Priscilla Presley is probably best known for marrying rock n’ roll legend Elvis Presley in 1967 in Las Vegas, when she was just 21 years old. The couple had a well-documented eight-year courtship before tying the knot and had a daughter, Lisa Marie (who would go on to have her own legendary music marriage). Priscilla and Elvis eventually divorced in 1973, as Elvis became increasingly addicted to the prescription. drugs Although “The King” had many girlfriends, he never remarried, and Priscilla is the best known and publicly recognized of all his lovers.
After Elvis’s tragic untimely death in 1977, Priscilla turned his mansion, Graceland, into a world-renowned tourist attraction and oversaw businesses involving Elvis’ merchandise, music, and licensing deals (including a 2016 album by Elvis “performing” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.)
She also worked as an actress during the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in Dallas, Melrose Place, and all three of The Naked Gun films. She had a 22-year relationship with businessman Marco Garibaldi, with whom she had a son in 1987.
She ‘humanized’ the dark side of Elvis
In April 2018, HBO premiered its critically acclaimed documentary Elvis Presley: The Seeker, which examines the arc of Elvis’s personal life and career up to his death. According to People, Priscilla Presley was heavily involved with the movie as an executive producer.
She told the magazine that it was difficult to revisit the details of Elvis’s disappearance, and that her ex-husband’s drug addiction towards the end of his life became unmanageable to the point that she was unable to intervene.
A Scientology or not a Scientology?
According to the Daily Mail (via E ! Online ), Priscilla contacted actor and notable Scientologist John Travolta in 1977 after Elvis’s death, eventually becoming a full member of the Church of Scientology. Priscilla has spoken on behalf of Scientology’s Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights, a group that is vehemently anti-psychiatry. She reportedly raised her daughter, Lisa Marie, within the Church, though as of March 2017, Lisa Marie was no longer involved with Scientology, according to Page Six .
In October 2017, rumors surfaced that Presley had left the church, but his reps have claimed that’s not true, reported People . According to author Janet Reitman in her book. Inside Scientology ( via Rolling Stone ), Elvis was no fan of the faith, and he reportedly said after a visit to a Scientology center, “Fuck those people! There’s no way I’m getting involved with that bunch of sons of bitches.” All they want is my money.”
She fiercely advocates for horses
Looking over Priscilla Presley’s Twitter page, her strong affinity for horses is obvious. She has taken this passion to another level by becoming a strong advocate of ending soring. Per Tennessean soring is “the practice of intentionally abusing Tennessee walking horses and related breeds to exaggerate their gait, causing the animals pain each time they step and raising their front legs higher in what is known as “Big Lick”.
In January 2017, the newspaper reported that Priscilla (who has kept horses at Graceland for many years) called on President Donald Trump to issue a rule that would ban equipment used for soring and train inspectors through the USDA to avoid the practice.
Her appearance has raised eyebrows (and not just hers)
According to a 1985 interview with Barbara Walters, Elvis strictly controlled Priscilla’s physical appearance. In fact, the former Ms. Presley said on the UK talk show “Loose Women” (via Yahoo) that she never saw her without makeup during the course of her marriage. Today, Priscilla’s appearance remains a matter of public scrutiny.
In November 2017, her youthful appearance on the UK talk show Lorraine generated a strong reaction from people on social media who speculated about cosmetic procedures she may have performed. Plastic surgeons also chimed in to add the two cents to it.
Priscilla has remained silent ever since in response to speculation about her appearance.
She is still communicating with the king
In June 2012, Priscilla also told The Associated Press (via the New York Daily News ) that it was the spirit of Elvis that continued to draw crowds to Graceland. I have no doubt that he is there, somewhere, in his spirit. I think people feel that.”
Did sparks fly with Tom Jones?
Rumors surfaced in February 2017 that Priscilla Presley had reconnected with rock and roll royalty. This time, the tabloids linked her to Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones, whose wife, Linda, died in 2016.
After Priscilla and Jones were photographed leaving a Los Angeles restaurant together, a source told The Sun , “Tom and Priscilla are courting. There’s a spark between them, but they’re taking it easy. It really is early, but they get along so well.
She published a children’s book
2017 saw the publication of Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender, a children’s picture book based on the Elvis song of the same title. It was considered “a moving ode to the special bond between children and the adults who love and care for them, be they parents, grandparents, foster parents, aunts, uncles, or guardians.”
As Priscilla told People , the book (for which she wrote the endnote) was inspired by Lisa Marie’s twin daughters Harper and Finlay. “I can’t imagine they wouldn’t like the book,” Priscilla said. “First of all, you’ll instantly recognize the title and second of all, it’s a story of love and acceptance and a happy ending. Isn’t that what children want?
Grandma Presley told the Today Show that the Elvis song was always a tribute to family, despite its seemingly romantic lyrics. “Every race, every culture can relate to it, every country… this could be a first book for a child to learn to read.”
