Priscilla Presley Recalls Emotional Farewell to Elvis at His Funeral

Nearly 48 years after Elvis Presley's death, his ex-wife Priscilla Presley is opening up about the emotional experience of his 1977 funeral in her new memoir. According to Priscilla, the public viewing of Elvis' open casket at Graceland was met with "crowds of strangers" waiting to pay their respects, as the streets near his Memphis estate were filled with thousands of grieving fans.

Priscilla recalls the funeral being a national television event, with the large crowds prompting President Jimmy Carter to call in the Air National Guard to assist local police. She describes the scene as "hot and muggy," with some in the crowd fainting from the heat and their overwhelming emotions.

In the privacy of Graceland's living room and music room, Priscilla sat with Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, and their daughter Lisa Marie Presley to say a final goodbye. Priscilla writes that she was "numb with grief" at the time, unable to fully accept that Elvis was gone. "Lisa and I waited until we could be alone with Elvis to say goodbye... Then we each kissed him one last time. I'm not sure it hit me until then that he was really gone," she reflects.

Even decades later, Priscilla remains saddened by the loss of her former husband, admitting "a large part of me died" with him. She continues to push back against conspiracy theories that Elvis faked his death, emphasizing her wish that "he was still alive."