Here’s a photo of Lisa Marie Presley (from her Twitter account) with her wacky, over-Botoxed mother, Priscilla, in London. Lisa Marie always looks so much happier and fresh when posing for candids as opposed to red carpets where she generally looks stiff and grumpy (she’s still got the best bitch face in the business though). It took me a moment to realize that Mama Presley doesn’t always dress this way just for fun. Nope, this is a backstage picture of Priscilla dressed for her role in the Wimbledon pantomime edition of Snow White where a critic praised her performance as such: “Though the 67-year-old’s expression remains glamorously frozen, she takes regal delight in her Wicked Queen role.” Sounds about right.

Last fall, we reported that Lisa Marie appeared to have placed a substantial distance between herself and Scientology. She relocated from California to London a few years ago, she stripped all references to Scientology from her website, and she has cryptically spoken about a betrayal from her inner circle: “I got bad advice. I was insulated with no grip on reality. They were taking my soul, my money, my everything.” In addition, her new Storm & Grace album references herself as “transgressive” and “suppressive” while inquiring, “Am I a disruption to your corruption?”

Mind you, Lisa Marie hasn’t come out and actually stated that she’s left the CO$. As such, that is the primary question on every journo’s mind. Dame magazine managed to nail her down for a phone interview and asked the same question, and Lisa Marie was slightly more forthcoming with her answers:

Why she left Hollywood (i.e., “living in a wasp’s nest) for London: “Uncovering the fact that I was surrounded by people who were not well-intended, for one. Confidants [who were] very, very intimately and closely involved with me and my life. And had been for years. Basically, it was a big sinister situation, where there was like, kind of intel and covert ops going on, and a whole effort to control me that I didn’t know about. Lots of people (were) involved in that in various ways. And I uncovered it and it was mind-blowing, and I just was done with people at that point…It was just too much for me. I have a pretty high tolerance, and I’ve seen a lot, but I was just not ready for all that. It’s like uncovering [people] one by one, and then somebody that was holding it all together, and then they get exposed, and then I find out who’s behind that person, and that person was no good, and…it was pretty much like dominos. So I just thought, ‘Oh, my God, is everybody this dishonest and awful?’ And I really had an obscured view of the world, so I needed to get far away to rediscover people and life and not have a bunch of people around me. You know how that happens in high-profile situations, where you get so many people around you that they obscure your reality on life and insulate you for their own benefit? That was what was happening. But really, it was a sinister situation. I’m not going to say specifically, but I’ve given you a pretty good scope.”

Naturally, the CO$ has no comment: “[I]t is our policy not to speak about individual parishioners,” spokesperson Linda Wieland said in an email. “You should address such questions to Ms. Presley’s representatives.” Presley’s 2012 tour publicist, Bobbie Gale, answered only that Lisa Marie “isn’t going to give a direct quote… many have tried and she refuses to answer.”

She loves London though: “It was a four-or five-year process and, to be honest, I’m still looking back going, ‘Wow!’ But then all these amazing songs started happening, and I started realizing what life was like without all that going on. Life is actually great, and there are incredible people in England, just out in the country, down in the local pub, you know? People with a conscience and a common sense of right and wrong. The paparazzi were sitting outside my house one day, and a farmer backed his truck into them. He was like, ‘Hey, leave her alone.’ I hadn’t even met him yet. I thought, ‘Okay, now that’s just a really good person who’s protecting me, and I don’t even know him.’ It’s simple, but it was very telling of human nature. I needed to rediscover that again.”

pFrom Dame Magazine]

Yep, she’s out. Not officially out, but she’s in that same phase as Tom Cruise when he drifted away from the cult for a number of years while her was married to Nicole Kidman and after he went into a rage over the OT Level III Xenu story. Of course, David Miscavige pulled Tom back into the fray, but I don’t think Lisa Marie is vulnerable in the same way. Like, I’d be scared of Lisa Marie if I were Miscavige. She doesn’t take crap from anyone. At the same time, she probably won’t ever come out and declare that she’s left the CO$ while Priscilla, who is still well entrenched within the cult, is alive. Unless Priscilla decides to leave too, and then all bets are off.

Here’s Lisa Marie blowing out the candles on her birthday cake on February 1st. She turned 45 years old this year!

Photos courtesy of Lisa Marie’s Twitter and WENN

A few weeks ago, we reported that Lisa Marie Presley was beginning to break free from the clutches of Scientology, which was inferred by the fact that she told the cult to kiss her ass through some song lyrics from her new album. At the time, Jason Beghe voiced the opinion that if Lisa Marie was truly leaving the “church,” then Kirstie Alley’s size 6 ass could possibly follow suit as well. While I’m still wondering what Priscilla thinks about all of this, the story is still developing in regards to Elvis’ daughter herself, who is dropping clues like mad.

This week’s issue of the Enquirer refers to an interview that Lisa Marie gave to USA Today on 5/14 where Presley refuses to name names but speaks of a mysterious “they.” Lisa Marie also stated within the interview that she was “emotionally and fiscally robbed by her closest confidants,” and she is obviously referring to the CO$ in both instances. Now the Enquirer has spoken to insiders that say the CO$ fears that Lisa Marie’s behavior could inspire others to leave the cult as well. Here’s more telling stuff from the Enquirer story, which also talks about another new song of Lisa Marie’s that basically tells the CO$ to go to hell:

The ENQUIRER has learned Lisa marie is cutting ties with the controversial Church of Scientology. As Elvis Presley’s little girl gets ready to hit the road to support her latest album, Storm & Grace, sources say she’s dumping some members of her entourage who gave her bad advice — or worse. She believes some of her most trusted people betrayed her and cheated her out of millions of dollars!

The 44-year-old singer admits being “devastated” by the betrayal of people closer to her. “I was slowly starting to self-destruct, and I didn’t know where that was coming from,” she said in a recent interview. “I got bad advice. I was insulated with no grip on reality. They were taking my soul, my money, my everything.”

She confessed that she was too trusting with her money, revealing that people she had hired to look after her affairs had stolen a fortune from her years ago. “I didn’t want too deal with the business,” she said. “My father was like that. He trusted that people did what they said they were doing.”

Along with Lisa Marie cleaning house of untrustworthy employees and hangers-on, insiders say she’s also ready to sever her money-donating devotion to Scientology, the controversial church that claims celebrity members including Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Allen, and Juliette Lewis.

“Lisa removed all mention of Scientology on her website, and the lyrics to some of her songs have caused major speculation that she’s cut off all communication with the church,” the source explained. On one album cut, she uses Scientology buzz words when she sings about being “transgressive” and “suppressive” while asking: “Am I a disruption to your corruption?”

Sources familiar with Scientology explain that “transgressives” and “suppressives” are code words for negative people who are enimes of the church. Insiders reveal that there’s worry among Scientology leaders that Lisa Marie’s departure from the church would spark other celebrity defections, particularly Kirstie Alley.

Lisa marie currently lives in England with fourth husband Michael Lockwood and their twins, now 3. Although she is financially set for life thanks to her father’s estate, her music career has been one big flop after another. And pals say changing that around is the foremost thing on her mind. “Lisa Marie feels like her whole life is riding on this album and tour,” said another insider. “She’s exorcized a lot of her demons and has made what she feels is the best record of her career.”

[From Enquirer, print edition, June 4, 2012]

The USA Today interview has also been replicated on LisaMariePresley.com as well, so there’s a double endorsement of her words. It certainly sounds like Lisa Marie has seen the CO$ for what it really is — a greedy and corrupt business that sucks its members dry in both the financial and spiritual senses. I hope that she’s got a gated home (and she undoubtedly does) where she’s currently living in London because the city has a strong CO$ presence there, although she’s sure to have less potential contact with them there than in Hollywood. I can’t wait to see what comes of this story next because you know this isn’t over by a long shot.

Photos courtesy of WENN

At last night’s Billboard Awards in Las Vegas, Miley Cyrus showed some serious skin in what looks like a simple blazer and heels with no pants to be found. Alas, this is an actual blazer dress from Jean Paul Gaultier, and Miley paired it with Christian Louboutin sandal heels along with her tanned cleavage and simple gold jewelry to jazz up the ensemble. I really like the unusual print on the shoes. Her figure looks stunning as well, but Miley also went for very big hair, and the overall effect is that I expect her to roll around on a car in a Whitesnake video. Am I the only one who gets that vibe? Miley is trying too hard here and wants some serious attention, I think.

Also, I’m obviously one for a bit of bedhead, but this is ridiculous.

Julianne Hough donned a Kaufmanfranco dress that fit the Vegas vibe because it reminded me a lot of something that the latest hot young starlet might wear to Caesar’s Palace. She looks great in this shiny, silvery, vaguely toga-like outfit that still flatters her fit figure and very long legs. Her hair is appropriate, but her eye makeup makes her look a little bit spacey.

Of course, Justin Bieber had to walk the red carpet looking like he always does. At this point, I’m just glad that I can’t see his underwear. Speaking of the Biebs, I know that some of you didn’t understand why I didn’t give him a hard time for basically sounding like an idiot in his GQ interview. Yes, he said some silly things (“I’m a swaggy adult!” comes to mind), but it’s not like he went racist or misogynistic in manner of John Mayer. What Bieber said in that interview didn’t hurt anyone … with the possible exception of himself, so I cut him a break.

Natasha Bedingfield is wearing … I don’t know. This black knit (?) dress is pretty cheap looking, and I couldn’t find a designer ID because it probably doesn’t exist. As in, she might have actually taken an old Snuggie and cut a few strategic holes to fashion her outfit for the evening. The coral lipstick and flower pinned in her hair also aren’t doing Natasha any favors.

Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa were there too. Amber’s never been known for a demure take on fashion, but that dress looks pretty painful on her boobs.

Lisa Marie Presley showed up with her Tom Petty-esque scarecrow of a husband, Michael Lockwood, in tow. His scarves are starting to rival those of Russell Brand.

Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News, Fame/Flynet, and WENN

Lisa Marie Presley is preparing to release her new album, Storm & Grace, on Tuesday (alongside Garbage’s new album — guess which one I’ll be purchasing?), but that’s really not noteworthy news by itself because well, c’mon. There should be some semi-interesting fallout after the release, however, for the Village Voice Running Scared blog (which has an outstanding primer on Scientology) has dug up some lyrics to a song from the album called “So Long.” While there have been sporadic buzzings for a few years in regard to Lisa Marie’s continued involvement (or shall I say, non-involvement) with the CO$, these lyrics are a more concrete example of what appears to be her very pointed discontent with the “church” founded by L. Ron Hubbard that is currently being run into the ground by “tiny tyrant” David Miscavige. Here are some of the lyrics to “So Long,” which appears to call out the CO$ as an empty institution that’s all about money and power. Go Lisa Marie:

This here is a city without lights
Those are all the people without eyes
Churches, they don’t have a soul
Soup for sale without a bowl
Religion so corrupt and running lives
Farewell, fair weathered friends
I can’t say I’ll miss you in the end

So long, seems that I was so wrong
Seems I wasn’t that strong
Dead wrong, and now I’m long gone
Wrong side, I’ve been sleeping on the wrong side
Stains all over my soul I can’t hide
Nothing’s more clear than goodbye

These roads they don’t lead to anything
These people they talk, they say nothing
Actors who don’t have a part
Heartfelt people with no heart
I’ll find a new crowd
Make a new start
Farewell, fair weathered friends
I can’t say I’ll miss you in the end

[From YouTube]

Nothing is more “clear” than goodbye? That’s a lovely little dig against the so-called “clear” state of Scientology! Along with Lisa Marie’s lyrics about a church in general, that particular line sounds like a very unequivocal way of telling the CO$ that she’s out of there. The interminably tenacious Tony Ortega of Runnin’ Scared has made repeated requests towards Lisa Marie for an interview, but her people aren’t talking. So Ortega turned to a few ex-CO$ members, including former CO$ salesman Jefferson Hawkins and actor Jason Beghe (whom I adore), for their take on the lyrics. Here’s the portion of the article that covers Beghe’s response:

I also called up Jason Beghe, the “Californication” actor who became well known for very vocally defecting from Scientology in 2008. While he was still in the church, he was a favorite at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, and he knew other famous Scientologists — such as Presley and Kirstie Alley — very well.

He too said there is little question, looking at Presley’s lyrics, that she is making a public disavowal of the church. “The honesty and the passion are clear, and it seems as though she’s woken up. It’s what I would expect, having spent time with her,” he goes on to explain. “Some people, when they leave Scientology, get very sad. Some get scared. But some, like me and apparently like Lisa, get f&#*ing pissed. It has the same tone as my own thing, when I said publicly, show me a motherf&#*king ‘Clear’.”

Beghe is referring to one of Scientology’s bedrock principles, that if you engage in the arcane and increasingly expensive rituals of church founder L. Ron Hubbard’s “technology,” you will eventually unburden your mind of distracting clutter and go “clear” — and become somewhat superhuman. Scientologists spend years, and increasingly expensive rates, chasing the state of clear (and beyond), telling each other that just one more level, one more training routine, will get them to superhuman status. It never comes, and eventually, longtime members tend to drop out from sheer exhaustion. Beghe says Presley has obviously reached that point. (Records show she was attested “clear” by Scientology in 1980, when she was only 12 years old.)

“My heart goes out to her. It’s not an easy moment. But it seems that she’s seized control of it and used it artistically. I think that’s the strongest artistic communication I’ve heard her make. Coming out of Scientology has freed me up, artistically. It takes guts, it takes courage. Lisa was in forever, since she was a little kitten. I don’t know where her mother’s at, but I’m moved, frankly.”

Beghe says he was struck by the line, “Heartfelt people with no heart.” “These people in the church are decent people. And the fact is, their hearts have been taken out of them. That’s how I read that. They’re heartfelt, but it’s not their f&#*ing heart.”

[From Village Voice Runnin' Scared Blog]

Beghe also suspects that if Lisa Marie is out, then her very good friend Kirstie Alley will follow suit as well. That’s an interesting theory, and it would be great if Kirstie told the CO$ to shove it up her size 6 ass. Or it’s completely possible that Kirstie will completely write off Lisa Marie (as a suppressive person) as a result of her lyrical transgressions.

Here’s the real question though — what does Priscilla think of all of this? You know Elvis would be proud of his little girl for telling off the CO$. He always hated Scientology anyway.

Photos courtesy of WENN

At last night’s NARM Music Biz Awards, Katy Perry (who won the “Artist of the Year” award) decided to go for the gothy, hardcore look that she also tried to pull off (with slightly more success) during Paris Fashion Week. Katy donned a black, sheer-panelled dress that looked fine on her body, but it just wasn’t Katy at all, and dark lipstick is nothing that she should attempt ever again. Perhaps I’m being too cruel here, but this look is suspicious to me in light of Katy’s recent declaration that “my music is about get real f&#*ing dark.“ So Katy’s look is very calculated here, but I guess that’s par for the Perry course.

Now I might have liked this dress a little bit more if it had ended as a miniskirt and dispensed with all of the panelling underneath. Katy could’ve actually rocked this look with a much shorter skirt and an updo. Instead, Katy looks like a slutty, pop-tart version of Morticia Adams who just colored her own hair in the high-school locker room.

Even Katy’s studded Louboutin heels fit the ill-advised, faux-gothy theme of the night.

In this closeup, you can really see how little Katy’s plum-colored hair compliments her coloring. She really needs to go back to black hair, but even the blue was preferable to this.

Lisa Marie Presley showed up (in pants?) with her husband, Michael Lockwood. His hair is shorter now and looks much less “Tom Petty” these days. She’s still got the best bitchface in the business.

Brandy Norwood was there too and wearing an uncomfortable looking little black number. She’s got such a hot body, but the hair is a little bit too much for the entire ensemble.

Here’s Haley Reinhart (she was one of the top three on “American Idol,” season 10) in a kicky little dress. She must have thought she was attending the CMAs.

Photos courtesy of WENN

It is an unequivocal truth that Lisa Marie Presley has one of the best bitchfaces in the business, and I’d really hate to have it directed towards myself in any shape or form. At present, this week’s Enquirer would have us believe that it it decidedly aiming itself straight towards Alex Pettyfer, who (as Kaiser reported last week) is probably disastrously engaged to Lisa Marie’s daughter, Riley Keough. I’m sure there are a variety of reasons why Lisa Marie doesn’t want Riley to get married. For starters, she’s super young at age 22 to walk down the aisle, and since Lisa Marie herself is allegedly struggling to keep her own fourth marriage together, it’s safe to say that she doesn’t want her daughter starting down the same path that she followed.

Certainly, Lisa Marie’s concern might have a little bit to do with Alex as well. I mean, the guy has a “Thank You” tattoo above his crotch. He’s also an alleged psycho stalker and pyromaniac and a confirmed douchebag as well. In other words, Alex isn’t exactly ideal son-in-law material. Furthermore and according to the Enquirer, Lisa Marie is very concerned that he could be after the Presley fortune:

It’s an all-out battle between Lisa Marie Presley and her wild-child daughter Riley over the 22-year-old actress’ surprise engagement to British actor Alex Pettyfer.

Four-times-wed Lisa Marie — who’s desperately trying to stop her daughter from following hin her disastrous marital footsteps — is vowing to block the wedding, convinced that Pettyfer, known to have a bad temper and a vulgar mouth, is just after the Presley fortune, say sources.

“Lisa Marie doesn’t believe this marriage has a chance in hell of lasting,” declared a close source. “Riley has terrible taste in men. She’s dated womanizing pop star Ryan Cabrera and a number of irresponsible, pretty-boy male model-types. LIsa Marie thinks her daughter is far too young and impressionable to understand what she’s getting into.

She’s worried that Alex just wants to sink his hands into the Presley family fortune,” estimated at more than $300 million.

To complicate matters more, Alex, 21, and Riley are both tied up with their careers. She has four movies coming out in 2012 alone.

Despite the furious protests of her 44-year-old mom — whose bizarre marriage to Michael Jackson lasted less than two years — lovestruck Riley is standing her ground.

“The engagement news is ripping the Presley family apart,” divulged an insider. “Riley is ready to go forward — with or without her mom’s blessing. Worse yet, RIley has been telling friends she wants Alex’s baby, and she’s been hinting she’s already pregnant. That would be Lisa Marie’s worst nightmare.”

After just six months of dating, Elvis’ granddaughter got engaged to Alex, who co-starred with her in the movie Magic Mike. Pettyfer plays a male stripper, Riley his exotic dancer lover.

Following the revelation they’ll soon walk down the aisle, a thrilled Alex tweeted: “I’m very happy in my personal life.”

On March 12, a radiant Riley was spotted in Los Angeles sporting a gleaming diamond engagement rng when she and Alex went on a lunch date.

[From Enquirer, print edition, April 2, 2012]

Naturally, the story goes on to mention Alex’s somewhat dark (but mostly douchey) past that I touched upon at the top of this story. Lisa Marie probably won’t be able to stop this marriage from happening no matter how hard she tries, but at the very least, she can make sure all the legal steps are taken to keep Alex’s paws off Elvis’ money. Both Riley and Alex are young, and it does not bode well that they met on the set of a stripper movie. Hopefully, Riley’s not pregnant too.

Also, Alex’s hair is a crime against humanity. That’s reason enough to dislike the boy from a potential mother-in-law perspective, right?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN

Here’s a strange aside — whenever I receive a house call from Jehovah’s Witnesses, I always politely give them the brush off by telling them that I’m Catholic (even though I’m really not). I’ve always found that little white lie to be much more effective than simply telling them that I’m not interested in their literature, and they seem to respect that much more than if I’d merely yelled, “No, we don’t want any. HAhahaha!” and slammed the door in their faces. So when it comes to cults (i.e., Scientology), do they also respect this unspoken rule to not try and recruit members of another cult (i.e., Kabbalah)?

Probably not. Although both Kabbalah and the CO$ do consider themselves to be valid religions, I honestly doubt they have some honor code not to recruit people from opposing “religions” because it’s really all about money for these cults. At any rate, I ask this question because Demi Moore has been flashing her Kabbalah string for all these years, but now in the face of her substance abuse troubles, The Enquirer is running with a story about how Kelly Preston and Lisa Marie Presley are trying to casually suck her into Scientology:

Lisa Marie Presley and Kelly Preston have vowed to save Demi Moore from relapsing into a life or alcohol and drugs — by drawing her back into Scientology!

The powerhouse best friends and fellow Scientologists reached out to Demi after the troubled actress completed a 30-day rehab stint on march 4, sources say.

“Demi was truly touched that Kelly and Lisa Marie had her in their thoughts,” an insider told The ENQUIRER. “Her number one priority is to get healthy, and she needs all the friends she can get right now.”

The 49-year-old Ghost star dabbled in Scientology around the time she got her big break on the daytime soap “General Hospital,” according to the insider.

She’s now a practicing member of Kabbalah, which is based on Jewish mysticism, but she’s stayed in touch with Kelly, 29 49, and Lisa Marie, 44, over the years.

“The three remained casual friends, and Kely has been especially concerned because she and Demi go way back,” the insider added. “Kelly called Demi while she was in rehab,” the source said. “After Demi was discharged, Kelly and Lisa Marie talked to her on a conference call. They didn’t bring up Scientology per se, but they did tell Demi that she needed strong, supportive women in her life. Demi was into it, and a girl’s-only lunch is in the works.

“Kelly and Lisa Marie’s goal is to get Demi involved in the Scientology-based Narconon drug treatment program to maintain her sobriety.” Narconon is a controversial program that focuses on easing an addict’s cravings by flushing drugs from the system through exercise, saunas and vitamins.

Like Kelly and her husband John Travolta, Lisa Marie and her husband, musician Michael Lockwood, are active Scientologists, and the two women are convinced Narconon is the key to a happy, healthy future for Demi, said the insider.

[From Enquirer, print edition, March 26, 2012]

While I can definitely see this story being at least partially true (possibly in relation to Kelly Preston), a recent blind item from Crazy Days and Nights might indicate that Lisa Marie Presley is trying to extricate herself from the CO$. Hopefully, that blind item is true, but either way, I don’t see Demi leaving Kabballah — if anything, she’s been turning towards her preferred cult more even more during this round of dark days.

This week’s In Touch also has a small story about Demi being in talks with HBO execs for the lead role in the upcoming series, “The Viagra Diaries.” That sounds, um, stimulating; but it would be great for Demi to get her career back on track and keep her mind busy enough to stop being infatuated with douchebag Ashton.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN

I’ve always been slightly fascinated with Lisa Marie Presley, particularly as a result of her heavy-duty public involvement with Scientology, which her father so famously described as “that s.o.b. group — all they want is my money.” Now of course, the cult is getting a lot of his money since both Lisa Marie and Priscilla are followers. Not that the CO$ and all of its glorious “tech” has helped Lisa Marie endure lasting, healthy marriages unless one considers “healthy” to mean “plentiful.” At this point, she’s in the midst of her fourth marriage to musician Michael Lockwood and was previously married to Danny Keough, Michael Jackson, and Nicolas Cage. According a story in this week’s edition of The Enquirer, Lisa Marie is well on her way to a fourth divorce:

Lisa Marie Presley is strugglng to keep her marriage to fourth husband Michael Lockwood from falling apart, sources tell The ENQUIRER.

Lisa Marie and Michael have been butting heads over her relentless determination to become a singing star, her role as sole heir to her father Elvis’ estate and how to best parent their 3-year-old twins as well as her adult children from her first marriage, say sources.

She married Michael in 2006 and gave birth to twin girls Harper and Finley in 2008. Although they’ve argued before, sources say their conflicts appear to have escalated over recent months as Lisa Marie prepares to promote her new CD and tour.

According to the friend, Lisa Marie has been working on her “do-or-die” third album for several years and has enlisted Grammy-winning producer T-Bone Burnett to guide her through the recording process. Meanwhile, she’s had husband Michael — her longtime guitarist and musical director — take a minimal role in the project.

“She’s made him more of a sideman, and it’s hurt his feelings,” the friend explained. “Right now she’s planning on relegating Michael to playing guitar on some songs, handling tour arrangements and taking care of their twins. Michael is an easy-going guy, but when she told him to like it or lump it, he brooded for days.”

But Lisa Marie’s career isn’t the couple’s only problem. The two can’t agree on how best to raise their daughters, or how involved they should be in the lives of Lisa’s older children, actress/model Riley, 22, and musician Benjamin, 29.

“Michael is much more of a ‘take it as it comes’ dad and stepfather, while Lisa Marie plays the overly concerned parent,” the source said.

“Sometimes during heated arguments with Michael, Lisa Marie has said she wants out,” the friend confided. “But divorce is out of the question. Lisa Marie doesn’t want to be a four-time loser and is committed to making her marrige to Michael work.”

[From Enquirer, print edition, February 6. 2012]

The article also mentions that Lisa Marie has upset Michael by leaving him out of plans for the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Elvis’ death, and she also completely “keeps him completely removed from anything to do with the Presley finances.” On that end, I certainly can’t blame her because she’s the sole heir of the Elvis fortune. Then again, she’s turning so much of it over to Scientology, so if I were Michael, I’d probably feel slighted too. Unless he’s a member of the CO$ as well, which he probably is.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN

Lisa Marie Presley’s interview with Oprah aired yesterday. The 42 year-old singer spoke for the first time since the death of her ex husband, Michael Jackson. Presley explained that she wanted to process the King of Pop’s death before granting an interview about it. On the day after MJ died, Presley posted a heartfelt entry on her blog explaining that she was “gutted” and defending their marriage. To Oprah, Presley repeated the claim that her marriage with Michael was a real one in every sense, and went on to say that she was very hurt by the end of their one and a half year marriage in 1996. I found her sincere and it was obvious that she was still upset about Michael’s death. He had a lot of people who cared about him and apart from his children he seems to have pushed so many people out of his life.

Popeater has a good overview of the interview, which I’m partially excerpting below. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. Part 1 is below, and here are links to Part 2 and Part 3.

On why she’s talking now
“Every time I’ve ever had an interview in the past, I tend to get very defensive because I was usually promoting something and it would always cross into my personal life.”

“I wanted to sit and really have a conversation about things that are more on a personal level, before I do have an album coming out,” she said.

On how their marriage was real
“I honestly can tell you, it was every sense a normal marriage.”

“One of the very highest points of my life was when things were going really well and he and I were united together and he and I had an understanding about some of the people and things that could go on around him and he was with me on those things and we were a unit and I could take care of him,” she told Oprah.

“For some reason, I don’t know what happens when someone passes away and this is what’s come of it. But I’ve come to have all this love again and understanding for him. I don’t know why it had to take all that to have this happen. That upsets me a bit,” Presley opined.

“Were you angry with him before?” Oprah questioned.

“I was very angry. I was so angry. I felt that we were so united and then at some point he pushed me out.”

On not figuring out that MJ was addicted to drugs until the end of their marriage
“I didn’t really suspect and catch on until just before I filed for divorce. There was just an occasion, an incident where he had collapsed and he was in the hospital,” she described of the scene in 1995 when Jackson collapsed while rehearsing for an HBO concert and doctors blamed it on a viral infection.

“It was very confusing what was wrong. Every day there was a different report. And I couldn’t tell what was happening,” she added. “I couldn’t really get a straight answer about what was happening with him and I think we were all a little bit in the dark. At that point, I think I got from various indications that that was going on then.”

“There were times that I would pick him up from certain doctors’ offices and he would not be coherent,” Presley remembered.

On why her marriage with MJ ended
“There was a very profound point in the marriage when he had to make a decision — was it the drugs and the sort of vampires or me? And he pushed me away.”

[From Popeater, subheaders added]

One thing that Lisa mentioned that is not in Popeater’s recap is that she was crying all day before she even heard that Michael had passed. She said it in a very matter-of-fact way, as if it was factual and she wasn’t attributing anything supernatural to it. It’s clear that her experience with Michael really affected her and that she’s still dealing with it 15 years later. There are very strong parallels between Presley’s father Elvis’ life and Michael’s life and she realizes that. She said “[The comparison] really blows me away to be honest with you. I still try to figure out, what is it that I had to go through it twice where these two incredible people… who had the same fate. What is it about me? I went through it once, that was painful, and I went through it again. I don’t quite understand it, you know?” She’s much more well spoken and self aware than I would have assumed. I believe her, and I think she helps clarify that Michael was in throes of addiction for well over a decade before it ultimately took his life.

Lisa Marie Presley on Oprah Part 1

Gah! I’ve just spent way too long looking for new photos of Lisa Marie Presley, but we don’t have access to anything from the last few months, and I can’t find a good image of this week’s Enquirer cover! I’m sorry, people, we’ll have to make do with these slightly older images (circa October 2009). Lisa Marie still looks heavy in them, but the whole Enquirer story is really mean. According to them, her weight has “ballooned to 165 pounds”. Um… not to be rude, but she’s a lot heavier than 165 pounds.

Lisa Marie Presley’s weight has recently ballooned to 165 pounds, friends believe, and they fear new binge eating could be endangering her health.

The chunky mother of four needs to lose at least 40 pounds, medical experts say, or put herself at risk of a fatal heart attack.

Lisa Marie’s bloated body is a chilling echo of her father Elvis Presley, who packed on weight near the end of his life – and at 42, she’s the SAME AGE as The King when he died.

Shocking new photos in the print edition clearly show Lisa Marie’s dramatic weight gain, especially her paunchy midsection, and The ENQUIRER can now reveal the secret heartaches behind her potentially deadly health crisis.

Close sources say she may be traumatized by the sudden death of her ex-husband Michael Jackson, frustrated by her stalled music career and battling to shed the baby weight she never lost after giving birth to twins.

For the FULL STORY with all the exclusive details you won’t find anywhere else – pick up the new ENQUIRER — on sale now! PLUS: shocking before and after pix of the once proud beauty who now bears an eerily resemblance to her father, Elvis, at the time of his bloated death!

[From The National Enquirer]

When CB and I were talking about this story, she mentioned that these “she’s gained weight” covers must sell really well, because they keep doing them about Kirstie Alley. Then she theorized that maybe it had something to do with Xenu. Which I thought she meant “Xenu commands you to eat donuts, fried chicken and gravy.” But she meant something else, so nevermind!

Also, the first thing I thought when I saw these photos is that she may be pregnant again? Discuss.

Lisa Marie Presley in London on October 13, 2009. Credit: INFphoto.com