Priscilla Ann Wagner was born on May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, to Anna and James Wagner. Her father, a Navy pilot, died in a plane crash when she was just eight months old. Her mother later married Paul Beaulieu, leading to a childhood marked by frequent relocations due to her stepfather's Air Force career.

At age 11, Priscilla moved to Wiesbaden, West Germany, with her family. It was there that she met Elvis Presley, who was serving in the U.S. Army. Their relationship began, and she eventually moved to the United States to be with him in 1962.