Elvis Presley Regretted Missing Out on 'A Star Is Born' Lead Role, Priscilla Presley Shares

Behind the Missed Opportunity: Elvis, Streisand, and the Movie That Never Was

Every so often, a star looks back at a crossroads and wonders what might have been. For Elvis Presley, that moment centered around A Star Is Born—the 1976 blockbuster that paired Barbra Streisand with Kris Kristofferson. Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s former wife and someone who knew him better than anyone, has stepped forward with a candid confession: Elvis truly regretted letting that role slip away.

It’s not a surprise that Streisand, riding high in the 1970s, wanted Elvis for her co-star. At the time, he was still “The King,” known everywhere for his charisma and magnetism. According to Priscilla, Streisand approached him personally with the offer. And Elvis was interested. He could see himself taking on a serious, challenging part, something worlds away from his typical “sing-and-dance” movie formula. He talked often about wanting to be seen as a real actor, not just a pop star and heartthrob.

But one roadblock tripped things up: Elvis’s longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Parker had always kept a tight grip on Elvis’s film projects, often steering him toward safe, commercial pictures like Girls! Girls! Girls! or Blue Hawaii, rather than meaty dramatic roles. When it came to A Star Is Born, Parker wasn’t having it. He figured the movie would be more about Streisand than about Elvis, telling him plainly, “It’s her movie, not yours.” Parker’s strategy was to keep Elvis in the driver’s seat, even if that meant passing on truly promising scripts.

How Parker’s Grip Shaped Elvis’s Frustration

Priscilla’s revelations add new depth to how stifled Elvis felt under Parker’s rule. Hollywood friends like Jerry Schilling remember Elvis’s growing restlessness. By the early 1970s, he was turning down scripts left and right, frustrated by roles that felt beneath him. He knew he could offer more than a few songs and a wink to the camera. But under Parker’s direction, Presley’s film legacy filled up with undemanding musicals and light comedies.

Watching Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson light up the screen in A Star Is Born, with Streisand earning an Oscar for her leading turn, left Elvis bitter. He reportedly brought up the missed role many times, telling friends he could have nailed it and maybe even transformed his career in the process. The lost chance haunted him—not just because of Streisand’s success, but because it symbolized all the meaningful work his manager never let him do.

The story feels even more powerful today, knowing how fiercely Elvis longed for respect beyond the gold jumpsuits and screaming fans. He wanted to be taken seriously as an artist, especially on the big screen. But while Streisand cemented her acting legacy, Elvis remained trapped by his image—and the choices Parker made for him. Now, when fans revisit those classic films, it’s hard not to wonder: What if The King had taken that chance?