Beloved “Dancing With The Stars” Alum Priscilla Presley is opening her heart about one of the most challenging moments of her life, saying goodbye to her only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. In a tender new interview with People published on Sept. 17, the 80-year-old reflected on the day she made the painful decision to remove Lisa Marie from life support, calling it a moment that forever changed her family.
Priscilla Presley Recalls the Heartbreaking Day She Lost Lisa Marie
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)“It was the second saddest day of my life, other than losing Elvis,” Priscilla said. “It took a long time to come to terms with the fact that Lisa was gone.”
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA)She remembered waiting at the hospital with family as doctors confirmed what they feared.
“Lisa really wasn’t breathing, so she was on the ventilator. For hours we were there waiting, hoping and praying until the doctor came in and said, ‘Priscilla, I’m so sorry, she’s gone.’ We just couldn’t believe it — didn’t want to believe it. It was hard on all of us, it still is.”
Remembering Lisa Marie Presley’s Death in 2023
Lisa Marie died at age 54 on January 12, 2023, after suffering a small bowel obstruction, a complication linked to previous bariatric surgery. Her ex-husband, Danny Keough, found her unresponsive at home before rushing her to the hospital, where Priscilla joined him.
In her upcoming memoir, Softly, as I Leave You: Life After Elvis, Priscilla writes about walking into Lisa Marie’s hospital room and instantly knowing her daughter was gone. “She was hooked to a machine that was breathing for her, and she had a heartbeat. There was little brain activity. Her spirit, always so vital, wasn’t there,” she wrote.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Lisa Marie’s daughter, Riley Keough, later shared that she felt her mother’s spirit pass while she was still on a flight to the hospital.
Writing About Loss in Her Memoir
Priscilla is no stranger to personal tragedy. She also lost her grandson, Benjamin Keough, to suicide in 2020 at age 27. In her memoir, she reflects on how those devastating losses shaped her. “It hasn’t been easy at all,” she said. “But you have to find strength.”
The book also details Priscilla’s experiences helping her son Navarone, whom she shares with ex Marco Garibaldi, as he worked through addiction struggles and found sobriety.
‘Softly, as I Leave You’ Release Date
Priscilla’s memoir, Softly, as I Leave You: Life After Elvis, will be released on Sept. 23. The deeply personal book explores her journey of loss, resilience, and family. It is available now for preorder.
You would think her daughter would be her first greatest loss.