Introduction
In a special appearance on The Late Show, Priscilla Presley—actress, businesswoman, and the woman forever linked with the legend of Elvis Presley—opened up about her new memoir, Softly, As I Leave You. She described the book as “very difficult to write,” since it revisits her years with Elvis, their deep yet turbulent love, and the painful decision to leave him—a turning point that shaped the rest of her life.
Priscilla recalled meeting Elvis at just 14, beginning to date at 17, and marrying him at 21. Their marriage lasted 11 years before ending in divorce, but her love for Elvis never faded. “I didn’t leave because I stopped loving him. I love Elvis to this day. But the lifestyle was too difficult,” she admitted. Life revolved around Elvis and his inner circle of men, often leaving her feeling isolated. Finding dance classes, the gym, and eventually acting gave her confidence and a sense of identity beyond the towering shadow of Elvis.
Beyond her personal life, Priscilla spoke about her acting career. From her role as Jenna Wade on Dallas to her unforgettable comedic performances alongside Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun films, she confessed she was hesitant at first: “I told the director, ‘I’m not a comedian.’ But Leslie made it easy. He was so funny, and working with him was a joy.”
During the conversation, she also reflected on two recent films about Elvis. About Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, she said it was a good film but “I wish it had been longer” to capture more of the story. Regarding Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, she praised its grand scale and energy in portraying Elvis’ impact, especially during the Vegas years, but added, “There was so much more that could have been told.”
Ultimately, Priscilla emphasized that the main reason for writing Softly, As I Leave You was to share her story in her own words, rather than letting others define it for her. For her, the memoir is both a personal release and a gift to those who have always wondered what it was truly like to live with the King of Rock and Roll.