The love story of Elvis and Priscilla Presley captivated the world, beginning with a seemingly fairytale romance. However, behind the glitz and glamour, their marriage faced significant challenges, ultimately leading to their divorce. For those who have followed their journey, the question remains: Why Did Elvis And Priscilla Divorce? Their separation in 1972 and finalized divorce in 1973 marked the end of a highly publicized relationship, leaving fans and onlookers wondering about the underlying reasons for the split between the King of Rock and Roll and his wife. This article delves into the complexities of their relationship, exploring the factors that contributed to their parting ways and examining their bond until Elvis’s untimely death in 1977.
How Elvis and Priscilla Presley Met: An Unconventional Beginning
The story of Elvis and Priscilla’s first encounter is far from typical. They met in November 1959 in West Germany. Elvis was serving in the U.S. Army and stationed there, while Priscilla, whose maiden name was Beaulieu, was just 14 years old, accompanying her Air Force father who had been transferred to the region. Elvis was 24 at the time, a decade older than Priscilla. One evening, Priscilla’s life took an unexpected turn when an Air Force member, a friend of her family, invited her to meet Elvis at his residence in Bad Nauheim. After her father confirmed with the officer’s commanding officer, Priscilla was granted permission. This encounter happened while Priscilla was in the ninth grade. She wore a navy and white sailor dress and was introduced to Elvis in his temporary German home. According to Biography.com, Elvis was immediately drawn to Priscilla. He entertained her that very night, even serenading her with songs like “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”.
Elvis, who reportedly saw a resemblance between Priscilla and his recently deceased mother, Gladys, confided in his friend Rex Mansfield about his impressions of Priscilla. As Biography.com notes, Elvis remarked that Priscilla was “young enough that I can train her any way I want.” This statement hints at the power dynamics that would characterize their relationship. Following their initial meeting, Elvis pursued Priscilla, and on their second date, they shared their first kiss in his room. After their fourth date, Priscilla’s parents, understandably concerned about the age gap and the nature of the relationship, met with Elvis. When questioned by Priscilla’s father about his intentions towards his young daughter, Elvis reportedly replied, “Well, sir, I happen to be very fond of her. She’s a lot more mature than her age and I enjoy her company.” Charmed by Elvis’s charisma and seemingly sincere affection, Priscilla’s parents allowed their relationship to continue, albeit in private due to their significant age difference. Notably, during this early period, their relationship remained platonic. When Priscilla indicated her readiness for a sexual relationship as Elvis’s army duty neared its end, he responded, “Someday we will, Priscilla, but not now. You’re just too young.”
Marriage and Motherhood: A Seemingly Perfect Life
After Elvis’s discharge from the U.S. Army in March 1960, he returned to the United States, and he and Priscilla lost contact for two years. Despite sending letters in distinctive pink envelopes, Priscilla didn’t hear back from him until 1962. Elvis then asked her to visit him in Los Angeles. He persuaded her parents to allow the trip, and they rekindled their romance. Later that year, Elvis proposed the idea of Priscilla finishing high school in Memphis, Tennessee. After initial hesitation, Priscilla’s parents agreed, convinced by Elvis’s assurances of her safety and his intention to eventually marry her. She would live with Elvis’s father and stepmother. Priscilla moved to Memphis, enrolled at the Immaculate Conception High School, and eventually moved into Graceland, Elvis’s iconic home. She graduated in May 1963.
In the ensuing years, Priscilla lived at Graceland, often alone as Elvis traveled for his burgeoning career. She became known as the “live-in Lolita,” a label highlighting the uncomfortable age dynamics of their relationship and drawing comparisons to the controversial novel. Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, grew increasingly concerned about the potential damage to Elvis’s public image if he didn’t legitimize the relationship through marriage. Finally, during Christmas 1966, Elvis proposed to Priscilla. They married in a quick ceremony in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. Priscilla later revealed that their wedding night was also their first sexual experience. Soon after, Priscilla became pregnant, and nine months later, on February 1, 1968, Lisa Marie Presley was born, completing what appeared to be a picture-perfect family.
The Cracks in Paradise: Unpacking the Divorce
Despite the seemingly joyous occasion of Lisa Marie’s birth, the reality of Elvis and Priscilla’s marriage was far more complex. When Priscilla was seven months pregnant, Elvis initiated a trial separation, signaling underlying issues. Although they briefly reconciled before Lisa Marie’s arrival, tensions quickly resurfaced. Priscilla recounted in her memoir, Elvis and Me, that after giving birth, Elvis expressed a lack of sexual desire for her. While he initially cited her need to recover, Priscilla later understood that Elvis had a long-held aversion to intimacy with women who had become mothers. “He had mentioned before we were married that he had never been able to make love to a woman who’d had a child,” she wrote, as detailed in her 1986 autobiography, Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N’ Roll.
Infidelity was a recurring theme in their marriage. Elvis’s numerous affairs throughout their relationship took a toll on Priscilla. Feeling neglected and seeking connection, Priscilla herself engaged in an affair with a dance studio owner. Despite renewing their vows in Hawaii in an attempt to salvage their relationship, the underlying problems persisted. Priscilla revealed to People magazine in 1978 the extent of her sacrifice, stating, “My life was his life. My problems were secondary.” Seeking independence and personal fulfillment, Priscilla later became involved with her karate instructor, Mike Stone. In 1972, she made the difficult decision to leave Elvis, informing him of her desire for a divorce and to forge her own path. Upon learning of Priscilla’s affair with Mike Stone, Elvis, in a fit of rage and hurt, reportedly considered hiring a hitman to kill Stone, though he was ultimately dissuaded, according to Biography.com.
Priscilla officially left Elvis on February 23, 1972, and their divorce was finalized on October 9, 1973. Despite the painful circumstances, Priscilla clarified in a 2016 interview, “I did not divorce him because I didn’t love him. He was the love of my life, but I had to find out about the world.” This statement encapsulates the central conflict: her deep affection for Elvis clashed with her need for self-discovery and autonomy outside the confines of their intensely controlled and unconventional marriage.
An Amicable Separation and Lingering Concerns
Following their divorce, Elvis and Priscilla maintained a surprisingly amicable relationship, sharing custody of Lisa Marie. In the documentary, Elvis by the Presleys, Priscilla noted a concerning development during their separation and divorce: Elvis’s increasing reliance on prescription medication. She explained that his demanding tour schedule and chronic insomnia exacerbated his dependence on pills to manage his energy levels and mood. “His struggle to sleep, a lifelong dilemma, was gravely exacerbated,” Priscilla explained in the documentary. “His dependence on pills – to chase away his blues or just give him the energy to make it through the day – became more extreme.” Priscilla confessed that her focus on her own life and Lisa Marie might have caused her to overlook the warning signs of Elvis’s escalating drug use until their divorce proceedings.
Despite the difficult decision to divorce, Priscilla described the day they finalized their separation as “amazing” in Elvis by the Presleys. “Amazing, I believe, because as we sat in the judge’s chambers and signed the final decree, we held hands,” she recounted. “It was as though we were an old married couple rather than about-to-be divorced adversaries.” She remembered Elvis being “tender and sweet” that day, even singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” to her as they left the courtroom.
However, beneath the veneer of amicability, Priscilla also noticed alarming signs of Elvis’s declining health during their divorce finalization. “As Elvis’s fingers touched mine, I grew alarmed,” Priscilla said. “His hands, always smooth, were puffy, swollen. I knew something was different; something was wrong. I could see it in his eyes, I could feel it in his hands.” These observations foreshadowed Elvis’s tragic and premature death just four years later in 1977 at the age of 42.
The Legacy of Lisa Marie Presley
Tragically, the Presley family endured further loss with the passing of Lisa Marie Presley on January 12, 2023, at the age of 54. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, confirmed the devastating news in a public statement. “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla said. “She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”
The Presley family released a statement expressing their collective grief and gratitude for the outpouring of support. Hours before her death, Lisa Marie had been rushed to the hospital following a cardiac arrest at her home in Calabasas, California. According to TMZ reports, paramedics responded to a call after Lisa Marie was found unresponsive by her housekeeper. Her former husband, Danny Keough, performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Despite initial signs of life, Lisa Marie’s condition deteriorated, and she passed away shortly after reaching the hospital, as reported by People.
For a deeper understanding of Elvis and Priscilla’s complex relationship, Priscilla Presley’s 1986 memoir, Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N’ Roll, offers invaluable insights. This New York Times bestseller details their relationship from its inception to its dissolution, revealing intimate details and Priscilla’s enduring perspective on their unbreakable bond despite the divorce. Described as a “tribute to both the man and the legend,” Elvis and Me remains a crucial read for anyone seeking to comprehend the intricacies of Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s intertwined lives.
In conclusion, why did Elvis and Priscilla divorce? The answer lies in a confluence of factors: Elvis’s infidelity and controlling nature, Priscilla’s yearning for independence and self-discovery, and the inherent pressures of their unconventional relationship, magnified by the intense scrutiny of fame. While their marriage ended in divorce, their story remains a poignant example of the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth, even within the extraordinary world of celebrity.
