Actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist Priscilla Presley, is bringing An Evening with Priscilla Presley, Life After Elvis to Ōtautahi Christchurch and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland next week, where she will be joined by moderators in each city. Music journalist Charlotte Ryan will join Priscilla in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and journalist and broadcaster Victoria Meakin will join in her Ōtautahi Christchurch.
An Evening with Priscilla Presley, Life After Elvis follows the release of Priscilla’s long-awaited memoir Softly, As I Leave You, a deeply personal story of what Priscilla lost and what she found when she walked away from Elvis Presley, the man she loved.
On Wednesday November 19, An Evening with Priscilla Presley, Life After Elvis will be visiting the Isaac Theatre Royal in Ōtautahi Christchurch before heading to the Bruce Mason Centre on Thursday November 20 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Tickets and further information at livenation.co.nz.
Priscilla Presley’s impact on popular culture extends beyond her association with Elvis. She has established herself as a prominent actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Her efforts to preserve Elvis’s legacy and her own achievements in various fields have solidified her place in history.
Priscilla Presley became an instant audience favorite portraying Jenna Wade on Dallas, the most successful evening "soap opera" style television drama of its time. During her five years on the series, she generated mass audience appeal, becoming one of the show's most popular leading ladies. Priscilla then displayed her comedic talents in the box office smash The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! reprising her role in The Naked Gun 2½ and The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.
Beyond acting, Priscilla has been a shrewd businesswoman. In 1979, Priscilla became co-executor of the Presley Estate and has since brought the Presley Estate from a burgeoning entity into a phenomenally successful organisation consisting of the famous Graceland Mansion, a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television and video projects. In 2005, EPE (Elvis Presley Enterprises) partnered with Bob Sillerman and CKX Entertainment to build and extend the Graceland brand worldwide. Priscilla sat on the CKX Board as a director. With that relationship dissolving in 2013, the company now partners with private company ABG (Authentic Brand Group) to help with the expansion of Elvis’ popularity globally. She has played a crucial role in helping preserve Elvis’s legacy and turning Graceland into one of the most visited homes in America.
Priscilla continues to be a steward for the Elvis Presley legacy. Serving as an executive producer, she was closely involved in the creation and development of two No. 1 Elvis Presley albums (If I Can Dream & The Wonder of You) and a sold-out UK & European live concert arena tour. In keeping with Priscilla’s passion for revitalising Elvis’s hometown, she actively oversaw the design elements for The Guest House at Graceland, a new hotel which opened in Memphis in Fall 2016. The property marked the largest hotel project in Memphis in nearly 100 years, and it’s helped infuse additional economic prosperity in the city as well as offer a new cultural experience for its visitors.
Priscilla has recently been involved in two notable film projects related to her life with Elvis Presley. She served as an executive producer for the award-winning film Elvis(2022), directed by Baz Luhrmann. The film Priscilla (2023), directed by Sofia Coppola, was an adaptation of Priscilla’s memoir Elvis and Me, which details her life with Elvis. She also was an Executive Producer on the Sony/Netflix animated seriesAgent King, fulfilling the dream of Elvis always wanting to be a federal secret agent.
Born in New York, her father's career as an Air Force officer enabled the family to travel extensively. She attended high school in Wiesbaden, West Germany, where she met her future husband, Elvis Presley. Although Priscilla and Elvis divorced in 1973, they remained very close until the time of his death.
For 25 years, Priscilla has continued to her work as an Ambassador to the Dream Foundation, the only charity that grants final wishes to terminally ill adults.
Priscilla continues to be a beloved figure, admired for her resilience, business acumen, and dedication to maintaining the legacy of the King of Rock and Roll.