Memphis-based Hallmark Channel movie ‘Christmas at Graceland’ gets air date

“Christmas at Graceland,” the holiday romance that was filmed in July at Elvis Presley’s Memphis estate, will make its debut Nov. 17 on the Hallmark Channel, the cable network has announced.

Country singer Kellie Pickler stars as Laurel, a native Memphian turned Chicago finance executive who returns to her hometown for a bank deal. “While in Memphis,” the Hallmark press notes promise, “Laurel reunites with old flame Clay (Wes Brown), a local music promoter with loftier aspirations.

“Though Laurel tries to keep her eye on the prize of the business acquisition, Clay is very persuasive reminding her of the days when they were a performing duo on the brink of stardom. Now Laurel’s focus turns to the home of the Blues and dreams of making music again.”

The film will air at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 (Central Standard Time), and be repeated during the prime time slot several times over the next few weeks, culminating with a repeat on Christmas Day as part of a marathon of new Hallmark holiday movies.

“Christmas at Graceland” is one of 34 new happily-ever-after holiday movies created this year for the Hallmark Channel and its sister station, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The new movies begin airing Oct. 27 with “Christmas at Pemberley Manor” with Jessica Lowndes and continue through Dec. 29, with the New Year’s Eve-centric channel mission statement, “Focus on Love.”

In between, expect such titles as “It’s Christmas, Eve“(Nov. 10) and “Mingle All the Way” (Nov. 18) and “Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe” (Nov. 23), with the inevitable Lacey Chabert.

Filmed while Memphis temperatures were in the high 90s, “Christmas at Graceland” required plenty of Hallmark magic or at least special effects knowhow to transform a sweltering tourist attraction into a winter wonderland. Crews blanketed the Graceland lawn and foliage with white fabric and sprayon flakes of recycled paper, while actors sweated beneath winter coats and wool caps.