Blagojevich greeted by Elvis' stepbrother

OAK LAWN, Ill., April 25 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was front-and-center for a motivational speech by Elvis Presley's stepbrother at a suburban Chicago church.

Rick Stanley quickly picked the embattled politician and former contestant on "The Celebrity Apprentice" out of the Saturday night crowd at the First Church of the Nazarene in Oak Lawn, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday.

Stanley drew applause from the audience of more than 100 when he addressed Blagojevich, the newspaper said.

"I'm very honored to have you here,'' Stanley said. "I can't say your last name, but I thank you for coming.''

Stanley, 56, became Elvis' stepbrother when his mother married the superstar's father in 1960.

He gave up drugs and turned to religion two months after Presley's death in 1977 and now travels the country talking about his spiritual recovery.

Blagojevich faces federal charges, including that he allegedly tried to "sell" the U.S. Senate seat left vacant in Illinois when Barack Obama was elected president.