But behind closed doors, Elvis lived a very different life. He surrounded himself with people he trusted, holding them close and revealing his true self only to them.
In an intimate interview with ABC's Elizabeth Vargas, Elvis' ex-wife Priscilla Presley reflects upon her years spent with Elvis and reveals some exclusive anecdotes about the man behind the pomp.
Priscilla Beaulieu and Elvis Presley.
The fascination with the private life of the 'King' is a phenomenon that can be partly explained by the 'electric charisma' he exhibited onstage and on the silver screen. Everyone wanted a piece of Elvis, and even today fans still claim a piece of him as their own.
Before Priscilla was Elvis' wife, she was a fan. Although her parents forbade her to watch Elvis on television, she sneaked her first peek of him on the 'Ed Sullivan Show' through the crack of a door.
As a young adolescent, she didn't quite understand the controversy surrounding the handsome singer, who with a shake of his hips was revolutionizing the world of rock 'n' roll. But like many others, she was drawn to him and began listening to Elvis' albums. She even joined his fan club.
Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.
When Priscilla was 14 years old and living on a military base in Germany with her family, a strange opportunity presented itself. An older acquaintance introduced her to Elvis at an autograph signing. Presley was in the Army at that point and stationed nearby. Priscilla and the 24-year-old Presley began seeing each other several times a week for the next few months.
Priscilla said her parents were apprehensive about the situation at first, but they ultimately changed their minds. 'Well, after they met Elvis they -- you know, Elvis could talk his way out of a paper bag', said Priscilla. 'I mean, he literally was charming. It threw my parents. They were totally taken aback by him'. Elvis' mother had died not long before and he seemed to be in need of companionship and nurturing. Priscilla immediately assumed the role of caregiver and despite their age difference, she became one of Elvis' closest confidantes.
Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.
'I was truly interested in the things he had to say', said Priscilla. 'I had a lot of compassion for him. I really felt what he felt. I really didn't come with any preconceived ideas. I didn't come with any hopes and dreams of marriage'. After a yearlong international courtship, Priscilla moved back to the United States to be with Elvis. Still in high school, Priscilla worked her life around his schedule.
'I'd do my homework while he was still sleeping sometimes so that I could not have to do it when he was awake, so that would take time away from him', she said. 'I catered to him basically hand and foot'.
Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.
They were in love, but there were difficulties. Elvis was always in the public eye and there were rumors of other women. His movie career wasn't going quite the way he wanted and he was continually disappointed. But confronting him about their problems only seemed to make them worse, so Priscilla learned to do things his way. That meant being up for anything at any time and accommodating his desires. It also meant hanging out with his entourage. When Elvis proposed, Priscilla said it was a romantic moment, but that she knew their life together would be more complicated. 'That was all part of the deal is that I didn't just marry Elvis', said Priscilla. 'I married the group. It was very difficult to maintain that relationship because that was understood that he always had people around, he liked having people around. That was his life'. Over time, the burden of Elvis' career hiccups and his unpredictable lifestyle began to take their toll on the marriage, ultimately resulting in a divorce. But even after their marriage broke up, Priscilla remained a caretaker and friend. She remembers her late husband with fondness and respect. 'Elvis had more compassion in his little nail, in his finger, than I'd say this planet', said Priscilla. But one thing is for sure, she said, 'being with Elvis was never normal'.
Lisa Marie Presley
Storm And Grace Special Edition CD [4 Bonus Tracks]
Elvis By The Presleys DVD
You Are Not Alone : Michael Jackson with Lisa Marie Presley : 1995
Lisa Marie's singing, writing pretty good : February 8, 2003
Nicolas Cage talks about Lisa Marie Presley : 2003
Lisa Presley : The Rolling Stone Interview : April 20, 2003
Complete Lisa Marie Presley Playboy Interview : July 30, 2003
Interview with Lisa Presley : Enough Rope : March 15, 2004
Lisa Marie Presley Photos (2004)
Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley duet of In The Ghetto : 2007
Interview with Lisa Marie Presley : August 17, 2007
Father and Daughter Together Again : August 17, 2007
Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough on Oprah : September 12, 2007
Interview with Lisa Marie Presley (And Michael Lockwood) : January 27, 2009
The Presley Women : Priscilla & Lisa Marie Presley's First Mother/Daughter Interview : May 17, 2009
Interview with Lisa Marie Presley (And Michael Lockwood) : 2009
Aerial photo, Lisa Marie's Country Mansion in England : January 2011
Elvis Through His Daughter's Eyes : By Lisa Marie Presley : 2012
ABC TV Interview with Lisa Marie Presley : Feb 2012
Rolling Stone Interview with Lisa Marie Presley : March 2012
Interview with Lisa Marie Presley : Storm & Grace : Her Twins, Rily Keough, England : May 2012
Listen to New Track Released from Lisa Marie's Album : Over Me
Lisa Marie Presley : Performs 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet' on American Idol : May 17, 2012
Lisa Marie Presley Performs 'Over Me' on Jimmy Kimmel Live : May 22, 2012
Lisa Marie Presley Interview : The Morning Show Australia : August 15, 2012
Lisa Marie and Priscilla Share Memories of Elvis on TODAY Show : August 16, 2012
I Love You Because : Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Duet at the 35th Anniversary Concert
Audio : Over Me by Lisa Marie Presley
A second song from Lisa Marie Presleys soon to be released album, Storm And Grace, has been released online. The song, Over Me is again another strong performance and we look forward to the album!
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Elvis Presley Video Central.
Elvis Presleys Grandchildren
Danielle Riley Keough : (born May 29, 1989) and is known as Riley Keough for her modeling work.
Riley is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and musician Danny Keough.
Celebs : The Next Generation : November 10, 2004
Elvis lives on ... in the form of his grandaughter : Riley Keough : June 23, 2008
Beautiful Photos of Riley Keough, Elvis' Granddaughter in Elle Italia : May 17, 2011
Riley Keough : Lisa Marie Presley : Priscilla Presley : Benjamin Keough.
Twins
Lisa Marie Presley gave birth to twin girls on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2009. The baby girls were named Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood & Finley Aaron Love Lockwood and were delivered by Caesarean section 2:46 p.m. They weighed in at 5 lbs., 15 oz. and 5 lbs., 2 oz. The girls are the first children together for Lisa Marie and husband Michael Lockwood, a musician (Married in Japan January 2006). Lisa Marie, who proudly displayed her baby bump in the September issue of Marie Claire, has a daughter Riley Keough, 19, a model, and Benjamin, 15, with ex-husband Danny Keough. The names acknowledge Elvis (Aaron), Gladys (Love) and Priscilla (Ann).
Photos of Lisa Marie's Twin Girls : Finley & Harper : January 23, 2009
Lisa Marie Presley takes her little princess for a spin around Hawaii : February 22, 2011
Benjamin Keough : Lisa's Son : Elvis Presleys Grandson
Navarone Garibaldi : Priscilla Presley's Son
Priscilla Presley
More about Priscilla Presley
My Life With and Without Elvis Presley : For the First Time ... Priscilla Tells All : August 1973
Elvis looked even better in person, Priscilla says : January 20, 2004
President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Visit Graceland : July 1, 2006
Video Interviews with Priscilla Presley
Interview with Priscilla Presley : 1978 (05:54)
Priscilla Presley on Good Morning America : 1979 (07:57)
Interview with Priscilla Presley : 1980
Priscilla Presley on 'First Person' : 1991 (09:25)
Priscilla Presley talks to Larry King on CNN : Priscilla looks back : August 16, 2007 (10:25)
Priscilla Presley gives Larry King a tour of Graceland : August 16, 200 (04:32)
Interview with Priscilla Presley : December 15, 2009 (04:31)
Elvis and Priscilla Beaulieu Getting Married : 1967 (01:09)
Priscilla Presley video photo album with 'My girl' By the Temptations as soundtrack. (02:59)
Photos : Elvis Presley, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley & Lisa Marie Presley
Vernon & Gladys Presley
Vernon and Gladys Presley : Elvis Presley's Mother and Father
Interview with Vernon Presley : 1978
Vernon and Gladys Talked About Raising Young Elvis : 1956
Interview with Gladys and Vernon Presley
Photos of Vernon and Gladys Presley
Presley Family History
Elvis Presley Family History : 1669-1935
Elvis Presleys Grandfather
Jessie D. McDowell (J.D.) Presley : Elvis Presleys Grandfather
Elvis Presley : Interviews and Press Conferences with Elvis Presley
Interviews with and or about Elvis Presley
Interview With Elvis Presley : August 28, 1956
Interview with Elvis Presley : October 28, 1957, Los Angeles
Interview with Elvis Presley : Press Conference Canada 1957
Interview with Elvis Presley : July 31, 1969 By Ray Connelly
Interview with Elvis Presley : The 1969 Press Conference : August 1, 1969
Interview with Elvis Presley : The February 1970 Houston Astrodome Press Conference
Interview with Elvis Presley : The 1972 Madison Square Press Conference : June 9, 1972
Rare Elvis Presley : 1973 Aloha Interview
Elvis Presley Biography
Elvis Presley's Graceland : 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Elvis Presley & Captain Marvel Jr
Elvis Presley's Cars
Elvis Presleys Lisa Marie Jetplane
The Memphis Mafia
Elvis Presleys Friends : The Memphis Mafia
Colonel Tom Parker
Elvis Presley's Manager : Colonel Tom Parker
Interview with Colonel Tom Parker : Elvis Presley's Manager : 1987
Interview with Colonel Tom Parker : Elvis Presley's Manager
Elvis By The Presleys DVD
For more information on Elvis and Priscilla buy the Elvis By The Presleys DVD -- at over 4 hours this double DVD set will tell you everything you want to know and more plus includes lots of home movies of Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie. A must for every fan! -- Also there is Priscilla's book -- Elvis & Me.