Priscilla Presley. The name conjures up images of iconic bouffant hair, a whirlwind romance with the King of Rock and Roll, and a life forever intertwined with music legend, Elvis Presley. But beyond the glamorous facade and the tragic love story, lies a woman of strength, resilience, and surprising depth.
From her unconventional childhood to navigating life after Elvis, Priscilla’s journey is a fascinating tapestry woven with love, loss, and self-discovery. Join us as we delve into 27 intriguing facts about Priscilla Presley that might just change the way you see her. Get ready to be surprised, touched, and maybe even inspired by the woman who was more than just Mrs. Elvis Presley.
#1. Early Loss and Family
Priscilla’s biological father, James Wagner, died in a plane crash when she was just six months old. Her mother later married Paul Beaulieu, who adopted her and became a central figure in her life.
#2. First Elvis Record
Priscilla’s first introduction to Elvis came when her father gave her his debut album at age 11, waiting in line to buy it. “I don’t know what this Elvis guy is all about […] but he must be something special,” he told her.
#3. How They Met
Elvis and Priscilla met in West Germany, where Priscilla’s father was stationed with the Air Force, and Elvis was completing his military service. A friend introduced them, and Priscilla was initially skeptical, dressing casually in a sailor dress for their meeting.
#4. A Famous Line
In a memorable moment, Elvis remarked, “Why, you’re just a baby,” when Priscilla told him she was in ninth grade. This line is repeated in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla biopic.
#5. Parental Skepticism
Priscilla’s father was wary of Elvis’s intentions, once asking, “Why my daughter?” Elvis’s answer to this question is portrayed in the movie as well.
#6. First Real Kiss
Elvis gave Priscilla her first real kiss when she was only 14. The intimate moment took place in his bedroom as he reminisced about his late mother.
#7. Staying Awake with Elvis
Priscilla often struggled to keep up with Elvis’s schedule, impacting her schoolwork. He even offered her Dexedrine, a stimulant, to help her stay awake, though she initially declined.
#8. Elvis’s Influence on Her Style
Elvis shaped Priscilla’s style from the start, helping choose her clothes, makeup, and hairstyle. “He molded me into his woman,” she later wrote.
#9. Makeover in Las Vegas
During a trip to Las Vegas at age 16, Elvis took Priscilla shopping and gave her a style makeover, suggesting she “apply more makeup” around her eyes.
#10. Secret Letters
Before the trip to Vegas, Priscilla pre-wrote letters to mail from Los Angeles to avoid alarming her parents. Later, when she moved to the U.S., she initially lived with Elvis’s father and stepmother as agreed, but soon moved into Graceland.
#11. Waiting for Marriage
Priscilla and Elvis did not consummate their relationship until after marriage. Elvis reportedly told her, “There’ll be a right time and place, and when the moment comes, I’ll know it.”
#12. Low-Key Proposal
Elvis’s proposal was not elaborate; he simply showed Priscilla a ring and asked her to marry him. She accepted, despite knowing their relationship could face challenges.
#13. Secret Wedding Dress Shopping
To avoid press, Priscilla wore sunglasses and went dress shopping with a male friend posing as the groom. Their wedding was meant to be a private celebration.
#14. Opposing Birth Control
Elvis did not want Priscilla to take birth control, and though she initially desired alone time after their wedding, she became pregnant within months. Elvis even requested a trial separation when Priscilla was seven months along, though he later dropped the idea.
#15. Daughter Lisa-Marie’s Birth
Lisa-Marie was born exactly nine months after their wedding. Priscilla recalled Elvis’s tenderness after her delivery: “He was just a man, my husband.”
#16. Iconic Big Hair
Priscilla’s famous voluminous hairstyle took 90 minutes to perfect each week. “That was my hair. Not all of it — I had a little bump underneath,” she shared.
#17. Independent Pursuits and Affair
Shortly before their separation, Priscilla began karate lessons, which gave her confidence and independence. She eventually had an affair with her instructor, Mike Stone, whom she introduced to Elvis.
#18. Telling Elvis About the Affair
Priscilla revealed her affair to Elvis, who reportedly wanted to kill Stone but ultimately refrained from acting on his anger.
#19. Leaving Elvis and Finding Herself
In 1972, Priscilla decided to leave Elvis to find her own identity, saying, “I found Priscilla.” They remained amicable, walking out of the divorce proceedings hand in hand.
#20. Loneliness in Marriage
After the split, Priscilla described the challenges of being married to Elvis, often feeling alone while he was away. “We had separate lives completely,” she said.
#21. Boutique Owner
After the split, Priscilla opened a boutique called Bis & Beau. Celebrities like Cher, Liza Minnelli, and Natalie Wood were regulars before it closed after three years.
#22. Elvis’s Death and Her Shock
Elvis passed away in 1977. Priscilla reflected, “With Elvis, my life was his life… My problems were secondary.” She even returned to Memphis as his health declined.
#23. Acting Career
In the 1980s and ’90s, Priscilla acted in Dallas and The Naked Gun. She held off on acting for a year after Elvis’s death to avoid any appearance of capitalizing on it.
#24. Managing Elvis’s Estate
After Elvis and his father’s deaths, Priscilla took control of his estate, transforming Graceland into a top tourist attraction. In 2023, she settled a legal dispute over Lisa-Marie’s trust with her granddaughter Riley Keough.
#25. Relationships After Elvis
Priscilla dated several men after Elvis, including Robert Kardashian, and had a long-term relationship with producer Marco Garibaldi, with whom she had a son, Navarone.
#26. A Son and Family Tragedy
Priscilla’s son, Navarone Garcia, born in 1987, is the lead singer of the band Them Guns. Tragically, her daughter Lisa-Marie passed away in early 2023 due to complications from weight-loss surgery.
#27. Elvis and Me: Inspiration for the Film
Priscilla’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, served as the basis for Sofia Coppola’s film Priscilla. Reflecting on the experience, Priscilla said, “I tried to separate myself and live it as if I was just a fan.”
