Lisa Marie Presley's marriage to Michael Jackson put her personal life in the spotlight. Although she gained notoriety and fame as the daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, her relationship with Jackson resulted in various reports and assumptions. Presley revealed in 2010 why the couple decided not to have children during their marriage.
Lisa Marie Presley had two children before marrying Michael Jackson
Jackson and Presley connected based on their similar childhood upbringing. In the 1970s, Jackson's life changed dramatically when his family's group, The Jackson 5, became popular. Presley grew up in the spotlight, as her father had already achieved great musical success when she was born. Although Presley briefly met Jackson at the age of 7, their romantic relationship occurred much later. In 1992, the couple began dating, but kept their affair a secret. They went public with their relationship in August 1994, where Presley confirmed that they married in May 1994 and said that she took Jackson's last name.
"My married name is Mrs. Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson," Presley's statement read. "We both hope to start a family and live a happy and healthy life together."
Before dating Jackson, Presley left her with her first husband, Danny Keough. The couple welcomed two children during their marriage: Riley and Benjamin. After she finalized her divorce from Keough, Presley married Jackson 20 days later.
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Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson didn't have kids because she refused to go through a 'custody battle'
As Presley and Jackson began their life together, the couple began talking about expanding their family. Although Presley already had two children, she said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that Jackson longed for them to have babies together. As Presley began to see more of Jackson's life, the singer said getting pregnant with her child worried her. She noted her alleged manipulative actions towards her team.
Presley also said that her behavior made him see how things could turn ugly if she disagreed with Jackson.
"I wanted to do it, but I just wanted to make sure," Presley said in 2010. "I was looking ahead and thinking, 'I don't want to have a custody battle with him.'"
Lisa Marie Presley said Michael Jackson threatened to have children with Debbie Rowe while they were married
Over time, Jackson's drive for children became something that didn't bother Presley. She told Winfrey that she learned Jackson had substance abuse problems several months after her marriage. Presley then explained that Jackson's team enabled her behavior and that she had control over everyone around him. She filed for divorce from Jackson in 1995, and it became final in 1996.
Two months after her divorce, Jackson's former nurse, Debbie Rowe, became pregnant with her first child, Prince. The rapid pregnancy did not surprise Presley, who told him that Winfrey Rowe frequently communicated with Jackson during her marriage.
“She was there the whole time telling him that she [she was having her child],” Presley recalled. “He would tell me, 'Debbie said she would do it.' That's how she knew how to handle it, 'If you're not going to do it, this person will.'”
Presley went on to say that he felt 'disposable' for Jackson when he used Rowe against him. However, the couple stayed in touch after their divorce before Jackson died in June 2009.
