Two distinctly different women who married two legendary entertainers two years apart (Elvis and Priscilla in 1967 in Las Vegas Wedding Photos  John and Yoko in 1969 in Gibraltar) and have since become two most famous widows in the world today.

Over the past 20 or in Ms Presley's case 23 years these two widows have unwillingly been keepers of the flame.Both have had to face the challenge of surviving beyond the myth, the mania and the madness, while the juggling millions of dollars and motherhood, and hoeing their marketing skills, but that's where the duality beings and ends.

In America, when Elvis exploded on the scene in the 50's parents hated him because he was the embodiment of sex and the corrupter of youth. Yet, Elvis meekly attributed it to, "I came at a time, in the music business, when there was no trend..."

In England, the youthful, John Lennon who saw Elvis as his hero, became obsessed by this image and lusted after that power. "I wanted to be this tough James Dean, but Elvis was bigger than religion in my life," Lennon said.

Years later admitted his distaste at how Elvis' estate handled the King's memory. "His legend is being overindulged. Anything and everything is being done to keep the King tied to the throne and the bucks rolling in."

In death John's legacy seems to have retained what was stripped away from Elvis.

Today we accept Lennon for what he was, have forgiven him for his public acts of vulgarity, his plight to be taken seriously, and still love him. Unlike Lennon, the public has never forgiven Elvis for what they think they know about his private life.

The pasteurization of Elvis Presley began in 1960 after his army stint and when Hollywood cast him in 29 asinine beach-boy movies for the next decade. The day Elvis died (August 16, 1977) John Lennon quipped "Elvis died in the army..."

In 1963, when the Beatles burst on to the scene, playing their gig in suits and ties parents saw beyond the neat image and hated them for being the treat the Elvis ceased to be.But the clean-cut image soon gave way to rebellion, challenging authority, drinking, drugging, and debauchery in a bid to search for their souls. In the process they changed the world and helped put an end to the Vietnam War.

The public will never know what Elvis was doing behind closed doors, no one will, because he never told his side of the story.... Since his death we have had only hearsay accounts telling us what Elvis (inside Graceland) was doing privately what all his critics were doing publicly.

In 1967, when Priscilla Beaulieu changed her name to Presley and the 33 years since she has been publicly portrayed as the soft-spoken, China-doll who did her best under an untenable situation. Even her autobiography, ELVIS AND ME could not account for Elvis' prowess, or why he couldn't balance his bank book or what caused his drug crazy decline. Oh, we know she took karate lessons, rode horses, and endured his countless infidelities. However, when Elvis finally accepted the responsibility for his waning career, she walked.

By not naming Cilla in his last will and testament we know Elvis never intended his ex-wife take charge of his estate. Only three years after Elvis' death Priscilla employed a team of business marketing consultants and turned Graceland from a lemon into lemonade. Today, the Graceland mansion, her family home, is the most successful real estate marketing product since the Eiffel tower was built.

He left that to his father, Vernon to be past on to his daughter, Lisa Marie at age 25. Suddenly even Elvis' last wish was amended by Priscilla hand in 1990 when she coaxed her daughter to postponed her inheritance till she turns 30 in 1998.