Travolta Credited For Presleys' Interest In Scientology

John Travolta is credited with inspiring PRISCILLA and Lisa Marie Presley to join the Church of Scientology.

While coming to terms with the 1977 death of Lisa Marie's father Elvis PRESLEY, Priscilla started to search for an inspirational source to get them both through the tragedy, which led to her noting Travolta's ability to pick himself up.

Travolta says, "Gabe Kaplan, who was the star of WELCOME BACK, KOTTER, the TV show I was doing, was friends with Priscilla. He said to me, 'As you know, Elvis died recently and Priscilla would really like to meet you. She has some questions she wants to ask you.'

"The crux of the conversation was, 'You seem to have survived all the things that my ex-husband didn't.'"

Lisa Marie adds, "He explained to her what Scientology was and she kinda told me in the car on the way home from school what it was. And I remember at exactly that moment going, 'That's definitely for me. I might not do it right this minute, but it sounds really interesting to me.' And I responded immediately."