I chose Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ ex-wife who loved him from 1959 until his death in 1977 (and even still today), for my Elvis ‘P’ topic for the Blogging A to Z Challenge. I could have chosen “Patch It Up” as I really like that Elvis song, or Paradise Hawaiian Style as I really like that Elvis movie, but I thought it was important to write about Priscilla, who was much more than just Elvis’ ex-wife.

First and foremost without Priscilla, there would be no Graceland to tour today. It is because of Priscilla we are lucky enough to get to stand in Elvis’ home. It is because of Priscilla we get to look at all of the Elvis archives. It is because of Priscilla we are still getting new Elvis documentaries and music today almost 41 years after his death.

Elvis left everything to his daughter Lisa, his father Vernon and his grandmother Minnie Mae with Vernon as executor and trustee. After Vernon’s death in 1979, Priscilla began managing Lisa’s trust and formed EPE. Minnie Mae died in 1980. Because the estate was costing so much money to run and wanting to keep Elvis’ home for Lisa, Priscilla hired Jack Soden and opened Graceland to the public to tour in 1982. And the rest is history.

Whatever your opinion is of Priscilla or of Elvis Presley Enterprises, you have to give her credit – without Priscilla we wouldn’t have Graceland. There are Elvis ‘fans’ who hate on Priscilla and EPE saying she is greedy and all EPE cares about is making money. Well of course they care about making money, it is a BUSINESS. Welcome to the world! Would you rather not have any access to Graceland or the Elvis archives? Can’t expect that for free, so yes it’s a business and they make money – big deal!

Then there are Elvis ‘fans’ who hate Priscilla because she cheated on Elvis and left him, and they think that is why he died so young. Ok, really? There were so many contributing factors to Elvis’ early death that you can hardly blame Priscilla – it’s absurd. Yes Priscilla cheated on Elvis, after he had been cheating on her for years. And yes she left him, but again he was continuously cheating on her while he expected her to stay home with no career or outside friends and be faithful to him. Priscilla couldn’t be with Elvis on road while touring because she had to stay home and take care of Lisa. Maybe if they hadn’t had Lisa so soon after getting married, Priscilla could have been with Elvis more on the road while he toured – and maybe that would have helped. Who knows? What I do know is Priscilla loved Elvis even after their divorce, and still does to this day. Lisa says she never noticed when her parents got divorced – they acted the same.

When ‘fans’ were asked their thoughts on the new documentary Elvis Presley The Searcher that Priscilla helped produce and narrate, some made comments like “it was great until Priscilla made it all about her.” Are you kidding? She was only talking about herself in relation to Elvis, about their relationship. I love to hear Priscilla talk about her days with Elvis – that’s all we have. I want to hear from someone who loved Elvis and was loved by Elvis. I don’t understand this hatred of Priscilla by Elvis ‘fans.’ They don’t hate on Linda Thompson, and she also cheated on Elvis and also left Elvis just a year before he died.

I love Priscilla and am so thankful for all she has done to keep Elvis alive almost 41 years after his death. I am also VERY thankful for her book and television mini series Elvis and Me, which I love! Thank you Priscilla! Keep doing what you do for Elvis and keep your head up cause haters gonna hate!

 

What is your favorite movie, song, book, topic about Elvis that begins with ‘P’? Please comment below. If you missed any of my Elvis ‘A’ to ‘O’ topics, please click here. Remember to check back tomorrow to see what ‘Q’ topic I’ve chosen for Elvis.