As fans from all over the world made their pilgrimage to Memphis to mark the 49th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, his former wife, Priscilla Presley, recalled their life together in an emotional social media message.
Though Priscilla did not attend this year's annual Candlelight Vigil at Graceland, she did honor the memory of her late former husband, posting a remembrance of Elvis. She shared a photo of the King with a quote at the top: "Some loves never leave us. They live quietly in our hearts, in our memories, and in the moments we never forget."
"Remembering Elvis today, and always," she wrote at the bottom of the post, which was accompanied by Elvis' "An American Trilogy (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)."
PRESLEY: Elvis fans say 'thank you' to the King at Graceland Candlelight Vigil
Priscilla, 81, was married to Elvis from 1967 to 1973. In 1968, the couple had their only child, Lisa Marie Presley, who died at 54 in 2023.
Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977, at the age of 42. Since then, fans have gathered by the thousands at Graceland each August, to commemorate the life and legacy of the King of Rock 'n' Roll with a Candlelight Vigil procession past Elvis' grave in the Meditation Garden at Graceland. The vigil begins the evening of Aug. 15 and extends into the wee hours of Aug. 16.
Priscilla Beaulieu met Elvis in 1959, at a party in Germany, where Elvis was stationed during his two years of Army service. Ten years younger than Elvis, Priscilla was living in Germany with her mother and stepfather, an Air Force officer named Paul Beaulieu. Smitten, Elvis arranged for Priscilla to move to Graceland in 1963, and she has remained connected to Elvis, his home and his work ever since, writing books and producing numerous film and television projects about the singer and otherwise working to keep his artistic legacy alive.
In 2025, Priscilla published a new book, "Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis.” Her first book, "Elvis and Me," was a runaway best-seller in 1985 that inspired several film and television adaptations, including Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla," in 2023.
Bob Mehr is the music writer at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at bob.mehr@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Priscilla Presley honors Elvis on 49th anniversary of his death
