Priscilla Presley Addresses Rumors That Elvis Is Still Alive

Priscilla Presley is dismissing long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding her late ex-husband, Elvis Presley, specifically one that claims he is still alive.

Nearly 47 years after the King of Rock and Roll died of heart failure in 1977, Priscilla Presley, now 80, is putting an end to online speculation that he faked his death.

"There's been so much that's untruthful out there — things like Elvis is still alive and hidden somewhere," Priscilla told People in a September cover story. "I wish he was still alive."

In addition to shutting down the rumors, Priscilla reflected on her relationship with Elvis, which began in 1959 when she was only 14 years old.

"I met him at such a young age I didn't have time to think about life yet," she said. "Even when dating him, I'd think, 'What am I going to do? I don't want to be a nurse. I don't want to be a teacher. I don't want to be a secretary. What can [I] do?' Other things happened, and I love every moment."

Priscilla went on to recall the difficult decision to leave her marriage to Elvis, explaining how much of her life had been defined by being with him.

When she left Elvis at age 27, she had already spent half of her life as either his wife or girlfriend, moving directly from her parents' home into his. Having known little about the world outside of his influence, the decision was both terrifying for her and difficult for fans to understand.

She emphasized that her choice was not because her love for Elvis had faded — she loved him just as deeply then as she had on their wedding day — but because she needed a life of her own. While Elvis was on a search for meaning in his own life, Priscilla felt she also needed to embark on her own journey of self-discovery.