Former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Priscilla Presley is opening up about her life’s journey in a new memoir titled “Softly, As I Leave You: Life after Elvis”. The author shared the news exclusively with People magazine.
The book is set to be published on September 23rd by Grand Central Publishing. According to the exclusive People report, “Softly, As I Leave You: Life after Elvis” will offer an in-depth look into Presley’s personal and professional life following her marriage to Elvis Presley and his passing in 1977.
“This book covers eight decades of my life,” Presley said in a statement to People. “Writing it has been a learning experience on many levels. I have reflected deeply both on myself and on those I love. I have always loved and admired Elvis, but the more than four decades of living without him have taught me how rare and extraordinary he was as a human being.”
The memoir also features previously untold stories about Elvis and their time together, including insights into his life in Hollywood and their shared years during the height of his career. The book is currently available for preorder wherever books are sold.
Presley Reflects on Grief, Growth, and Her Life in the Public Eye
Priscilla Presley is widely recognized not only for her marriage to music icon Elvis Presley but also for her independent accomplishments. After Elvis’s death, she became a key figure in preserving his legacy, overseeing the transformation of Graceland into a public museum and helping to establish Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Presley is also known for her work as an actress, notably starring in the “Naked Gun” film series, and for her philanthropic and advocacy efforts over the years. Her memoir promises to delve into both the private and public aspects of her life, including moments of grief, personal transformation, and resilience.
In recent years, Presley has also navigated personal loss, including the death of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in January 2023. Presley shared in a statement to People that reliving painful memories while writing the book was emotionally difficult. “Reliving the trauma in my life has also been challenging,” she said. “I live with grief, and I have learned that it never goes away. I will never outlive it, but I move through it one day at a time. I carry every one of the people I have lost with me. I feel their presence, and I believe that my journey will eventually bring us back to one another.”
This upcoming book follows Presley’s 1985 memoir, “Elvis and Me“, which detailed her relationship with Elvis Presley. That book later served as the basis for the 2023 biopic “Priscilla”, directed by Sofia Coppola and adapted from Presley’s original account.
Presley’s Time on “Dancing with the Stars”
Presley appeared on season 6 of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2008, where she was partnered with professional dancer Louis van Amstel. At the time, she was one of the oldest contestants to compete on the show and credited the experience with helping her challenge herself in new ways. She remained in the competition through the halfway point of the season.
Her time on the show offered audiences a rare glimpse of her outside of acting and business. Presley embraced the physical and emotional demands of ballroom dancing, sharing later how the experience pushed her out of her comfort zone.
In a 2011 interview, she said, “It’s one of my biggest professional accomplishments, along with Naked Gun, which was also out of my comfort zone.”
