The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Guest: Priscilla Presley
Air Date: September 29, 2025
Episode Theme:
An intimate and revealing conversation with Priscilla Presley about her new memoir, Softly As I Leave You, her life with Elvis, her own journey toward independence, reflections on her acting career, and thoughts about cinematic portrayals of her life.

Episode Overview

Stephen Colbert welcomes Priscilla Presley, who has just published a memoir titled Softly As I Leave You. The episode focuses on Presley's personal and professional evolution—from her formative years with Elvis, through a challenging departure, to finding her individual identity and career. Discussion covers the significance of her memoir, memories of Elvis, her acting experiences (notably in Dallas and The Naked Gun), and her views on recent film adaptations of her story.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Memoir: Softly As I Leave You

• Title Significance & Motivation
  • The title reflects the pain and complexity of leaving Elvis (“It's really my life with Elvis and how difficult it was to leave.” - Priscilla Presley, 02:13).
  • Writing the book was emotional and challenging: “He was the love of my life... The type of life was very fast... I was surrounded by six guys. There was no other women.” (02:22)
  • Decision to write: After years of requests, Priscilla wanted to take ownership of her narrative and clarify public misconceptions: “Because I have a lot to say. I think people would be very interested in it... I've been asked many, many times, am I going to do a book? So I figured it was time.” (03:28)
  • Importance of telling her side of the story: “Was it important to you to tell your own story so that people don't sort of characterize you in ways you don't approve of?”
    “Absolutely.” (03:47–03:54)

2. Early Life and Challenges Within Elvis’s World

• Marriage and Young Adulthood
  • Met Elvis at 14, married at 21, and separated in early 30s.
  • Life around Elvis was isolating—she was often the only woman in an all-male entourage.
  • She left not because she lacked love but due to the overwhelming lifestyle:
    “Listen, I didn't leave because I didn't love Elvis. I love him to this day. It was just... the lifestyle was very difficult. I had a little girl... It was a guy's world, completely a guy's world. And I kind of felt a bit left out.” (06:03)
  • Discovery of self-worth by pursuing dance and new interests:
    “I started taking dance classes... I love being, you know, being out there and doing something that I like to do and love to do actually... I started feeling confident and feeling like I can do something too.” (06:03–07:11)

3. Establishing Her Own Career

• Acting Highlights
  • Broke into television as Jenna Wade on Dallas.
    • Colbert: “You're right about making a name for yourself as an actress. We all remember you playing Jenna Wade on Dallas.” (03:56)
  • Starred as Jane Spencer in The Naked Gun series; initially hesitant due to lack of comedic experience:
    • “I told the director, you know, I'm not a comedian. I said, I don't know why I'm here... He said, you know, I'm not looking for a comedian. You just go with the flow, you know.” (04:30)
    • Worked closely with Leslie Nielsen, who helped her adjust to comedy on set—even improvising, sometimes to her confusion and amusement.

4. Reflections on Cinematic Portrayals

• Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla
  • Accurate and emotionally resonant, though she wishes it were longer: “I did. I thought, I wish it were longer. They only gave her so much time. And she wished she could do it longer, too.” (07:25)
• Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis
  • Praised Baz's energetic style but felt the story was incomplete:
    “I think it could have been better. I wish there was again, more time.” (07:52)
  • Colbert notes Luhrmann captured the enormity of Elvis’s presence, especially in the Vegas era, which Priscilla agrees with but still hopes for a fuller story in the future:
    “Absolutely, it was. I just wish you could complete it. There was much more that he could have said.” (08:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leaving Elvis:

  • “Listen, I didn't leave because I didn't love Elvis. I love him to this day. It was just... the lifestyle was very difficult.”
    —Priscilla Presley [06:03]

• On Her Decision to Write the Memoir:

  • “Because I have a lot to say... people would be very interested in it...”
    —Priscilla Presley [03:28]

• On Acting With Leslie Nielsen:

  • “Actually, Leslie was very funny, so it was easy. He would come out with stuff... the camera's on, we're supposed to be doing the scene, and he's talking gibberish to me... I go, Leslie, are you okay?”
    —Priscilla Presley [04:30]

• On Finding Herself:

  • “I started taking dance classes... and I figured out this is what I love to do... and I started feeling confident and feeling like I can do something too.”
    —Priscilla Presley [06:03–07:11]

• On Future Storytelling:

  • “Well, you should write another book.”
    —Stephen Colbert [08:20]
  • “I may.”
    —Priscilla Presley [08:21]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:39] — Guest Introduction and memoir topic
• [02:13] — Title significance of Softly As I Leave You
• [03:28] — Motivation for writing the memoir
• [04:30] — Priscilla's experience on The Naked Gun
• [06:03] — Challenges in Elvis's world and finding self
• [07:25] — impressions on Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla
• [07:52] — Reflections on Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis
• [08:20] — Closing banter about future storytelling

Episode Tone and Takeaways

Colbert’s signature warmth and humor guide a discussion that’s both revealing and respectful. Priscilla Presley’s candor shines as she peels back layers of public perception, sharing vulnerability, humor from her Hollywood days, and wisdom drawn from her journey toward independence. The episode offers a poignant mix of nostalgia, self-discovery, and Hollywood anecdotes—making it a must-listen for fans of Elvis, classic television, or anyone interested in personal transformation.