Introduction
On the somber morning of January 22, 2023, Graceland—the iconic Memphis estate that was once home to Elvis Presley—became the focal point for a celebration of Lisa Marie Presley’s life. As dawn broke, the front lawn was already lined with mourning fans, each holding flowers and programs in tribute. Shortly before the 9 a.m. ceremony commenced, Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, emerged alongside her granddaughter Riley Keough, Riley’s husband Ben Smith‑Petersen, Navarone Garcia, and Lisa Marie’s twins, Finley and Harper. They took their seats in the front row—Priscilla and Riley at the lead—signaling the start of a poignant family moment .
Priscilla arrived carrying the weight of decades of shared history with Elvis and Lisa Marie. Her presence was marked by quiet strength, underscored when she read a deeply emotional poem titled “The Old Soul,” written by Harper, one of Lisa Marie’s daughters—tears in her voice, she read: “In 1968, she entered our world… delicate, but filled with life” . Riley, the eldest granddaughter of the King of Rock & Roll, quietly stepped forward to support her family. While Riley did not speak, she would later share that she had prepared a eulogy to honor her mother—though the weight of grief left her unable to deliver it publicly .
The service unfolded as a heartfelt “Celebration of Life,” infused with musical tributes: “Amazing Grace” by the Tennessee Mass Choir, performances from Billy Corgan, Alanis Morissette, Axl Rose, and a stirring rendition of hymns by The Blackwood Brothers—chosen in homage to Elvis’s own affinities . After the formal ceremony, Priscilla, Riley, the twins, and others led a procession to the Meditation Garden—Graceland’s sacred resting place—where Lisa Marie’s grave sat beside that of her late son Benjamin. Supporters followed in poignant silence, paying their respects to the family legacy .
That day at Graceland, Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley both embodied the enduring strength of a family intertwined with rock‑and‑roll royalty and personal loss. Their presence not only honored Lisa Marie but reaffirmed the Presley family’s deep-rooted connection to a home that humanizes a cultural legend.