One on one with Priscilla Presley before Hard Rock hosts the former wife of Elvis and iconic actress

Priscilla Presley Photo provided by Hard Rock Live

As the former wife of Elvis Presley, Priscilla Presley accompanied easily the most famous rock and roller ever and she continues to uphold their family’s legacy through ventures as varied as overseeing the Graceland Mansion, to writing the enormously anticipated “Elvis And Me” memoir and executive producing her ex-husband’s orchestral album “If I Can Dream.”

She’s also an actress, entrepreneur and humanitarian, starring for five years on the top-rated television soap opera “Dallas,” moving to the movies for “The Naked Gun” trilogy, becoming the subject of her very own film “Priscilla,” plus creating fashion, fragrance and home designs, all while partnering with the Dream Foundation and Humane Society.

The Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana gets a rare all access pass to it all and can even ask some questions during “An Evening With Priscilla Presley” on Saturday, September 21, though in the meantime, the iconic personality phoned Chicago Concert Reviews for a short but sweet preview.

What do you have planned for your evening at the Hard Rock Live?

Priscilla PresleyPriscilla Presley: Well, I’ve been doing this for a couple of years and it’s just really about my life. I have a moderator who will be with me and asking the questions, and I’ll take some questions from the audience as well towards the end. People seem to like it. They’ve always been curious about my life with Elvis, and how it started, and what it was like, and what he was like (laughs). It’s just something that I enjoy doing because I have the time right now and I have so many people asking a lot of questions, so it will be fun.

Do any previous appearances by yourself or alongside Elvis stand out from Chicagoland?

Presley: Elvis and I never did this [together]. He never went out and toured to do shows speaking with people cause he was a performer. I started doing this a couple of years ago, on and off, because I get so many questions. I get mail. “Can you please come to our city?” “Can you please talk to us?” It’s just really a conversation with Priscilla… discussing my life and how it all happened, the ups and downs.

What are some of the most popular subjects that come up from fans?

Presley: Elvis (laughs). Basically what it was like being married to probably the most famous person in the world that everyone knows. Every country knows who Elvis Presley is! There’s still, to this day, a lot of care for him, a [lot of] love for him and even with our relationship, how I met him in Germany and how all of that happened. So I think really what people are interested in is a lot about our life, a lot about his life, his ups and downs, of course his death, so there will be a lot. I’m giving a lot.

How about any of the more clever curveballs that have been thrown your way?

Presley: I always wait for that one (laughs). I wait for that one that’s gonna give that curveball (laughs), but to be honest with you, everyone has been really, really, really nice and very respectful toward me and that’s why I really enjoy doing this, to answer all these questions. I only have so many years to live now, so why not? (Laughs).

Priscilla PresleyHow have the recent “Elvis” and “Priscilla” movies contributed to these conversations?

Presley: Yes, they’re the two movies and people of course ask me questions about the movies. People seem to like the movies very much. They have questions that they want to have answered. I’m not going to tell you now because if I do, then it won’t be new (laughs), so yeah, I’ll answer any of those questions that they have if they’ve seen the movies.

In what ways were you hoping “Priscilla” would be similar but also different from your previous portrayal in the “Elvis And Me” miniseries?

Presley: You have to remember that’s my earlier life and I have learned a lot. I have experienced a lot, and as time goes on, that gives me a lot more to share with my audience, [such as] being in the news, having people say things that aren’t true, fans that were very jealous and didn’t like the fact that I married Elvis. They wouldn’t like anyone marrying Elvis (laughs). I never know really what questions are going to be asked, which I kind of like, but it’s a journey and everyone seems to enjoy it.

Practically the whole world watched you on “Dallas” for five years. People would probably like to know what you took away from your time on the show?

Presley: Oh wow, yeah, I’ll give that to them for sure. That was really one of the best times I’ve had as far as TV or even in acting, especially with Larry Hagman, and at that time, he was so popular. In fact, most of them were in the show, so I had a great experience. I truly did. I learned a lot from a few of those people there, telling me what their journeys were and how shocked they were that this show was so successful, and it made them successful, so that was a wonderful time as well. I enjoyed being on “Dallas.”

What was it like transitioning from such a dramatic television show towards comedy in the movies for “The Naked Gun” trilogy?

Priscilla PresleyPresley: It was great. I loved it. When I was asked to do the movie, when I read the script and realized it was a comedy, I didn’t understand why they wanted me to play Jane. I told the director, [David Zucker], “well, you know, I’m not a comedian.” And he said, “we don’t want a comedian. We’re not asking for it. If we wanted a comedian, we’d get a comedian. We just want you to do what you feel and your part in basically creating her.”That was a gift as well, so I didn’t have to go in with any structure. I could be and play who I felt Jane should be.

Have you ever considered making music?

Presley: No I have not. No, how could I do that with Elvis Presley? (Laughs)

Your daughter, Lisa Marie, was also an artist. What was it like for you watching her pursue that profession?

Presley: I loved it. She was always very talented. She used to sing in her room in front of a mirror with a hair brush as a mic. She would sing and I would go in and listen to her without her knowing I was there, just with a big smile on my face going, “oh my gosh, I hope she gets into the industry,” which she did. She started singing about eight or nine-years-old doing that with a little brush, and looking in the mirror, and singing songs that she liked, so I knew that she would be good at it and she was very good at it. She had a very different voice, caring. Her songs, I think, are beautiful. It’s hard for me to listen to them today. I still do, but it brings back so many memories.

What would you like people to remember most about her?

Presley: She was an artist of her own. My daughter was very, believe it or not, very shy. For her to get on stage was very difficult and I went with her most times and she felt comfortable having me there until she started to have a little bit more confidence. But she was very, very talented, and as a person, very caring for others. We’ll miss her very, very much.

Michael Jackson was once your son-in-law and he was arguably the only artist who ever came close to Elvis’ level of fame. Did you ever have a conversation with him about those parallels and how to handle it all?

Priscilla PresleyPresley: No I didn’t. I wasn’t around Michael that much. I wasn’t sure of Michael. I just didn’t know what his intentions were being with my daughter, of course being very famous, now even more so, I was just a little leery.

The most recent artist to ever come close to those two is Taylor Swift. Do you have any advice you would you offer to her?

Presley: I don’t think I need to advise her on anything (laughs). She does very well on her own, trust me. She is one wise girl knowing herself, knowing her talent. She is a true star. She really is.

The biggest difference between then and now is how social media and smart phones have made it practically impossible to maintain a sense of privacy. What do you make of all that?

Presley: It has, it has, and for us older people, it’s very difficult to give so much away or have others read things, and have input, and put it on social media. Yeah, it’s definitely different. I pretty much stay away from it though…

Would it be proper to call you the first lady of rock and roll, and if so, how do you feel about that title?

Presley: I don’t feel like the first lady of rock and roll. There’s a lot of singers that are first ladies in rock and roll. I don’t know. I know as a couple, we were revered really. I mean, at first the girls didn’t like the idea that I was married to Elvis. They always had dreams that they would marry Elvis (laughs). It was difficult for me until they got to know me. You have to remember I was a young girl. My father was stationed in Germany. I don’t want to give you all these answers because once I do the show, they’ll all be answered (laughs).


Priscilla Presley appears at Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana on Saturday, September 21. For additional details, visit PriscillaPresley.com and HardRockCasinoNorthernIndiana.com.