In the movie, not only are Presley and B.B. King close friends, but King is one of the only people who is honest with Presley throughout the film. While Presley and King did run in the same circles and had mutual respect for one another's artistry, it seems their relationship was embellished for the film.
In a 1996 interview with Charlie Rose, King recalled how when he was in the studio, "usually Elvis would be there practicing." He said Presley would watch him record but didn't ask questions. He praised Presley's later work, but there was no mention of a deep friendship between the two.