Softly As I Leave You
- Judith D Collins
- Sep 22
- 6 min read
Life After Elvis—A Memoir
Narrator: Priscilla Presley
ISBN: 9781668648346
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Hachette Audio
Publication Date: 09/23/2025
Format: Audiobook & E-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC) (ARC)
The long-awaited memoir by Priscilla Presley chronicling her difficult, inspiring journey beyond the walls of Graceland and behind the elegant image the world sees.
Priscilla Presley’s divorce from Elvis left his fans incredulous. How could she leave the man every woman wanted? From the outside, life in Elvis’s mansion looked glamorous and enviable, and in many respects, it was. But inside the mansion, her husband was constantly surrounded by a male entourage while at the gates, lines of beautiful women waited hopefully for an audience with the King. From the time she was seventeen years-old, that life was all Priscilla had known. During her ten years with Elvis, it became painfully apparent that she had no idea who she was outside Elvis’s world. The only way to find herself was to leave that world and seek a new life of her own, because leaving was the only way to survive, for herself and for her daughter.
Softly, As I Leave You, is the deeply personal story of what Priscilla lost and what she found when she walked away from the man she loved. Despite the legal separation, their love for one another transformed into a touching and tender dynamic that endured until Elvis’s untimely death four years later. Shattered by Elvis’s passing, she had to reinvent herself a second time as the single mother of a talented, often headstrong daughter who never really recovered from her father’s death. Priscilla’s dedication to motherhood was enriched by the birth of her second child, and she gradually found her footing as a businesswoman, actress, designer, and legislative advocate. She transformed Graceland into an international destination and helped guide the development of Elvis Presley Enterprises. But the unexpected, shattering loss of three immediate family members years later brought Priscilla to her knees. She shares her journey with a quiet dignity that will comfort and reassure anyone who has suffered – and survived – seemingly unbearable loss.
A compassionate, and inspiring story of finding your place in the world, Softly, As I Leave You, is a sweet Southern melody that will take the reader with Priscilla on her long road home.
My Review
Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, an iconic figure, presents her highly anticipated, heartfelt, and emotional memoir, SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU: Life After Elvis, co-authored with Mary Jane Ross:
In this heartfelt narrative, she gently guides readers through her poignant and often challenging journey beyond the walls of Graceland and the polished image that the world has come to know.
About...
In her memoir, Priscilla reflects on the profound transformations she experienced following her divorce from Elvis, stepping into a new chapter of her life without the rock star and cultural icon by her side.
Like many women and mothers of her generation, Priscilla was raised with the ideals of nurturing a partner and seeking security. While attending charm school, mastering the art of fashion and makeup, and creating a warm home environment, while navigating complex relationships.
Her relationship with Elvis began when she was just fourteen; however, it didn’t blossom into romance until she turned seventeen, waiting until their marriage at twenty-one to fully embrace their intimacy—a testament to the ten-year age difference between them.
Surrounded by beautiful women, Elvis was not always the faithful husband and had a temper. From the tender age of seventeen, Priscilla found herself in a world that revolved around him. Despite his generosity, they were not equals, and she strived to embody the ideal Southern wife.
Throughout her decade with Elvis, it became increasingly evident that she had lost her own identity outside of his sphere. The only path to rediscovering herself was to step away from that life and forge a new one, both for her own sake and for her daughter, Lisa Marie. Even after their divorce, they maintained a friendship, and the loss of Elvis left her heartbroken.
The book explores several key themes:
~ Her Complex Relationship with Elvis: It delves into the enduring and evolving love they shared, even after their separation, and a strong friendship until his untimely passing.
~ Life Beyond Graceland: The narrative chronicles her efforts to transform Elvis's home into a renowned historical site and her commitment to preserving his legacy.
~Personal reinvention: Following Elvis's death, Presley had to redefine herself, and the book covers her journey as a businesswoman, actress, and producer. Also, her life in movies and her time on Dallas, the popular nighttime soap opera, and The Naked Gun. Her work included transforming Graceland into a major tourist attraction, a key part of her role in managing Elvis's legacy.
~Her children, family, tragedy: She writes about raising her children, Lisa Marie and Navarone, the joy of motherhood, and grandmother to four. The memoir also shares her experience with profound grief, especially the loss of her grandson, Benjamin Keough, and her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
~ Her Later Life, and Advocacy: Highlighting her ongoing dedication to her children, to animal advocacy, and her efforts to make a significant difference in that realm.
~Emotional Journey: Presley shares her experiences with loss, including the deaths of her daughter and grandson, and how she moves through grief.
~Behind-the-Scenes Insights: The book offers never-before-shared details about Elvis, his struggles in Hollywood, and his legacy.
My thoughts...
In reflecting on SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU, one finds a deeply personal, nostalgic account of her intricate relationship with Elvis and the life that unfolded afterward. Despite their legal separation, the love they shared blossomed into a tender and enduring bond that lasted until his tragic death four years later.
After Elvis’s passing, Priscilla faced the profound loss while reinventing her life as a single mother to a talented and often strong-willed daughter, who also struggled to cope with her father's death.
Her dedication to motherhood deepened with the birth of her second child, and she gradually established herself as a fashion icon, a businesswoman, an actress, a designer, and an advocate for important causes.
Priscilla played a pivotal role in transforming Graceland into an international landmark and guided the development of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
However, the unexpected and devastating loss of three close family members later in her life brought her to a place of vulnerability. With quiet dignity, she shares her journey, offering comfort and reassurance to anyone who has experienced and survived what may seem like insurmountable grief. She candidly discusses her relationships with her children, especially Lisa Marie, and the ongoing challenges they faced together.
SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU is beautifully narrated with style and grace, inviting fans to discover the remarkable woman behind the gates of Graceland and the legacy of Southern rock and roll.
The audiobook...
As for the audiobook, I had the pleasure of both reading the book and listening to the audiobook, which is narrated poignantly by Priscilla Presley herself. Her compassionate and understanding voice brings to life her journey of loss, love, grief, tragedy, and reinvention, captivating listeners and fans with an engaging and memorable performance.
Special thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 23, 2025
Praise
"A heartfelt record of stepping into one’s own." —Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Priscilla Beaulieu Presley is a businesswoman, author, designer, producer, and actress best known for her roles in the television drama Dallas and the Naked Gun movies. As the cofounder and former chairperson of Elvis Presley Enterprises, she is credited with turning Elvis Presley's mansion, Graceland, into the second most visited historic home in the United States. As a key architect of the Elvis Presley legacy, she has curated and produced albums, books, films, and concerts honoring the late music legend. She lives in Los Angeles near her son and grandchildren, where she continues her lifelong commitment to animal advocacy.
Mary Jane Ross is an award-winning college professor and writer, honored with the NAACP Image Award for Best Biography or Autobiography, with Ray Charles Robinson. Her collaborations span subjects as diverse as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Piper Laurie, Mafia hitman Roy DeMeo, and Congressmember Nancy Mace. Softly, As I Leave You, with Priscilla Presley, marks her ninth memoir. Her body of work also includes poetry and an online grammar textbook for second-language students. She lives in her native Southern California.
