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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan

People who claim to be Elvis Presley's 'secret' kids - Elvis Jnr and court battle

Elvis Presley only had one daughter - Lisa Marie Presley - but that hasn't stopped some people claiming the legendary singer is their father.

Lisa Marie, who tragically died on Thursday at the age of 54 following a cardiac arrest, was the only child of Elvis and his ex-wife Priscilla Presley.

She was born in February 1968, exactly nine months to the day after her parents married, and he had no more children before his untimely death in August 1977.

A number of people have claimed the King of Rock n Roll is their dad, despite a lack of DNA evidence and strong denials from the Presley family.

Desirée Presley

Desiree Presley with her mother Lucy De Barbin in 1987 (Daily Record)

A woman with a supposedly 'striking' resemblance to Elvis is claimed to be his daughter by her mother.

Desirée Presley's mum, Lucy de Barbin, says her daughter is a love child from an alleged 24-year affair.

Lucy even wrote a book called Are You Lonesome Tonight? in 1987 in which she revealed her claims, which have never been substantiated.

She claimed she met Elvis in 1953 when he was an 18-year-old just starting out in the music industry.

Dary Matera, a former Miami News reporter who co-authored the book, said he wasn't convinced until her met Desirée and was struck by her resemblance to Elvis.

"Every word, no matter what she [De Barbin] said, I was able to verify with someone," he said.

During a 1987 interview with The Washington Post, Lucy claimed she kept the news of her daughter's birth from Elvis until 1977 – the year in he died.

"I thought if one person found out, everybody would know," said Lucy, adding: "I just said things like, 'I have a wonderful secret to tell you' and 'Her name is Desiree,'" things like that. And he said, 'I hope what I'm thinking is true.'"

However, there is no DNA evidence to back up her claims.

A Graceland rep responded: "The estate of Elvis Presley maintains the belief that this book is ridiculous and incredible and will not dignify the matter by responding with further comments."

Desirée still refers to Elvis as 'daddy' on her Instagram page and puts gushing father's day posts to him.

Elvis Junior

Elvis only had one child (Michael Ochs Archives)

There is a man claiming to be the son of the singer whose name is Elvis Presley Jnr.

The American performer, who is now an Elvis impersonator, says his mum had a fling with Elvis while making the 1961 film Blue Hawaii and he was born out of wedlock.

The Daily Express reported that his website claims: "He [Elvis Presley Jr] is the son of the late Elvis Presley born out-of-wedlock, unbeknownst to Elvis, on December 24, 1961 in Gary, Indiana the result of a liaison between Elvis Presley and Angelique Delores Pettyjohn, a young actress who was an extra in the film Blue Hawaii."

It's claimed that Angelique agreed to deliver the baby in secret to save Elvis "the shame and publicity of a Hollywood scandal".

He alleges that he supplied documents, sworn testimonies and additional evidence to allow "him to be recognised as Elvis Aaron Presley Jnr".

However, none of these supposed documents or any DNA evidence have ever been made public or do not exist.

Deborah Presley

Elvis with then-wife Priscilla and newborn daughter Lisa Marie in 1968 (Michael Ochs Archives)

Deborah Presley also claims to be the King's daughter - and she even went to court.

She was born in 1956 to college sweethearts, but always felt her biological father might have been someone else.

Having grown up hearing stories about her mum's supposed involvement with Elvis, Deborah says she eventually asked if he was her father.

According to an interview with Women's Day Australia published in 2018, Deborah said: "It spans from spring 1954, when my parents [Barbara and Elvis] first met, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"My father was 19 and undiscovered, and my mother was 14. They met at a recording studio."

Deborah changed her surname to Presley and even tried to get into contact with Lisa Marie, who allegedly refused to speak to her.

In 1989, Deborah reportedly went to court to declare herself the Jailhouse Rock singer's legal daughter and co-heir to his fortune.

As a co-executor of Elvis' estate at the time, his ex-wife Priscilla was a co-defendant, and denied all allegations.

The ruling did not even address whether Deborah was Elvis' illegitimate child or not, as it was irrelevant.

The judge confirmed that even if Deborah was Elvis' daughter, she would not have been eligible for inheritance as she was not his lawful daughter.

Ruling against Deborah, the judge stated: "Only those children born in lawful wedlock to Mr. Presley are entitled to inherit from and through him, and that Lisa Marie Presley is the only such child."

Deborah went on to marry Christian Brando, the son of legendary actor Marlon Brando, in 2014 but their marriage was annulled in June 2005.

John Smith

One man claimed to have a birth certificate proving Elvis was his dad.

John Smith, a country singer in Scottsdale, Arizona, came forward to say that he had DNA evidence in 2013.

He believed he was the result of a one night stand between the singer and his mother and wrote a book titled Let the Boy Sing: Elvis Is My Daddy.

"I've known that Elvis is my daddy since I was 27-years-old," Smith said in 2013, also claiming that Presley set up a trust fund for him.

Smith did manage to produce a birth certificate stating his birth parents as Elvis A. Presley and Zona Marie Roach.

But it could easily have been edited and the authorities have not taken it seriously.

Did Elvis want more kids?

Elvis with daughter Lisa Marie and ex-wife Priscilla (Redferns)
Lisa Marie was Elvis' only child (Frank Carroll)

As Elvis' only child, Lisa Marie inherited her late father's Graceland estate, which had grown to be worth an estimated $100 million, on her 25th birthday in 1993.

Elvis and Priscilla had also decided on a boy's name, but they didn't have any other kids before they separated in February 1972.

Priscilla revealed: "I loved the name John Baron for a boy...he agreed."

There has been a lot of speculation as to whether The King wanted any more children - and one person who could give us some insight was his cousin's son.

Danny Smith, who grew up at Graceland and dad Billy was Elvis' cousin,

Speaking on the Memphis Mafia YouTube channel, he said: "It's been said by different people, yay and nay. And like I said, no one person was around Elvis all the time.

"I don't know what he may have told other folks and he never told me that he did. But I just had that feeling or felt like he was very content and happy with Lisa and just the way things were going.

"I personally don't think he was looking to have more children. Only really Elvis would know that but, my view of it…that's what I personally think."

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