Elvis Presley is the King of Rock, but the question is, why? Elvis inspired many past and present, and has influenced the music industry greatly. To many, Elvis is the greatest rock n’ roll star to ever live, but behind his stage curtain he possessed a much darker side. 

When Elvis was in Bad Nauheim, Germany, according to Today magazine, he met Priscilla Wagner at a home party at his apartment on September 13th, 1959. She was 14 and he was 24 and was instantly drawn in by her, but the age difference makes it questionable. When he left Germany, they did not see each other for another three years until she convinced her parents to let her finish out highschool in Memphis, Tennessee. “Three years later and 5,500 miles away I would meet him,” Priscilla told People Magazine in 1985. 

Since Priscilla was still so young, Elvis claimed that she was “young enough I can train her any way I want” to his friend Rex Mansfield from Biography. She was in fact impressionable, telling Biography she believed herself to be “Elvis’ little doll.” She wanted to be the perfect girl for him, worthy of his love and attention. He met her parents on only the 4th date, seeing as they hadn’t been going out very long, stated in Biography. Elvis said to the father, “I happen to be very fond of her. She’s a lot more mature than her age and I enjoy her company … you don’t have to worry about her, Captain. I’ll take good care of her.” He won over her parents, winning her over as well, trapping Priscilla into a relationship at such a young and impressionable age. 

Few years later, Elvis’ management pressured marriage, and inevitably they did get married. They were together for six years with many ups and downs, the first being having a child together in the first year of marriage. When Priscilla was still pregnant with Lisa Marie (Elvis and Priscilla’s child), Elvis decided to leave Priscilla. He claims he had to separate because “he was going through some things” she says to Today magazine. This leads people to believe that Elvis couldn’t handle the idea of being a father, or Priscilla being a mother. 

During their marriage, Elvis cheated on Priscilla multiple times, which isn’t surprising considering who he is, and the amount of women who wanted him. Priscilla believed that “he couldn’t be able to make love to a woman who had a child.” He was not attracted to her anymore due to her being a mother, which affected Priscilla’s view on herself and if she was worthy of the King of Rock and Roll. In regard to Elvis cheating on her, Priscilla on Today magazine responded with “I don’t know if he was ever cut out to be married because I don’t think he could ever be faithful to one woman.” 

Elvis didn’t treat Priscilla with respect or love, just lust and obsession. She was so young and didn’t understand she was being groomed into a relationship with a man 10 years older than herself. As she found what she thought was true love, she lost herself in the process, and it just made the “King of Rock n’ Roll” more famous and desirable.