All Shook Up

by Jackie Walker

Once more a career chance of a lifetime had come to me. I was hired as a publicist for J.C. Penney’s West Coast, Central Florida’s twenty-two stores. My large corner office was located adjacent to the retail store located in the Westshore Plaza’s shopping mall. I even had a secretary!

My job description stated that I would oversee creating special events, celebrity tours, and marketing for these locations. I would coordinate with the main offices located in Dallas, Texas. In the past few years, I had built a firm relationship with the corporate head of these departments, and she wanted me for this position.

One sunny Tuesday morning in 1990, the woman overseeing all the cosmetic areas burst into my office. “We have a chance of doing a tour with Priscilla Presley. Can you call Dallas and try to get this tour for our stores?” Ms. Presley was launching a new fragrance called “Moments.” It would be a coup to have her appear locally. I immediately called my corporate friend in Dallas, and we were booked.

I started the marketing program, scheduled an appearance on Fox 13’s local talk show, a Tampa Tribune interview, and seven in-person appearances at our stores. Presley would do a “Meet and Greet” and sign her perfume bottles. I planned a VIP cocktail party for the media and all executives of the Penney stores.

A week prior to her arrival a “Rule” sheet was sent from The William Morris Talent Agency that was handling her tours. It stated that we needed to have a limousine at her disposal for all travel. We were warned strictly that there would be no mention of Elvis by anyone. This tour was about her new ventures, not her past life. An agent would accompany the tour, as well as her sister who would do her makeup. To all requests I complied with my signature in writing.

The day had come; we arrived at the airport. I had butterflies in my stomach. Growing up, I was in love with Elvis, and this was the woman closest to him. She appeared demure, beautiful, dressed head-to-toe in a beige outfit, complete with a brimmed hat that covered her auburn hair. She reached out her hand to me and thanked me for scheduling all these appearances. The smile on the agent’s face told me that all was going well.

We arrived at the television station for her live on-air interview with a host who was a friend of mine. I had warned her about the off-limits “Elvis” topic. She assured me that all would be perfect.

The moment had arrived and only Priscilla was invited into the studio. From the Green Room, we all watched the segment on television.

The format was a thirty-minute show. The first 15 minutes were the host’s questions, and the second 15 minutes were to promote the new fragrance and a schedule of personal appearances.

I don’t know why my friend the host did this, but toward the end of the first 15 minutes, she announced something that made me shake inside and out.

“We’re going to take one call from the viewing audience,” she said.

I knew we were in trouble now. There would be no way we could control this. The agent glared at me.

Thankfully, the audience member said only that she had read the book Elvis and Me and loved it. Then we went to commercial.

During the break, I assured the upset agent over and over that this was not planned.

We came back from the commercial and the next 15 minutes were filled with Ms. Presley promoting her new fragrance and her appearances. She seemed pleased with how the show was going, and the agent sat back and relaxed.

With one minute to go, the host said, “We’re going to take just one more call from the viewing audience.” I heard Elvis’s lyrics in my head from “All Shook Up.”

The entire Green Room was tense. We held our breath. The viewer who called said, “I was living in Germany when you and Elvis resided there, and I admired you both.” The word “Elvis” was mentioned, but Priscilla was never questioned directly about him.

The show was over and I had survived, but my whole body had to catch up with me.

The last memory I have of this event was when we were heading back to the airport. Over the years and many tours, I’ve learned celebrity rules for riding in a limousine. Everyone but the famous person enters first, bending over and scooting to the front. It’s very awkward. That is where I should have sat.

But I was asked by Ms. Presley to sit next to her in the seat closest to the door.

She whispered to me, so that no one could hear, “May I ask you some personal questions about me?”

This beautiful, petite, Dresden doll of a woman, looked at me and said,

“Should I have worn this hat on TV? Did it cast a shadow over my face? Did it interfere with getting my message across?”

It came as a surprise to me that she doubted herself.

I assured her, “You looked wonderful. Your whole presentation was a success.”

Again, it was confirmed to me that we all have doubts about ourselves, no matter what our life’s journey.

Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis. Priscilla Presley’s memoir (co-written by Mary Jane Ross) was published on September 23, 2025. Book tours in the US and around the world begin this fall.

Jackie Walker begain her career in the retail industry in postions ranging from a couture clothing buyer to a Human Resource Director for Federated Department Stores. In 1988 she left corporate life and started Option Dressing, a unique personal image consulting service focusing on the options in people’s closets that create inner and outer confidence for their personal choices. At this point “Closetology” was created and Jackie was branded Dr. of Closetology, a consultant on the psychology of clothing, with workshops and training seminars for clients and the public. Her bestselling book, I Don’t Have a Thing to Wear, The Psychology of Your Closet, now in the 8th printing with Simon and Schuster has been translated and released internationally. Her second book Expressionista, How To Express Your True Self Through (And Despite) Fashion was published by Simon and Schuster in 2013. She has appeared on many national and local television and radio shows and contributed to magazines across the country. Jackie teaches a course in Closetology for OLLI in November. For details and registration, click here.