Lisa Marie Presley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisa Marie Presley
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Presley in 2005
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| Born | February 1, 1968 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | January 12, 2023 (aged 54) Calabasas, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1997–2023 |
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| Children | 4, including Riley Keough |
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| Relatives | Navarone Garibaldi (half-brother) |
Lisa Marie Presley (born February 1, 1968 – died January 12, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. She was the only child of famous singer and actor Elvis Presley and actress Priscilla Presley. Lisa Marie was also the only person to inherit her father's estate.
She built her own music career and released three albums. These were To Whom It May Concern in 2003, Now What in 2005, and Storm & Grace in 2012. Her first album became very popular and was certified Gold. Lisa Marie also released songs that were not on her albums, including special duets with her father's voice.
Lisa Marie Presley was married four times. Her husbands included musician Danny Keough, singer Michael Jackson, actor Nicolas Cage, and music producer Michael Lockwood.
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Her Early Life
Lisa Marie was born on February 1, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her parents, Elvis and Priscilla Presley, were married exactly nine months before she was born. After her parents divorced, she lived with her mother in Los Angeles, California. She often visited her father at his home, Graceland, in Memphis.
When her father passed away in August 1977, Lisa Marie was nine years old. She became a joint heir to his estate along with her grandfather and great-grandmother. Later, she became the only heir and inherited Graceland. On her 25th birthday in 1993, she officially inherited the estate, which was worth about $100 million. In 2004, she sold most of her father's business estate, but kept Graceland.
In the late 1970s, Lisa Marie went to her first rock concert. She saw the band Queen perform in California. After the show, she gave Freddie Mercury a scarf that belonged to her father. She loved the theatrical style of the band.
Her Music Career
On April 8, 2003, Lisa Marie released her first album, To Whom It May Concern. It quickly became popular, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album was certified gold in June 2003. Lisa Marie wrote almost all the lyrics and helped write every melody on the album.
The first song from the album, "Lights Out", did well on the music charts. A music critic from the Los Angeles Times said her album had a "stark, uncompromising tone." He also praised her "gutsy blues-edged voice."
Her second album, Now What, came out on April 5, 2005. It reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Lisa Marie helped write 10 songs for this album. She also covered two songs by other artists, "Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley and "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" by the Ramones.
Her third album, Storm & Grace, was released on May 15, 2012. Lisa Marie described it as a "rootsy" and "organic" record. It was produced by the famous Oscar and Grammy winner T Bone Burnett. Critics praised this album, saying it showed her growth as an artist. Entertainment Weekly called her single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" "smoky" and "spooky."
Working with Other Artists
Lisa Marie Presley performed with Pat Benatar at the VH1 Divas Duets concert in 2003. They sang Benatar's hit song "Heartbreaker." Lisa Marie often sang this song at her own concerts later. In 2003, she also recorded "Silent Night" for an NBC holiday collection.
In 2006, Lisa Marie appeared in a documentary about Johnny Ramone of the Ramones. The film showed her and other artists performing at a benefit concert. This concert celebrated the Ramones' 30th anniversary and raised money for cancer research.
In August 2007, a special version of "In the Ghetto" was released. This song was originally released by her father, Elvis Presley, in 1969. In the new version, Lisa Marie sang a duet with her father's original recording. The music video for the song became very popular online. Lisa Marie said she wanted to use the song for a good cause. Proceeds from the song and video helped a housing program for homeless families in New Orleans.
In 2009, she joined singer Richard Hawley on stage in London. They worked together on a song called "Weary." Lisa Marie also mentioned that she was recording a new album in London.
T-Bone Burnett, who produced Storm & Grace, spoke highly of working with Lisa Marie. He said her songs were "honest, raw, unaffected and soulful." He believed her father would have been proud of her music.
Helping Others
Lisa Marie Presley was very involved in charity work. The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation (EPCF) was started in 1984. It aimed to continue Elvis's tradition of helping the community. Lisa Marie was the chairperson of this foundation.
In 2001, the EPCF opened Presley Place. This program helps homeless families by providing them with rent-free housing for up to a year. It also offers child care, financial advice, and other support. The EPCF also created the Elvis Presley Music Room. Here, young people can learn to play musical instruments. The foundation also supports a scholarship fund at the University of Memphis for students studying the arts.
Lisa Marie also helped with the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. She worked with Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network. Lisa Marie helped load trucks with groceries and bought toiletries and clothes for those affected. She then distributed these supplies to people who had lost everything.
In 2011, Lisa Marie became a supporter of the Dream Factory, a charity in London. This charity grants wishes for children with serious illnesses or disabilities. At a fundraising event, Lisa Marie brought a framed picture of Elvis from Graceland. This item was auctioned and raised $5,000 for the charity.
Grammy Foundation Work
On June 6, 2004, Lisa Marie helped the Grammy Foundation honor Long Beach Polytechnic High School. The school was recognized for its excellent music education program. Lisa Marie presented an award and money to help the school's music program.
In October 2005, she presented a special award to musician Isaac Hayes in Memphis. She also met with music students to talk about careers in the music industry.
Awards and Special Recognitions
On June 24, 2011, the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, honored Lisa Marie. He declared a day of recognition for her charity work. Two days later, the Mayor of New Orleans, Mitchell J. Landrieu, also recognized her contributions to his city.
The City of Memphis gave her a proclamation on June 28, 2011. It praised her as a "humanitarian and philanthropist." The proclamation stated that she helped improve homelessness and literacy in Memphis. It also said she raised money for local charities.
Her Personal Life
Lisa Marie Presley and her family lived in San Francisco for some time. Between 2010 and 2016, they lived in a historic manor house in England. In 2013, Lisa Marie said she might write a book about her life. She wanted to share her story in her own words.
In 2005, she appeared in a TV movie called Elvis by the Presleys, which offered a brief look into her personal life. Her son, Benjamin Keough, passed away on July 12, 2020, at the age of 27.
Her Marriages and Children
Lisa Marie married musician Danny Keough on October 3, 1988. They had two children: a daughter, Riley Keough (born in 1989), who is an actress and model, and a son, Benjamin Storm Keough (born in 1992). They divorced in 1994.
Twenty days after her divorce from Danny Keough, Lisa Marie married singer Michael Jackson. They had first met in 1975 when Lisa Marie was seven years old. She attended several of his concerts. They divorced in 1996.
In 2000, Lisa Marie was engaged to musician John Oszajca. However, she broke off the engagement after meeting actor Nicolas Cage at a party. Lisa Marie and Nicolas Cage married on August 10, 2002. Cage filed for divorce a few months later, and their divorce was finalized in 2004.
Lisa Marie married for the fourth time on January 22, 2006. She married Michael Lockwood, who was her guitarist and music producer. Danny Keough, her first husband, was the best man at their wedding in Japan. In March 2008, Lisa Marie announced she was expecting. On October 7, 2008, she gave birth to twin girls, Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood. Lisa Marie filed for divorce from Michael Lockwood in 2016. The divorce was finalized in 2021.
Her Passing
On January 12, 2023, Lisa Marie Presley had a cardiac arrest at her home in California. Her heart was restarted by CPR before she was taken to the hospital. She passed away later that day at the age of 54. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, announced the sad news. Lisa Marie's last public appearance was just two days before, at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
Elvis Presley's Estate
After Elvis Presley passed away in 1977, his will named his father, Vernon Presley, as the person in charge of his estate. The money was to be held in a trust for Vernon, Elvis's grandmother, and Lisa Marie. Lisa Marie's inheritance would be hers when she turned 25. After her grandfather and great-grandmother passed away, Lisa Marie became the only remaining beneficiary.
On her 25th birthday in 1993, Lisa Marie inherited her father's estate. Thanks to her mother's careful management, the estate had grown to an estimated $100 million.
In 1998, Lisa Marie became more involved in managing the Elvis Presley Trust. She was the owner and chairman of the board until February 2005. At that time, she sold 85 percent of the estate's business parts. However, she kept ownership of Graceland itself and everything inside it.
"Elvis Through His Daughter's Eyes" Exhibit
In February 2012, Lisa Marie opened a new exhibit at Graceland called "Elvis ... Through His Daughter's Eyes." This exhibit is now part of the Graceland VIP Tour. It features about 200 items that Lisa Marie and the Graceland Archives staff put together.
The exhibit shows what it was like for Lisa Marie to grow up with a famous father. It includes home movies, toys, and rare family items.
The Lisa Marie Plane
In November 1975, Elvis Presley named one of his private planes after his daughter. It was a large jet that he spent over $1 million making luxurious. He used it as his main way to travel when he was on tour. The Lisa Marie plane and another of his planes, Hound Dog II, are now on display at Graceland.
