He was the king of pop and she was
the princess of rock and roll, but when Michael Jackson
and Lisa Marie Presley married on May 26, 1994, the news perplexed fans
in the public worldwide, only adding to Michael Jackson's
increasingly bizarre tabloid persona in the 1990s.
But on the surface, the union would appear to be a natural match for the two stars
whose fame meant the experience life like no other.
As both grew up in the spotlight, both came from burgeoning family dynasties
and both lived life under intense media scrutiny.
However, the SHOWBIZ marriage would be over in less than two years.
Countless headlines and gossip column
inches have been written about this power couple.
But let's take a look inside the personal
lives, the marriage in the bedroom of Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson.
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In 1974, a six year old Jackson was
introduced for the first time to a six year old Lisa Marie Presley
at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada, by her father,
Elvis Presley, with her father already a music sensation.
When she was born, Presley was raised in the world of rock
and roll on the famed Graceland estate in Memphis.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley divorced when
Lisa Marie was four, but she continued spending her time
between Tennessee and Los Angeles, where her mother lived.
Lisa Marie had been brought to the hotel
to watch a show by the Jackson Five as she was a big fan of the group.
The young girl was particularly fascinated
by lead singer Michael Jackson for his talent at dancing.
He was a decade her senior,
but clearly made an impression on her, and they stayed friendly.
In the 1980s, Jackson even inquired about
her to his attorney, John Branca, and was bitterly disappointed when he
found out she had married her first husband, Danny Keough, in 1988.
It wasn't until the early 90s that the two would meet again when Lisa Marie Presley
was eager to pursue a music career and had already secured a deal with Sony.
But she was scared to begin recording
to be compared to her father and for it to ultimately fail.
At the same time, Michael Jackson was launching MJ Records
and their mutual friend Brett Livingston told him of a perfect girl for his label.
He said she was young and beautiful and her name was a marketing dream.
When Jackson asked who he told him, Lisa Marie Presley.
Michael Jackson requested for her demo
tape, but Lisa insisted on meeting him in person.
In November 1992, they met at a private
dinner held at the home of Bret Livingston.
Knowing that Presley had been looking for help within the music industry,
Livingston had her play tapes for Jackson, who was impressed with Presley's voice.
The pair talked for the remainder
of the night until it was time for Jackson to leave.
At this point, according to Livingston, the entertainer gave Presley,
who was still married at the time, a penetrating look and said
in a conspiratorial voice, You and me, we could get into a lot of trouble.
Think about that girl.
Unbeknownst to Presley, in hopes of receiving some sound advice
from a pop icon akin to who she would be compared to in her father,
Lisa Marie found herself unearthing a much deeper connection with Jackson.
In the days following, Presley and Jackson spoke on the telephone
almost every day, forging a strong friendship.
The two came to realize they had much in common.
Both had been protected and sheltered
from the real world, and both were mistrustful of outsiders
having spent most of their lives feeling exploited by them.
It is difficult to say what ulterior
motive either one of them had at this time.
No one could argue Presley dated Jackson to become famous,
or that Jackson was interested in Presley because of her money.
They both had everything and at the same time nothing to offer each other other
than themselves, which was refreshing for both of them.
However, it was the following year when Jackson became the subject of child abuse
accusations that the relationship quickly accelerated.
Presley, along with a few others, was there for emotional support.
Jackson would call Presley from overseas as he embarked upon the second leg
of the Dangerous World Tour and the child abuse investigation intensified.
During such telephone conversations,
Presley attempted to reverse Jackson's sadness with humor and advice.
Presley later recalled that she believed in the musician's innocence and that she
could save him, fueled by her past addictions and her father's death.
Grassley supported Jackson as he became increasingly addicted to painkillers,
urging him to settle the allegations out of court and go into rehab on her advice,
he subsequently did both becoming so vulnerable that he relied on her more than
anyone during this traumatic period with his image tarnished
by the allegations and his album sales dropping dramatically.
His then manager, Sandy Gellin, pressured him to do some damage control
and get married so as to improve his image.
During this time, he talked to Lisa Marie nearly every day on the phone,
and it was during one of Jackson's calls to Presley that he proposed marriage.
If I asked you to marry me, would you do it?
The singer queried.
Though still married to actor Danny Keough, whom she had two children
with, Presley replied that she would, after a pause.
Jackson exclaimed that he had to use the bathroom.
Having apparently relieved himself, the singer explained to his new fiancee
that his love for her was genuine and she had to believe him.
In 2010, Presley acknowledged
to Oprah Winfrey that Jackson did formally propose one day in his library,
taking out a 10 carat diamond ring and getting down on one knee.
The stability of marriage appealed
to Michael while he was facing possible prison time when his life,
career and health was turned upside down and inside out.
Following several months engaged Jackson
and Presley wed on May 26, 1994, at a ceremony in the Dominican Republic.
Presley had divorced QIO by having it fast
tracked 20 days before the 50 minute ceremony was held
by Judge Hugo Francisco Alvarez Perez at his home in the La Vega province.
The union was conducted in Spanish
and translated for Presley and Jackson by an attorney.
Perez recounted Michael Jackson's behavior during the ceremony.
He stared at the floor.
He looked lost.
He looked so sad.
My assistant and I kept pulling him aside, asking if he was OK.
When I pronounced them, he acted like he didn't want to kiss her.
She had to grab his face and kiss him.
At the time of their marriage,
the press and public were unaware that the two even knew each other.
The wedding was kept secret from them,
Jackson's family and Presley's mother, Priscilla.
However, Gotham Chopra recalled
that Jackson called him in a panic on his wedding night and asked if he had any
bedroom advice wanting to make sure that Lisa was impressed with his moves
upon being informed of her daughter's marriage with Jackson.
A week later, Priscilla became irritated.
She believed the male pop singer was using her child to rehabilitate his image.
Following the child abuse accusations to the press, however,
Priscilla stated that she was very supportive of Lisa Marie.
The union was met with a mixed reaction
from the media when it was made public two months later.
Some sources described the union as being
the marriage of the century, one newspaper headline scoffed.
Jackson Presley union sparks shock, doubt laughs.
Addressing both the media and public, the new Mrs.
Presley Jackson issued a statement.
My married name is Mrs.
Lisa Marie Presley Jackson.
My marriage to Michael Jackson took place
in a private ceremony outside the United States 11 weeks ago.
It was not formally announced until now for several reasons.
Foremost being that we're both very
private people living in the glare of the public media.
We both wanted a private marriage ceremony without the distraction of a media circus.
I am very much in love with Michael.
I dedicate my life to being his wife.
I understand and support him.
We both look forward to raising a family and living happy, healthy lives together.
We hope friends and fans will understand and respect our privacy.
Tune in next week for part two,
where we investigate the private lives of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley
s marriage, its breakdown in the aftermath for the king of Pop.
But in the meantime, check out our Channel four, even more, Michael Jackson,
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