Priscilla Presley is offering a candid look at her daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s brief marriage to Michael Jackson in her upcoming memoir, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis.
In an excerpt shared by The Sun, Priscilla expresses her disapproval of the 1994 wedding, calling it “appalling.” She believed Jackson was more interested in marrying into the Presley family’s legacy than truly loving Lisa Marie.
Priscilla describes Jackson as “manipulative” and suggests he had his sights set on Lisa Marie long before she understood his intentions. She recalls asking her daughter if their relationship was physical, and Lisa Marie confirmed it was.
Priscilla also notes that the relationship was “bizarre,” with Jackson avoiding adult interactions and preferring to socialize with children.
When Jackson expressed a desire to start a family, Priscilla urged her daughter to delay. After Lisa Marie filed for divorce in 1996, Priscilla felt a sense of relief, writing, “I could practically hear Elvis sigh with relief.”
Lisa Marie’s own memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, shares a different perspective on their relationship, including Jackson’s claim that he was a virgin when they began dating.
Both Jackson and Lisa Marie went on to have children with other partners. Jackson had children with his second wife Debbie Rowe and a surrogate, while Lisa Marie had children with ex-husband Danny Keough and later Michael Lockwood.
Jackson passed away in 2009, and Lisa Marie passed away in 2023 at the age of 54. Priscilla’s memoir is set for release on September 23.
