Priscilla Presley's new memoir reveals the actual cause she left Elvis Presley — and affords perception into how the music legend was nonetheless a significant a part of her life even after their break up.
“I didn't depart Elvis as a result of I not cherished him. I cherished him as a lot on the day I left as on the day we married,” Priscilla, now 80, wrote in Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, printed on Tuesday, September 23. “I left Elvis as a result of I wanted a lifetime of my very own. I used to be dwelling his life. Simply as Elvis was trying to find the which means of his life, I used to be trying to find mine.”
Priscilla has beforehand mentioned her affair together with her karate teacher, Mike Stone, however made it clear on this e book that he was “only one catalyst” that led to her divorce from Elvis.
“The wedding had been crumbling for years,” she wrote.
Priscilla met Elvis when she was 14 years previous. They didn't begin a bodily relationship till they acquired married in Might 1967, when she was 21. The previous couple shared one daughter collectively, the late Lisa Marie Presley, who was born in February 1968. (Priscilla revealed that Elvis requested whether or not she wished an abortion throughout her being pregnant.)
Priscilla filed for divorce from Elvis in 1972, when Lisa Marie was 4 years previous. Their break up was finalized the next 12 months. Elvis died at age 42 in 1977.
Preserve scrolling for Priscilla's revelations about Elvis from Softly, As I Depart You:
Why They Cut up
Priscilla defined that Elvis “was accustomed to coming first” and was “unprepared to share” her with Lisa Marie.
“I grew to become jealous of a nanny taking good care of my daughter after I must be taking good care of her,” Priscilla wrote. “I felt responsible about having a nanny there when Lisa awakened in the midst of the evening and began crying.”
Priscilla defined that she “struggled” by way of this time of her life.
“It was painful making an attempt to maintain our household collectively. I felt like a failure as each a mom and a spouse. Ultimately, I had to decide on,” she continued. “By the point Lisa was 4 years previous, I knew I needed to decide. So I spotted it was time for me to go. Elvis was surprised.”
Particulars on Their Intercourse Life
Priscilla wrote that “Elvis misplaced curiosity in me sexually” after Lisa Marie was born.
“He had by no means been capable of make like to a lady who'd had a baby,” she recalled. “He had put his mom on a pedestal, and after Lisa was born, he put me on one, too. It's inconceivable to make love on a pedestal.”
The singer was at all times “flirtatious and really affectionate,” however it by no means went past that. They'd intercourse one final time after Pricilla determined to go away. Elvis, she wrote, thought the divorce had one thing to do together with her affair.
Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Photographs Priscilla Presley's marriage to the late Elvis Presley has made headlines all through the years — particularly in terms of their vital age hole. Priscilla met Elvis in Germany when he was on a tour of responsibility for the USA Military. The 2 immediately had a connection, however Priscilla's household was cautious […]
“I didn't depart as a result of Elvis had compelled himself on me when he discovered about Mike. He had not. Elvis had felt emasculated,” she wrote. “Elvis made like to me forcefully, not forcibly. His regular tenderness and consideration for me have been lacking. It was emotionally hurtful, and it left me with an sad reminiscence of my final expertise of sexual intimacy with Elvis.”
Elvis Would At all times Name
When Priscilla was courting Robert Kardashian Sr., she acquired a late-night telephone name from Elvis, who “at all times sophisticated issues,” she wrote.
“Robert was sleeping in mattress with me when the telephone rang at 2:00 a.m. Luckily, he was a sound sleeper, so I leaped off the bed and grabbed the telephone earlier than it woke him,” she recalled. “Elvis was calling from the resort after a efficiency. … It had definitely by no means occurred to him that I may be with one other man. Regardless of our divorce, he nonetheless couldn't wrap his head round my being with another person.”
Kardashian, who died in September 2003, “by no means knew” that she had gotten a name from Elvis that evening.
Austin Butler's Portrayal of Elvis
Priscilla praised the 2022 Elvis film and wrote how “courageous” Butler was to play her ex-husband.
“He was superb. His voice sounded a lot like Elvis's that it was uncanny,” she wrote. “Of all of the actors I'd seen play Elvis, I'd by no means seen anybody who may evaluate with Austin.”
