Priscilla Presley On Raising Her Two Kids: 'It's Important For Children To Have Family That Are Close'

Mar 09, 2022 by apost team

Elvis Presley is regarded as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century and is frequently dubbed "The King" for his incredible status in rock 'n' roll history. His energetic stage performances and provocative dancing skills gave him initial controversy but, in the end, led to long-term success and a lasting musical legacy.

Elvis' wife, Priscilla, was only married to him from 1967 until 1973. However, despite their short marriage, Priscilla dealt with a lot and also had some influence on Elvis' life and music. Elvis met Priscilla during his army career when she was just 14 years old. Their love affair led Priscilla to eventually move from Germany to join Elvis in Graceland. After many visits, Priscilla's parents let her move with Elvis to Tennessee in 1963, and the two tied the knot in 1967. Less than a year after the pair got married, their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was born.

Priscilla went on to date Brazilian screenwriter-turned-computer-programmer Marco Antonio Garcia from 1984 to 2006. During that time, they had one son together named Navarone Garibaldi, who was born in March 1987.

Priscilla lived on without her beloved and famous husband after his death, and found great success as a businesswoman and actress, graciously carrying on the Presley name. Her children went on to become very successful adults, finding careers for themselves in the entertainment industry, just like their parents. However, tragically, Lisa Marie passed away at the age of 54 on Jan. 12, 2023.

Read on to find out more about Priscilla's children, the late Lisa Marie and Navarone.

Becoming A Mother

In an interview with The Guardian in 2012, Priscilla talked about her life and relationship with Elvis. It was widely reported that Elvis groomed her as a teenager, making her dress and look the way he wanted her to. Priscilla explained:

"After we got married in May 1967, when I was 21, I got pregnant straight away. Initially I was devastated. I thought, 'Oh my gosh, here I am married and now I'm pregnant and I'm not going to look attractive anymore.' It was certainly a rocky time."

After giving birth to Lisa Marie on Feb. 1, 1968, Priscilla found that she was basically raising her child on her own. "Elvis wasn't a hands-on dad," she said. Fortunately, she "took naturally to becoming a mother," and did her best to raise Lisa Marie.

"I was the disciplinarian and there were times when Lisa didn't like it but you can't live life without boundaries," Priscilla explained. "I was very subtle and very calm, and she knows this now. Lisa was 4 when Elvis and I divorced and we were very civil and we really wanted him to stay in her life and they spent plenty of time together."

Her life as the child of a rock star helped Lisa Marie fit in well in Hollywood. Following in her father's footsteps, Lisa Marie went on to become a singer and songwriter and was the sole heir to Elvis' estate. She was married to many famous men, including musician Danny Keough, actor Nicolas Cage, music producer Michael Lockwood and the King of Pop – Michael Jackson.

Tragically, she died on Jan. 12. 2023. According to TMZ sources close to the scene, Lisa was pronounced dead after she was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital, where she was taken after suffering cardiac arrest that morning.

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Finding Their Own Sound

As Lisa Marie began her music career, she released her debut album "To Whom It May Concern" in April 2003. She played a big hand in the making of the album, writing almost every song featured. Her second album, "Now What," came out two years later and also did well on the music charts. However, she waited quite a bit of time to release her third album titled "Storm & Grace," which didn't come out until May 2012. Unlike her first two albums, which had a very rock-based sound, this record was more roots-based.

Lisa Marie's half-brother Navarone is also a famous musician. Navarone is the frontman of the rock band Them Guns, which was formed in 2013. Their sound is a blend of alternative and psychedelic rock, finding inspiration from bands like Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana.

Back in 2012, Priscilla talked about how her son didn't seem to have much interest in being in the spotlight. "He wants to do his own thing and I'm really proud of him," she said. "He doesn't want to step into the spotlight, and he's always been that way. He's not riding on Elvis and he's not riding on Lisa."

She added, "We have never been, 'Elvis this, Elvis that,' to our children because otherwise you're building up something that is almost unreachable for them."

Priscilla has enjoyed her life as a mother and as a grandmother, although the family has been beset with tragedies of late following the deaths of Lisa Marie and her late son, Benjamin Keough. "Family means a lot to me because I have a big family," she said. "...Sometimes things go really, really well and sometimes they don't but I think it's important for children to have family that are close, present and to know that they have that support."

What do you think about Priscilla Presley's two children, including the late Lisa Marie, and their careers? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends, too!