Freed Chilean miner to visit Graceland

MEMPHIS, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Edison Pena, the 12th miner freed after 69 days underground in Chile, kept morale up by singing Elvis Presley songs; now he's going to Graceland.

Pena, who led Elvis singalongs for the miners, got a special invitation to visit Elvis's Graceland estate around Christmas, CNN reported Wednesday.

"A trip to Graceland in Memphis could be just the escape he needs after such a long period of time underground," Kevin Kern, a spokesman for Elvis Presley Enterprises told the cable news broadcaster.

The all-expenses paid trip to Tennessee for two is a gift from the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. Kern said the Christmas decorations will be up at Graceland from Nov. 19 through Jan. 9, the day after the anniversary of Elvis's birthday.

Elvis Presley Enterprises sent Elvis music to Chile for Pena, a mining consultant who also passed the 69 days by jogging two miles a day in accessible tunnels.