Labeled by People Magazine as one of the greatest love stories
of the century, Elvis first met Priscilla Beaulieu in 1959 while serving
in the 3rd Armored Division as a jeep and truck driver in Bad Nauheim,
Germany. Elvis was 24-years-old and Priscilla was just
14-years-old.
From an excerpt of Priscilla's 1985 book, "Elvis and Me",
Priscilla stated, "The first six months I spent with him were filled
with tenderness and affection. Blinded by love, I saw none of his faults
or weaknesses. He was to become the passion of my life."
This great love that began in 1959 continued for 18 years, until
the death of Elvis August 16, 1977.
After Elvis' departure from Germany he and Priscilla "burned up
the long-distance wires" and Priscilla sent love letters to him in pink
envelopes. Elvis arranged for Priscilla to visit him at Graceland in
December 1960. By January of 1963, Elvis and Priscilla had convinced her
parents to let her move to Graceland to finish high school.
Elvis taught Priscilla how to fit into his lifestyle of movies,
Vegas, nightlife and parties at Graceland. Priscilla wrote, "He taught
me everything: how to dress, how to walk, how to apply makeup and wear
my hair, how to return love--his way". Elvis had Priscilla dye her
auburn hair black and pile it on top of her head a foot high.
Elvis proposed to Priscilla in December 1966 placing a 3 and
1/2-carat diamond on her hand. They were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on
May 1, 1966. After the wedding Elvis carried his new bride over the
treshold of their Los Angeles home while singing to her "The Hawaiian
Wedding Song."
Nine months after the ceremony, Priscilla gave birth to Elvis'
only child, Lisa Marie Presley.
In the early 1970's Priscilla started having an affair with a
karate teacher, Mike Stone. In February of 1972 she announced to a
shocked Elvis that she was leaving him.
It is said that when Priscilla asked Elvis for a divorce that he
was overcome by the loss of Priscilla and his daughter, Lisa. It was
reported that Elvis sat down in his suite in Las Vegas and wrote a
letter to God asking him to forgive him for any pain he may have caused
Priscilla and his daughter.
Elvis sang many songs on stage that seemed to be sung to
Priscilla including "Hurt", "Separate Ways", and "Always On My
Mind."
When the divorce was final, Priscilla received $1.7 million plus
$8,000 a month for 10 years.
Elvis and Priscilla remained the best of friends even after the
divorce. They called one another and discussed all of their life plans.
Both remained to be single up to Elvis' death in
1977. |