Priscilla Presley has never shied away from telling her story, and in her new memoir, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, she confronts one of the most controversial aspects of her relationship with Elvis Presley. At just 14 years old, she met the 24-year-old singer while he was serving in Germany with the U.S. Army. Their romance quickly developed, eventually leading her to move to Memphis and marry him at 21.
Over the years, critics have raised questions about their age difference, with some characterizing it as inappropriate. Priscilla Presley, now 80, rejects those claims directly in her book. “Much has been made of the ten-year age gap between us, but it wasn’t unusual in the South. It certainly wasn’t considered pedophilia,” she explained. Her reflections highlight how cultural norms of the time shaped both her relationship and the public’s perception of it.
Priscilla Presley Defends Her Past
In her memoir, Priscilla Presley draws comparisons to well-known figures and fictional characters of the South. She cites examples like Jerry Lee Lewis marrying his wife at thirteen and Edgar Allan Poe’s similar choice, as well as the fictional Scarlett O’Hara’s attraction to the older Rhett Butler. By placing her experience in this broader cultural context, she argues that such relationships were far more accepted than they would be today.
She also clarifies the timeline of her romance with Elvis. While they began seeing each other when she was fourteen, she insists it did not turn romantic until she was seventeen, according to the Daily Express US. They waited until marriage to consummate their relationship, which occurred when she was twenty-one. “I, fortunately, wasn’t a child bride,” she noted, pushing back against assumptions about her youth.
Life Behind The Scenes With Elvis
Beyond addressing controversy, Priscilla Presley offers an intimate look into her married life. She explains that Elvis carried traditional Southern expectations into their household. “Elvis was a Southern man who expected his woman to be pretty, submissive, and charming. Twenty-four hours a day,” she recalled. To meet those expectations, she maintained her appearance constantly, even wrapping her hair in toilet paper at night so it would remain perfect by morning.
Her memoir also reveals moments of strain, including the pressure she faced to embody the image Elvis wanted. Despite these challenges, her story underscores the complexities of loving one of the most famous men in the world while also striving to maintain her own identity. Priscilla Presley’s honesty sheds new light on her journey, offering readers a clearer understanding of both the cultural and personal dynamics that defined her marriage.