The Daily Star Ireland
Friday night’s Late Late Show country special delivered a mix of nostalgia, music, and heartfelt moments — with Priscilla Presley as the undisputed highlight of the evening. The Hollywood icon, famed for her roles in Dallas and The Naked Gun, joined host Patrick Kielty to share intimate memories of her life with Elvis Presley and to discuss her new memoir, Softly, As I Leave You – Life After Elvis.
Before Priscilla took the stage, The Three Amigos paid tribute to the King of Rock ’n’ Roll with a stirring rendition of The Wonder of You, setting the tone for an evening filled with emotion and reflection.
Priscilla on Life with Elvis: “He really was a country boy”
Sitting down with Kielty, Priscilla reflected warmly on her years with Elvis, describing him as “a country boy at heart” who had to quickly adjust to global fame. “All of a sudden he was in the limelight,” she said. “It takes a lot to get used to being famous.”
Kielty praised her new book for its honesty, to which Priscilla responded that it took her several years to complete. “I tried so many times to write a book, and I backed off for years,” she explained. “But now I’m getting older, and I don’t want anyone else telling my story. I wanted to tell the truth — to show how wonderful Elvis was.”
Though their marriage ended in 1973, she recalled their time together with deep fondness. “It was a very different life, living with the king of rock ’n’ roll,” she said with a smile. “It was really a guy’s world — I was the only woman.”
“Love was in the air”
Priscilla also opened up about meeting Elvis in Germany when she was just 14, while her father was stationed there with the U.S. military. “We met through a mutual friend,” she said. Her father, protective of his teenage daughter, met Elvis soon after to discuss his intentions. “After that, we started to develop a relationship,” she said. “Love was in the air.”
She spoke candidly about the insecurities that came with being married to a global superstar — “other girls were not shy,” she laughed — and shared lighthearted memories of her early attempts at cooking for Elvis, admitting, “I burned everything!”
Eventually, Priscilla said, she realized she needed to find her own path. “I had to find myself. I was totally lost,” she said. “But even after our divorce, we stayed very much in touch.”
Her tone turned somber as she recalled Elvis’s death in 1977: “It was very difficult. What a loss to the world — it was unbelievable.” She also touched on the pain of losing their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 2023.
John C. Reilly on Country Roots and Irish Inspiration
Hollywood star John C. Reilly also made a return appearance to the Late Late stage, ahead of his performance at Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre. Sharing his love for music, Reilly reminisced about growing up listening to The Clancy Brothers in Chicago.
“I didn’t really get into country music until I was older,” he admitted. “When I started to sing bluegrass and folk, I realised it’s all connected — storytelling from the heart.”
Reilly praised his fellow guests, including Irish country legends Philomena Begley, Susan McCann, Declan Nerney, and Daniel O’Donnell, calling it “an honour” to share the stage with them. “To me, music and acting are completely connected,” he added.
Sandy Kelly Honoured with the Irish Country Music Hall of Fame Award
The evening culminated in a special surprise for Irish singer Sandy Kelly, who was announced as the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee. Kelly was visibly emotional as Patrick Kielty presented her with the award, exclaiming, “Oh my goodness! I feel like I’ve won the Eurovision!”
Fighting back tears, she said, “It’s such an honour to be recognised like this. I want to dedicate it to everyone who has followed me over 50 years — my family, my peers, and my fans.”
Reflecting on her career, Kelly singled out her collaboration with Johnny Cash as a defining moment. “He was just a joy to work with,” she said. “I learned so much from him about humility and performance. He was the real deal.”
