Lisa Marie Presley, Daughter of Elvis, Dies at 54
by Best Classic Bands StaffLisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, died today (Jan. 12, 2023), at age 54. The news was confirmed by People magazine, among others. People offered a statement from Priscilla Presley that read, “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us.
Lisa Marie Presley (Photo via her Facebook page)
“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. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”
Reports throughout the day stated that Lisa Marie had suffered cardiac arrest at her Calabasas, Calif., home and had been administered CPR and taken to an area hospital. At around 6:30 p.m. PT, her mother had posted on Twitter that her daughter “is now receiving the best care. Please keep her and our family in your prayers.”
Lisa Marie Presley’s most recent public appearance was two days earlier, when she attended the Golden Globe Awards, for which the Elvis musical biopic was nominated. Many press reports indicated that she did not appear to look well.
Priscilla Presley’s earlier tweet:
My beloved daughter Lisa Marie was rushed to the hospital. She is now receiving the best care. Please keep her and our family in your prayers. We feel the prayers from around the world, and ask for privacy during this time.
-Priscilla Presley pic.twitter.com/j5oNfNMYJx— Priscilla Presley (@Cilla_Presley) January 12, 2023
Elvis Presley died at the family’s home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tenn., on August 16, 1977, at age 42. His will appointed his father, Vernon Presley, who had long handled Elvis’ personal, non-career business affairs, as executor and trustee. The beneficiaries were Elvis’ grandmother, Minnie Mae Presley; his father, Vernon Presley; and his only child, Lisa Marie Presley.
Lisa Marie’s paternal grandmother, Gladys Presley, died of a heart attack at age 46 in 1958.
Vernon Presley died in 1979. Minnie Mae Presley died in 1980. This left Lisa Marie as the sole heir to the estate. Elvis’ will stated that her inheritance was to be held in trust for her until her 25th birthday, February 1, 1993.
Priscilla Beaulieu Presley had divorced Elvis in 1973 but had continued a close friendship with him and was Lisa Marie’s legal guardian. Upon Lisa Marie’s 25th birthday, the trust automatically dissolved and Lisa chose to form a new trust, the Elvis Presley Trust, to continue the successful management of the estate, with her mother and the National Bank of Commerce continuing to serve as co-trustees.
In 1998, as Lisa Marie Presley’s role in the management grew, Priscilla Presley chose to redirect her efforts by moving to an advisory position, continuing her close involvement and support while focusing more time on her own ever-expanding individual pursuits as a successful actress and businessperson.
Lisa Marie became more closely involved with the management team of the Elvis Presley Trust and its business entity, Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), of which she was owner and Chairman of the Board until February 2005, when she sold a major interest in the company.
Elvis Presley could have left one of the great fortunes of entertainment history, had he been one to worry about financial planning, rather than freely enjoying and sharing his wealth as he did. While the estate he left was by no means broke, there was a cash flow problem, especially with Graceland costing over half a million dollars a year in maintenance and taxes.
It seemed logical for Priscilla and the executors to open Graceland to the public. It opened for tours on June 7, 1982. It has since become one of America’s top tourist attractions, hosting more than 20 million visitors.
Lisa Marie Presley retained 100 percent sole personal ownership of Graceland Mansion itself and its over 13-acre original grounds and her father’s personal effects–costumes, wardrobe, awards, furniture, cars and more. She made the mansion property and her father’s personal effects permanently available for tours of Graceland and for use in all of EPE’s operations.
Lisa Marie was born in Memphis on Feb. 1, 1968, nine months to the day after her parents’ wedding. She was four years old when her parents divorced and nine when her father died. She herself was married four times. The first was to a musician, Danny Keough, in 1988. The couple divorced in 1994 after having two children; their son, Benjamin, died of suicide in 2020 at age 27.
Less than three weeks after the divorce came the shocking news that the newly single Lisa Marie had married music superstar Michael Jackson. They divorced less than two years later, in 1996. Husband number three was actor Nicolas Cage, in 2002. However, just over three months later, Cage filed for divorce and the couple’s marriage officially ended in 2004.
In a statement, Cage said, “I am heartbroken. I find some solace believing she is reunited with her son, Benjamin.”
While married to Cage, Lisa Marie began a recording career that ultimately yielded three albums. The first, 2003’s To Whom It May Concern, via Capitol Records, reached #5 on the U.S. chart and was certified Gold.
Lisa Marie’s final marriage was in 2006 to Michael Lockwood, her guitarist and music producer. The couple had fraternal twins but the couple divorced in 2021.
She stayed off Twitter for over a year, but returned frequently to tweet posts about 2022’s hugely successful Elvis musical biopic, writing at one point that “it’s nothing short of spectacular” and noting that lead actor Austin Butler “channeled and embodied my father’s heart and soul beautifully.”
She attended a screening with her three surviving children, writing, “What moved me to tears… was watching Riley and Harper, and Finley afterwards, all three visibly overwhelmed in the best way possible, and so filled with pride about their grandfather and his legacy in a way that I have not previously experienced.”
One month later, she shared photos of a meeting with the cast and crew.
I had such an emotional and incredible trip to Memphis, meeting, and spending time with all of the cast of Elvis. I have so much love and admiration for all of them💙. Thank You to @austinbutler @bazluhrmann @tomhanks @VisitGraceland @wbpictures @ElvisMovie pic.twitter.com/6nYIIUaqGQ
— Lisa Marie Presley (@LisaPresley) June 16, 2022
Two days before she died, Presley attended the Golden Globe Awards. During the red carpet ceremony, she “crashed” Butler’s interview with ET.
Related: Musicians we’ve lost in 2023
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationWhat a shame to lose Elvis Presley’s only child. RIP Lisa you now can be with your dad, The King, Elvis.