Inside Priscilla Presley's Relationship With Robert Kardashian
Who knew there were links between Graceland's rock 'n' royals and Calabasas' first family of reality TV? And we're not just talking about the Elvis Presley fans among the members of the Kardashian clan.
When Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker got married in Las Vegas in 2022, their officiant was an Elvis impersonator. On "The Kardashians," Kourtney recounted how he had her in hysterics because he couldn't keep up with which Kardashian was in front of him. "He was like, 'I, Khloé, take thee, Travis,' and I just lost my mind, fell straight on the floor, and we couldn't get up," she recalled (via Billboard). But according to Kim Kardashian, Rob Kardashian might be the biggest Elvis fan in the family. In a 2019 post on her Instagram Story (via The Blast), Kim revealed that she purchased a pair of gold rings once worn by the King himself for her baby bro's Christmas gift that year.
The Kardashians' love for Presley probably wasn't returned by his late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. In a 2005 AP interview (via Today), she revealed that she'd been approached many times about filming her own reality show, but said of the format, "You realize, look what these people are doing for money, degrading themselves for money, and that's just not appealing to me." She didn't know it at the time, but when Lisa Marie's mom, Priscilla Presley, dated Robert Kardashian, she had the opportunity to keep the Kardashians from existing as we know them.
Robert Kardashian made Kris Jenner jealous by dating Priscilla Presley
In her memoir, "Kris Jenner ... and All Things Kardashian," momager Kris Jenner writes about turning down a proposal from attorney Robert Kardashian, explaining that she felt like he was moving too fast. The rejection stung, and according to Jenner, Robert was unhappy that she had taken a job as a flight attendant. At the time, she believed that choosing her career over Robert was the right move, but then Robert made his own move that made her rethink her decision. "When I flew away, he began dating someone else right away: Priscilla Presley," Jenner wrote.
Soon, jealousy set in. "She was gorgeous, of course, petite and perfect and beautiful and famous. I would see pictures of her and just die," Jenner confessed. She learned that Priscilla had been introduced to Robert through his brother, Tommy Kardashian, who was dating the ex-wife of Elvis Presley's road manager.
For his unauthorized autobiography, "The Kardashians: An American Drama," author Jerry Oppenheimer spoke to those who witnessed Robert and Priscilla's romance blossoming firsthand. "Robert wasn't particularly attractive, but he was funny, personable, and very nice. Priscilla liked that about him," said Robert's close friend, Joni Migdal. As for Robert, Priscilla's ex made her an even more attractive partner in his eyes — he was a huge Elvis Presley fan, according to Migdal. Tommy revealed that Priscilla soon had Robert wrapped around her little finger and was getting him to change his behavior, from the way he dressed to how he drove.
Elvis Presley played a part in Robert Kardashian and Priscilla Presley's split
Kris Jenner remained in touch with Robert Kardashian while he was dating Priscilla Presley, revealing that Robert talked to her about their relationship and even asked for advice on gifts. In "Kris Jenner ... and All Things Kardashian," Jenner wrote, "Deep in my heart I was still hoping that Robert would be the guy for me."
According to "The Kardashians: An American Drama," Robert Kardashian desperately wanted to marry Priscilla, but the musician he so admired was coming between them. Priscilla couldn't completely cut the King out of her life because they shared a daughter, and one unnamed friend even recalled Kardashian saying that Priscilla would let Elvis Presley listen in if he called while the couple was having sex.
Kardashian's friends told conflicting accounts of why Priscilla and Kardashian called it quits. Larry Kraines claimed that Elvis' intrusion in Priscilla's life caused Kardashian to dump her, while Joni Migdal said that Priscilla got fed up with Kardashian's attempts to turn her into the perfect housewife. Priscilla purportedly told Kardashian, "Look, I'm not going to marry anyone until Elvis dies." By the time this came to pass in August 1977, Kardashian was dating Jenner again. Kardashian called Priscilla upon learning of Elvis' death, and Jenner worried that they would rekindle their old flame. But the following April, Kardashian popped the question and set Jenner on the path to becoming the successful momager she is today.