeMay Dumas, Thompson's best friend, recounts this first meeting with Presley in an interview for her book, Elvis, Linda and Me" and later became Presley's personal secretary. Dumas said: