Priscilla Presley is sharing new details about her life with Elvis Presley as she promotes her memoir, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis. At 80, the actress and businesswoman is looking back on the joys and struggles of their marriage.
On The TODAY Show, Priscilla recalled moments that revealed Elvis’s complicated personal life. She remembered visiting their Palm Springs home while he performed in Las Vegas and finding fan letters addressed to him from other women. “They would go and meet Elvis at the house on weekends when he went, and it was another life,” she said with a laugh. Still, Priscilla Presley insisted that he remained “a good husband,” though she admitted there were “just too many of us.”
A Marriage Shaped by Fame and Heartache
Priscilla Presley married Elvis in 1967 when she was only 21. She had first met him as a teenager, and their relationship quickly became a global fascination. Rumors of infidelity followed them, including her connection to karate instructor Mike Stone. Their marriage ended in 1973, but they stayed close until Elvis’s death in 1977. Priscilla has often called him “the love of [her] life,” showing how deep their bond remained.
According to Parade, the couple welcomed one child, Lisa Marie Presley, who sadly passed away in 2023. Priscilla later had a son, Navarone Garibaldi, with musician Garibaldi Garcia. Looking back now, she acknowledges both the rewards and challenges of being tied to Elvis’s legacy. “I am my own person on my own right now. So I’m able to share that,” she said.
Finding Peace With Her Story
Priscilla Presley admitted that she once struggled to find her identity while living in Elvis’s shadow. Fame often defined their marriage, leaving little room for her to grow as an individual.
Today, she embraces her unique role in his life and her own story. Her new memoir shows how she has come to terms with both the highs and lows of their years together. While Elvis remains a cultural icon, Priscilla Presley’s reflections reveal the personal cost of life with him and the strength she has gained since.