Priscilla Presley Reveals Surprising Truths in New Memoir
In her latest memoir, Priscilla Presley opens up about a shocking moment in her life when Elvis Presley suggested she terminate her pregnancy with their daughter, Lisa Marie.
These revelations, which appear on page six of her book titled Softly, A Shold You, reflect on Priscilla’s experiences as a mother and her relationship with her late daughter.
The 80-year-old actress admits she struggled with raising a daughter who was left feeling “very broken” after Elvis’s death in August 1977.
Priscilla later introduced Lisa Marie to the Church of Scientology, acknowledging her own “naivety” regarding religion.
She narrates how Lisa battled financial difficulties and substance abuse throughout her life, reportedly taking as many as 80 tablets daily before her untimely passing in January 2023.
“My daughter was a challenge—complicated and demanding,” Priscilla shares. “Lisa had a free spirit and a restlessness about her.”
With the weight of being Elvis’s daughter, Lisa grappled with her own identity. Priscilla notes, “It was an identity that fascinated and haunted her throughout her life.”
Reflecting on their marriage, Priscilla recalls the day she learned she was pregnant just after their wedding in May 1967. “I was thrilled, but those dreams of a picture-perfect life crumbled when I realized we weren’t ready for children,” she admits.
She reveals, “For weeks, Elvis and I were both anxious about what lay ahead, and at my lowest point, I even hoped for a miscarriage.” At one point, Elvis asked her if she wanted an abortion, offering his support no matter her decision. “It struck me deeply, and I realized I couldn’t do that. This is our baby!” she recalls.
When Lisa Marie arrived in February 1968, they quickly found a profound love for her. However, their relationship faced challenges, and Priscilla left Elvis when Lisa was just four, although she insists the departure was unrelated to her daughter forming a relationship with Karate instructor Mike Stone.
Priscilla mentions that Elvis was hurt by this relationship. His friend even considered extreme measures but convinced him to take a step back. Priscilla expresses, “I never regretted leaving but always felt a sense of loss.” Raising Lisa wasn’t easy; she describes her daughter as “strong-willed” from the start, embodying traits from her father.
As Lisa grew, she faced challenges fitting into social circles. “I’m Lisa Presley, my dad is Elvis Presley—remember me?” became her introduction. In her teens, her fame attracted attention, leaving Priscilla reflecting on a turning point when it seemed “the world fell apart.”
Complications arose in Lisa’s life, notably when an inappropriate incident involving Priscilla’s boyfriend occurred, which later led to allegations of abuse against him—claims he denied.
In her book, Priscilla acknowledges past encouragement to share light-hearted stories about Lisa but grapples with the stark reality of those narratives compared to Lisa’s truth.
Despite various ups and downs, Lisa acquired her father’s wealth but faced challenges in her marriages, including to musician Danny Kee and later to Michael Jackson. Priscilla comments, “I didn’t believe Jackon loved her; it seemed more about public image.” After Lisa and Michael divorced, their circumstances further spiraled.
By 2005, Lisa was dealing with severe addiction issues; Priscilla temporarily took custody of Lisa’s twin daughters during a tumultuous period in her life. Despite efforts to intervene, Priscilla saw her daughter continue to struggle with addiction, admitting, “I didn’t know how much pain she was in.”
Lisa faced a series of unfortunate events culminating in a heartbreaking 2020 when her son Benjamin passed away. Priscilla recounts the moment she had to make the agonizing decision to take Lisa off life support after her cardiac arrest in January 2023.
As the memoir concludes, Priscilla reflects solemnly, “My little wild child, I love you forever.”
