Did Elvis meet a young Madonna in Detroit in 1970? A viral photo claims to show a 12-year-old Madonna getting an autograph from Elvis outside Detroit's Olympia Stadium, but careful investigation reveals this is likely a case of mistaken identity.

The photo in question comes from a September 12, 1970 newspaper review of Elvis's concert at Olympia Stadium. Taken by photographer Mike McClure, it shows Elvis signing autographs for fans before the show.

While the young fan does bear a striking resemblance to Madonna, several key factors dispute this claim:

1. Timeline discrepancy: Madonna was only 11 years old in August 1970, while the girl in the photo appears older.

2. Physical differences: Comparing the photo to Madonna's 1972 yearbook picture reveals subtle but important differences in facial features:

• The mystery fan had different nostril spacing
• Different tooth spacing
• No evidence of braces, which Madonna never had

3. Historical inconsistencies:

• Madonna has stated her first concert was David Bowie at Detroit's Cobo Arena in 1974
• Despite numerous interviews about Elvis throughout her career, Madonna has never mentioned meeting him
• When she tied Elvis's record of 36 Top 10 US singles in 2005, she made no mention of this supposed encounter

While Madonna was indeed an Elvis fan (as evidenced by her 1987 film "Who's That Girl" where she kisses an Elvis poster), the girl in the 1970 photo was likely just one of many Elvis fans who happened to share a resemblance with the future pop star.

This case demonstrates how compelling coincidences, combined with the power of social media, can create persistent myths that seem plausible but don't stand up to careful scrutiny.

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