Elvis Presley’s ex Linda Thompson ‘devastated and shocked’ by Lisa Marie Presley’s death

Together with the fans Lisa Marie Presley andHe is being remembered by those who shared part of their lives with the only son of legendary rocker Elvis Presley following his sudden death at the age of 54 after suffering cardiac arrest.

Among them: Linda Thompson, who witnessed Elvis shower Lisa Marie with love as a toddler when he dated the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll for four years, from 1972 to late 1976.

In an interview with People, Thompson, 72, confessed to being “absolutely devastated and shocked” when she learned of his death on Thursday, four days after attending Elvis’s annual birthday celebration at Graceland and less than 48 hours after his appearance at the Globes. Gold in support. from the recent Elvis biopic.

Heartbroken: Elvis Presley’s ex-girlfriend Linda Thompson, 72, is mourning the death of Lisa Marie Presley, sharing for the first time on Instagram after confirmation of her death: ‘My heart is too heavy for the words”

“I was so happy to see her at Graceland to celebrate what would have been Elvis’s 88th birthday and then of course at the Golden Globes,” Thompson, 72, revealed of Lisa Marie, who was four when she met. they got married first meet.

Both were rare public appearances for the mother of four. since the tragic suicide of her late son Benjamin Keough, 27, in July 2020.

“She seemed to be on a more positive trajectory emotionally after the unfathomable loss of her beloved son, Benjamin,” the former actress and pageant winner said of Lisa Marie.

Thompson was 22 when she met the Jailhouse Rock star in the summer of 1972, shortly after he split from Priscilla Presley, when she attended a private screening of a movie hosted by Elvis at the Memphian Theater in Memphis.

Public Appearance: Lisa Marie went to the Golden Globes in support of Elvis (2022) biopic star Austin Butler, who played Elvis Presley, and director/co-writer Baz Luhrmann; Lisa Marie was accompanied by her mother Priscilla Presley at the event held on Tuesday, January 10.

Heartbroken: Presley had made few public appearances in the wake of the suicide death of his son, Benjamin Keough, aged 27 in July 2020; they are pictured together in January 2012

During those four years that they dated, she was able to see how similar Lisa Marie was to her loving dad, and she called him “strange”.

“She had his deep, soulful eyes, his full lip and his raucous, irreverent sense of humour. She was a beautiful contradiction like Elvis…complicated in the simplicity of her,’ said the singer-songwriter, who released three studio albums during her own career between 2003 and 2012.

Thompson continued: “She was brutally honest, direct, loving and loyal. I don’t think there was a false cell in her body. I think she lived her life authentically.

The two Memphis natives kept in touch over the years, according to Thompson, who said they recently communicated via text message.

“In fact, the last message he sent me was a simple ‘I love you Linda’ with a heart emoji,” she shared.

The Way We Were: Thompson was 22 when she began dating Elvis Presley in 1972, when Lisa Marie was four, which lasted until late 1976.

On Sunday, January 8, fans around the world remembered Elvis on what would have been his 88th birthday.

“There have been many famous people throughout history, but none more famous than the iconic legend that was Elvis,” Thompson wrote in an Instagram post along with a variety of photos of the former couple. ‘January 8th would have been Elvis’s 88th birthday! There are 88 keys on the piano… and something tells me they’re all playing for Elvis in heaven today. Having to share years of living and sharing love with this man will always feel like a fairy tale to me. I am so grateful for the rarefied memories that I cherish. Happy Heavenly Birthday “Buntin”!

And then just a few days later came the initial news reports. Lisa Marie’s health emergency at her home in Calabasas, California. He would take to Instagram again, posting a series of snaps of her and Elvis with Lisa Marie.

“I am praying fervently for someone I have always held so near and dear to my heart @lisampresley,” she wrote in the caption, adding: “Please join me in sending your best thoughts, love, prayers and well wishes for a full and speedy recovery for her. Thank you…’

Thompson is seen with Elvis in 1974, three years before his death.

But only a few hours later, confirmation of her death came from Priscilla Presley, who described her daughter as “the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known”, before asking for privacy to “deal with this profound loss”.

“My heart is too heavy for words…” Thompson wrote in his follow-up Instagram post along with a photo of Elvis kissing the top of his young daughter’s head while holding her.

The mother of two, Brandon Jenner and Brody Jenner, revealed that it was Lisa Marie who notified her of her father’s death on August 16, 1977.

“I will always be deeply grateful to nine-year-old Lisa Marie who had the presence of mind to call me from Graceland on the fateful day her dad died to break the news,” she told People. I was the first person she called. To me, that said a lot about how close we were and how sure she was of my love for her dad. In fact, if there’s any comfort to be found now, it’s knowing that Lisa Marie was sure that he loved her and her dad, without reservations and without any agenda…

Thompson went on to share that “Lisa Marie was, without a doubt, the greatest love of Elvis’s life.”

After establishing the connection between all parents and their children “that cannot be compared to any other”, he said that Elvis was always happiest and most complete when he was with Lisa Marie.

Very Alike: Over the four years Thompson dated, she was able to see how similar Lisa Marie was to her loving dad, calling him “weird.”