In her new memoir, Softly, as I Leave You: Life After Elvis, Priscilla Presley opens up about one of the most painful moments of her life—the day she made the heartbreaking decision to take her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, off life support. The 80-year-old reveals this emotional moment in her own words, sharing how she stood beside her daughter’s hospital bed, surrounded by family, and realized she had to let go. According to People, Priscilla Presley recalls the day with striking clarity and sorrow, describing it as “the second saddest day” of her life after losing Elvis Presley.
Lisa Marie, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, passed away on January 12, 2023, at age 54, following complications from a previous surgery. Priscilla was with her daughter all day at the hospital, holding her hand as doctors worked to keep her alive. “Lisa really wasn’t breathing, so she was on the ventilator. We were there waiting, hoping, and praying until the doctor came in and said, ‘Priscilla, I’m so sorry, she’s gone,’” she shared. The moment shattered her heart—one that she says she will never forget.
A Mother’s Unimaginable Decision
Priscilla Presley describes how the family took turns visiting Lisa Marie in the hospital, hoping for a miracle. When doctors told her there was no chance of recovery, she faced an impossible choice. “What kind of life will she have if we keep her on that machine?” she asked. When the doctor replied, “No quality of life at all,” Priscilla made the decision no parent should ever have to make. “Take her off the machine, Doctor,” she whispered.
As Lisa Marie’s heart finally stopped, Priscilla Presley collapsed in grief. She remembers her cousin Ivy catching her as she fell, overwhelmed by sorrow. The trauma of that moment remains with her, but she continues to find strength in her family—her son Navarone, who is now sober, and her granddaughter Riley Keough, who has carried forward her mother’s legacy with grace.
Finding Healing Through Family
Priscilla Presley now focuses on her role as a great-grandmother and the joy she finds in her growing family. She says that seeing everyone doing well brings her peace after so much tragedy. Despite losing both Elvis and Lisa Marie, she continues to honor their memory through resilience and love.
Through her memoir, Priscilla hopes to share her truth and reclaim her narrative after years of public scrutiny. “It hasn’t been easy,” she admits. “But you have to find strength.” Her story is one of loss, courage, and the enduring bond between a mother and her daughter—even beyond goodbye.