Elvis Presley left a lasting impression on the world with his contribution to the music industry — and his memory lives on with his family.
The King of Rock n’ Roll’s whirlwind romance with Priscilla Presley began in 1959 when he was serving in the military following being drafted amid his rising singing career. The couple tied the knot in May 1967 and welcomed their only daughter together, Lisa Marie Presley, one year later.
In February 1972, the duo called it quits. The legendary music icon died in 1977, four years after his divorce was finalized, after going into cardiac arrest.
Elvis’ daughter became a mother for the first time in 1989 when she welcomed daughter Riley Keough with her then-husband Danny Keough. Three years later, their son, Benjamin, was born.
While Lisa Marie and Danny split in 1994, the songwriter went on to have brief marriages with Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage. In 2006, Lisa Marie got married for a fourth time to Michael Lockwood. The pair welcomed twin daughters, Harper and Finley, in 2008. After 10 years of marriage, Lisa Marie filed for divorce and engaged in a lengthy custody battle ensued.
Lisa Marie died in January 2023 after suffering cardiac arrest. The loss prompted her mother, Priscilla, and daughter Riley to be involved in a messy legal battle over her estate. The proceedings were settled that May, with Riley becoming the sole heir of Lisa Marie’s estate and the owner of Elvis’ Graceland. (The late rockstar had left the Memphis mansion to his only daughter following his death.)
The former wife of the late rock star not only helped his legacy live on with their daughter, but she is also a vital part in keeping his memory alive.
“It’s difficult to believe Elvis would be 86 today, January 8th. I think back and wonder … if he were here today, how would he celebrate in the year 2021,” Priscilla wrote via Facebook in January 2021. “It’s not really hard as Elvis was somewhat … a creature of habit. I believe he would be celebrating exactly the same way. Having a small amount of his friends, family and his Memphis Mafia all gathered at Graceland.”
She continued: “I can almost hear his laugh, see him joking around, and know he would be staying up into the early morning hours … ending at the piano singing gospel songs. Elvis, lost in the lyrics, as if no one was around. Then as the song comes to an end and with a slight smile, turns to his guest and nods with satisfaction as everyone applauds for more. Those are cherished moments embedded in my mind.”
The New York native gave her stamp of approval to Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 Elvis biopic and its star, Austin Butler.
The “Lights Out” artist was the sole child of Elvis and Priscilla. Lisa Marie followed in her father’s footsteps and released several albums and singles. The musician released numerous critically acclaimed albums. She has been married four times and has four children.
In October 2014, the humanitarian revealed she was “very protective” of her family. “I just smother them in love and I am also ferociously protective,” she said to Healthy Living magazine. “They are my priority. That’s what I do. That’s what I care most about. I keep them close to me and make sure they are happy and healthy.”
After watching the 2022 biopic of her late father, Lisa Marie and daughter Riley talked about how watching the film made them feel. “It was such an emotional [experience]. Like Riley said, it just brings up such generational trauma — in a good way,” she revealed on Good Morning America at the time. “And Riley, five minutes in, was already like, ‘I’m done.’ She was already crying and I was crying.”
Us confirmed on January 12, 2023, that Lisa Marie went into cardiac arrest at her Calabasas home. Hours later, Priscilla announced that her daughter had died after being rushed to the hospital.
“She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss,” Priscilla said in a statement. “Thank you for the love and prayers.”
The Zola actress is the eldest daughter of Lisa Marie and Danny. She began her career as a model but made her acting debut in 2010 in The Runaways. Riley has also had roles in The Girlfriend Experience, Mad Max: Fury Road, American Honey, The Lodge and more. In 2022, she won a Caméra d’Or for her role in War Pony.
Eight months after her brother’s passing, Riley completed her training to become a death doula. “Today I finished my Death Doula training, on The Art of Death Midwifery training course by @sacred_crossings so I guess I’m an almost certified death doula now hehe,” the Golden Globe nominee wrote via Instagram in March 2021. “And I just felt like writing such a deep thank you to this community who are teaching and training people in conscious dying and death work.”
Lisa Marie and Danny’s late son died by suicide in 2020 and was laid to rest at Graceland alongside his grandfather and other family members. Prior to his death, Benjamin was an aspiring musician and scored a five-album record deal with Universal worth $5 million.
His mom spoke to the Huffington Post in 2013 about her son’s music ventures. “He’s doing his own thing right now. I’m going to let him decide when he wants to go out and do what he wants to do.”
Riley and Lisa Marie continue to pay tribute to Benjamin in the years since his death. In July 2022, his mom shared a throwback picture of their matching tattoos a Celtic eternity knot. “[It symbolizes] that we will be connected eternally. We carefully picked it to represent our eternal love and our eternal bond,” Lisa Marie wrote via Instagram.
Riley, for her part, penned a touching tribute of her own one month later. “Not an hour goes by where I don’t think of you and miss you. It’s been two years today since you left and I still can’t believe you’re not here,” she captioned a picture of the twosome from her wedding to Ben Smith-Petersen.
Finley is the daughter of Lisa Marie and Michael. She has a twin sister named Harper.
In February 2021, Lisa Marie posted a snap of her and her three daughters together as they celebrated their mom’s birthday. “Thank you for all of the overwhelming birthday wishes from everyone,” she wrote via Instagram. “Like everyday, I couldn’t have made it through without these three by my side. ~ LMP.”
Harper is the twin sister of Finley and daughter of Michael and Lisa Marie.
Lisa Marie enjoyed a night out with her three daughters in December 2018 at the ballet. “Incredible night at the Nutcracker ballet w my fave people in the world, now it feels like Xmas
Us confirmed in January 2023 that the Daisy Jones & the Six star and Smith-Petersen, who wed in 2015, had secretly welcomed a baby girl.
“Thank you for showing me that love is the only thing that matters in this life. I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me, the way you loved my brother and my sisters,” the Australia native said during the January 22 memorial for Lisa Marie, reading aloud Riley’s eulogy. “Thank you for giving me strength, my heart, my empathy, my courage, my sense of humor, my manners, my temper, my wildness, my tenacity. I’m a product of your heart.”
The couple’s firstborn marks the first great-grandchild for Priscilla and the late Elvis.
