Nearly five decades have passed since the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, died, but his ex-wife Priscilla Presley says time has not erased the weight of losing him. As the 49th anniversary of Elvis’ death approaches on August 16, Priscilla reflected on the loss during a recent interview with WSM Radio in Nashville.
Priscilla Presley Says Losing Elvis Was ‘Very, Very, Very Difficult’
Priscilla visited WSM ahead of her August 15 appearance at The Mulehouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where she is scheduled to take part in “An Intimate Evening With Priscilla Presley.“
Her answer was brief, but deeply personal. “Losing Elvis was very, very, very difficult for me. He was an amazing human being,” she said, as per Parade. Priscilla and Elvis married in 1967 and divorced in 1973. His death at age 42 on August 16, 1977, came only four years later. Her comments come as fans from around the world gather in Memphis for Elvis Week, the annual celebration honoring the singer’s life and lasting legacy.
The conversation gave her another opportunity to look back at the man she knew before his fame became nearly incomprehensible. She has spoken candidly through the years about how difficult it was to process that he was suddenly gone.
Recalling his funeral during an earlier interview with Today in 2018, she said, “I was still shocked. It was just too hard to believe.”
Priscilla Presley Remembers Elvis Before His Fame Exploded
GettyDuring her latest Nashville visit, Priscilla also reflected on Elvis’ early career and his first Grand Ole Opry appearance in October 1954. She said Elvis “felt that he needed to tell his story because here he was, you know, at that time when he first came out, people thought, ‘Who in the heck is this guy?’ and ‘Oh my God, those movements he’s making!'”, as per Commercial Appeal.
Priscilla said those famous movements were simply part of how Elvis experienced the music.
Getty“That was just natural for him when he was singing, or especially songs he cared about; it was just what he felt. It wasn’t for anything else. And, boy, he kind of got it in the beginning!”
Looking back at how quickly everything changed for him, she added, “He was ready to take off. But he didn’t realize it would be as big as it was.”
Priscilla Presley Still Remembers Elvis’ Laughter
For Priscilla, memories of Elvis extend beyond his career and the enormous public reaction to his death.
In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,“ she remembered the private side of the superstar, describing him as “so outgoing, yet so private.”
“A lot of fun, a lot of laughter. He had the best laugh ever,” she continued. “When he started laughing we all started laughing. We never knew what we were laughing about.”
She has also recalled the disbelief surrounding August 16, 1977. “It’s a day we all remember,” Priscilla said. “It was hard to believe.”
She added, “Who would have ever thought this would happen, that we’d lose him. The line of people who came to Elvis’ funeral, from all different countries around the world, it was just unbelievable.”
Graceland Marks 49 Years Since Elvis Presley’s Death
Those memories will take on added meaning this weekend as Elvis Week reaches its most emotional moment.
Graceland’s annual Candlelight Vigil is scheduled for August 15 at 8:30 p.m., the evening before the anniversary of Elvis’ death. Fans traditionally gather at the gates before walking toward the Meditation Garden to pay their respects. Graceland is also offering a free livestream of this year’s vigil.
The commemoration comes 49 years after Elvis’ death, but Priscilla’s latest words suggest some losses never become merely historical.
