Linda Thompson … a Song of Truth The songwriter shares about her loves and life in her new book. BY MELONIE MAGRUDER In her new book, “A Little Thing people brought songs all the time to Called Life: On Loving Elvis Presley, Kenny,” Thompson said with a chuckle. he’s a former beauty pageant Bruce Jenner, and Songs in Between,” “Ignorance is bliss.” queen, prolific songwriter and Thompson explored the peaks and But Rogers listened to and liked S partner to a couple of the most valleys that her own road has taken with “Our Perfect Song” so much he asked famous names in entertainment; Linda gentility, grace and humble honesty as a if he could record it on his next album. Thompson is well aware of the irony that good Southern Baptist girl is expected Thompson went on to collaborate with has shaped her life. to live. composers whose songs were recorded “When you’ve lived your life and by artists like Josh Groban, Celine Dion earned your experiences, you have a and the Backstreet Boys. right to tell your story your own way,” Despite her stellar accolades as a Thompson said. “You have to own your lyricist, Thompson is also known for her “Grown-Up Christmas List” life. That being said, you want to wait till romances with famous men. She lived Do you remember me time tempers the truth.” with Elvis for almost five years before his I sat upon your knee For Thompson, “the truth” led her drug abuse, infidelities and exhausting I wrote to you from modest beginnings in Memphis, lifestyle prompted Thompson to move With childhood fantasies Tennessee to nearly on, just eight months Well I’m all grown up now five years with the King before his death from a Can you still help somehow of Rock-‘n’-Roll—Elvis heart attack. I’m not a child Presley—a man whose She found solace But my heart still can dream outsized presence in the arms of another So here’s my lifelong wish finally prompted man whose name and My grown-up Christmas list Thompson to leave face was to become one Not for myself, but for a world him, searching for a of the most famous in in need “normal” life. recent celebrity media— decathlon Olympian No more lives torn apart hompson grew Bruce Jenner. Their That wars would never start T up with the great marriage produced two And time would heal all hearts blues-meisters and sons and lasted three Every man would have a friend started writing poetry years, until the über And right would always win when she was nine athlete finally confessed to And love would never end years old, with words her a secret he had buried This is my grown-up Christmas list shaped movingly by his whole life—that he was her faith. a woman in a man’s body. What is this illusion called “I’m from the Bible Belt “It devastated my The innocence of youth and joined my church as a child,” she said. world,” Thompson said. “No one knew Maybe only in that blind belief “I became aware of my responsibilities to anything about trans issues then, least of Can we ever find the truth family and community in my soul. Music all me. My big, handsome, Greek god of a is the unifying soundtrack of our lives.” husband was not that at all.” No more lives torn apart The gift of an inner soundtrack They tried therapy, with Jenner hoping And wars would never start was revealed after several years as a to eventually transition fully and still And time would heal all hearts “Hee Haw Honey” on the long-running live with his family that he loved. But a Every man would have a friend variety show that featured country heartbroken Thompson finally realized she And right would always win music and corny humor. Another Hee could not inhabit such a life. And love would never end Haw Honey was her friend Marianne “Bruce left me for another woman,” This is my grown-up Christmas list Rogers, wife to singer Kenny Rogers. she said. “The woman living inside him.” This is my only lifelong wish One day Thompson brought a cassette They separated as friends, with This is my grown-up Christmas list of a song she wrote, put to music by Thompson guarding Jenner’s secret for another friend, and asked Kenny if he 30 years until the announcement that —Lyrics by Linda Thompson would critique it. shocked the world and opened up social “I was so naïve, I had no idea acknowledgment of trans people. 56 | MALIBU TIMES MAGAZINE | #MALIBUTIMESMAG Linda Thompson … a Song of Truth The songwriter shares about her loves and life in her new book. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA THOMPSON OF LINDA COURTESY PHOTO PHOTO BY JEANNE LEMAY BY PHOTO Thompson, left, lived with Elvis for almost five years. Bruce Jenner and Thompson were married for three years and had two sons together. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA THOMPSON OF LINDA COURTESY PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA THOMPSON OF LINDA COURTESY PHOTO Thompson’s 14-year marriage to musician and composer David Caitlyn Jenner and Thompson with their sons Brody (left) Foster yielded songwriting success. and Brandon WINTER 2016-17 | 57 During Thompson’s subsequent hen asked why she wrote this book marriage to musician and composer David Wat this time, Thompson laughed. “I Foster for 14 years, their professional supposed because I can still go out and partnership yielded much success for promote it,” she said before growing them both. serious. She was nominated for an Academy “I never wanted to be accused of Award for Best Song and a Grammy for exploiting a relationship,” she said. “I got Best Song Written for a Motion Picture plenty offers for Elvis. With Bruce, the or Television for the song “I Have truth was kept secret till he came out. Nothing.” She also worked with Clint And for David, I wanted time to temper Eastwood and Carole Bayer Sager on the what I wrote. It was cathartic to write, but song “Why Should I Care” for the 1999 empowering as well, to see as a woman film “True Crime.” what I have gone through.” Together, she and Foster discovered These days, Thompson enjoys being a young Celine Dion and won an Emmy a grandmother and spending time with for Outstanding Music and Lyrics sons Brody and Brandon, whose public for “Aren’t They All Our Children.” lives with the infamous Kardashian clan, But professional demands eventually including their father, exemplified just distanced them. what Thompson wanted to avoid after Elvis. Malibu has long provided a respite from a raging world outside. LANGDON HARRY BY PHOTO LOVING MALIBU Thompson said that her boys were very comfortable with her decision to “I have always loved all things Malibu. write her book. “They are very well- I lived on Dog Beach, where you can rounded, compassionate and forgiving,” see the mountains crumbling into the n ocean. The natural beauty, the beach, the she said. “I did something right.” wildlife … it is my happy place.” Instagram: @ltlindathompson; Twitter: @LindaThompsonLT Linda Thompson Recently married? Celebrating an anniversary? Send us your wedding photos to be in the “Newly Married” or “Then & Now” features in our next love & family issue this March. [email protected] 58 | MALIBU TIMES MAGAZINE | #MALIBUTIMESMAG.