Priscilla Presley Opens Up About What ‘Freed’ Her from Being Known as Just Elvis Presley’s Wife

Priscilla Presley managed to carve out an identity of her own separate from her famous ex-husband, rock legend Elvis Presley — and she’s now reflecting on the projects she believes have contributed to that.

During a solo panel at Rhode Island Comic Con on Friday, Nov. 1, the actress and businesswoman opened up about various aspects of her life, including her late former husband Elvis. Amid the Q+A portion of the session, a fan had asked Priscilla about the many projects she went on to do following her divorce from the “Jailhouse Rock” crooner, which one she felt best represented herself “as Priscilla rather than Elvis’s ex.”

“I think the movies that I’ve done. I think of just, basically, it was my choice,” Priscilla, 79, said before referencing specific projects. “The movies I loved and, I mean, Naked Guns. Being on Dallas was great.”

“That really freed me a bit of being my own person,” she added.

Priscilla’s career as an actress led to her playing Jane Spencer in the Naked Gun film trilogy and Jenna Wade in Dallas. She also had roles in major projects like Melrose Place, Spin City and Agent Elvis.

Outside of acting, she is the co-founder and former chairperson of Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Elsewhere during the panel, Priscilla spoke to the legacy her former spouse — who died on August 16, 1977, at age 42 — built throughout his own career, even sharing her thoughts on her favorite era of his music.

“I think the first, when he first started out, I mean he picked those songs himself, but he wasn’t so controlled by Colonel,” she said, referencing Colonel Thomas Andrew Parker’s control over Elvis’ career as his manager. “He was pretty free to be him, even with the first movies. He loved what he did. [Everything changed] just when Colonel started coming in and picking out what he felt that he should be doing.”

Also, on the topic of people covering Elvis’ music, Priscilla said: “I don’t mind it.”

“It’s certainly not Elvis, but I think it’s keeping his name out there with the younger people, and I know a lot of people who have taken their kids to see the cover, the, what do you call it? Impersonators. And these little kids are loving it,” she added. “At first, I didn’t like it. Then, I was seeing what’s happening with these kids, young kids who are dressed like Elvis. Five-year-olds. I’m thinking it’s keeping him in the picture, alive, and so, I don’t mind it.”

Priscilla met the King of Rock & Roll when she was 14 years old while he was 24. However, they didn’t go on to wed until May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas when she was 21.

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They welcomed one child together, daughter Lisa Marie Presley, in February 1968 before their 1973 divorce. Lisa died in January 2023 at age 54. (Priscilla also shares son Navarone Garibaldi with ex Marco Garibaldi.