Lisa Marie Presley lived much of her life in the public eye, but her personal battles were often hidden beneath the surface. According to her mother, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie’s fight with addiction worsened dramatically after her divorce from Michael Lockwood. The singer and only child of Elvis Presley faced a storm of emotions that, over time, consumed her world.
In her newly released memoir Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, Priscilla offered candid reflections on her daughter’s downward spiral. She shared painful details about how Lisa Marie Presley’s life seemed to unravel, painting a portrait of a woman overwhelmed by grief, dependency, and emotional turmoil.
Lisa Marie Presley’s Battle With Addiction
Priscilla revealed that Lisa Marie Presley went “steadily downhill” from the day she filed for divorce. The pain was so deep that Priscilla admitted she barely recognized her daughter anymore. At one point, Lisa Marie’s drug use escalated to as many as 80 pills a day. “She lived in a tornado of drug-fueled emotions with no relief in sight,” Priscilla wrote in the memoir.
A report from News Break notes the addiction strained their relationship, leaving Priscilla feeling helpless as she watched her daughter disappear into a version of herself that felt unfamiliar.” Lisa Marie’s struggles with drugs were not new, but her mother emphasized that the divorce marked a turning point that accelerated her decline.
Searching For Relief Amid The Pain
Lisa Marie Presley had previously leaned on the Church of Scientology for rehabilitation, but by this stage, she had walked away from the institution. Though she distanced herself, she still carried some of its beliefs, including a distrust of psychologists and traditional therapy. Priscilla believed this decision deprived her daughter of an outlet that might have eased her pain.
One thing did provide a form of healing. Lisa Marie Presley began recording audiotapes intended for her autobiography. Priscilla said the process gave her daughter a chance to release fear, anger, and despair. Through these recordings, Lisa Marie poured out her memories and nightmares, finally finding a way to voice her struggles.