Lisa Marie Presley’s death in 2023 came as a shocking blow to the world. Only two days before her passing, she had appeared at the Golden Globe Awards, looking frail and struggling to speak. Fans were concerned, and many knew she had been grieving the loss of her son, Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in 2020.
Despite the hardships she faced, Lisa Marie stayed strong for her family, honoring her late son while trying to remain a pillar of support for her daughters.
Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of the legendary Elvis Presley, had lived a life filled with the weight of public scrutiny and personal tragedy. As a singer and songwriter, she was known for her talent, but in 2023, she was most notably at the Golden Globes in support of Austin Butler, the actor who portrayed her father, Elvis Presley, in the hit movie Elvis.
Lisa Marie praised Austin, calling his portrayal of her father “accurate” and “spot-on,” and expressed her gratitude for how the film never mocked Elvis’s artistry.
But even as she shared her thoughts on the movie, fans couldn’t ignore how weak and fragile she appeared. The 54-year-old singer, who had been through so much, was holding tightly onto the arm of Jerry Schilling, a longtime family friend, and seemed to be struggling to speak.
Fans were concerned, understanding that Lisa Marie had lost her son just a few years earlier. They empathized with her, knowing how difficult the grieving process must have been for her.
The Golden Globes night was emotionally charged for Lisa Marie and her mother, Priscilla Presley. During Austin Butler’s acceptance speech, where he thanked the Presleys for welcoming him into their family while making the movie, both Lisa Marie and Priscilla were visibly moved. Austin said, “I love you forever,” and the emotion in his voice made both mother and daughter tear up.
Lisa Marie had been vocal about her grief after Benjamin’s death. On what would have been his birthday in 2020, she shared an emotional tribute to him, expressing just how suffocating the pain of losing him had been.
She wrote, “Please wait for me, my love, and hold my hand while I stay to continue to protect and raise your little sisters and to be here for Riley.” In the midst of unbearable sorrow, Lisa Marie knew she had to stay strong for her daughters, as Benjamin would have wanted her to.
Despite the heartbreak of losing her son, Lisa Marie pressed on. She described her experience with grief in a candid post on National Grief Awareness Day, admitting that before she lost Benjamin, she had avoided speaking to parents who had experienced the same loss because she feared it the most.
But when it happened to her, she became a “representative” of that unspeakable pain. Lisa Marie’s grief was unimaginable, and although she had lost her father, Elvis Presley, when she was just nine years old, the loss of her son was something she couldn’t fully prepare for.
“The pain of losing my son is beyond words,” she said in an interview. “It’s an agony that no one should ever have to feel.”
Still, Lisa Marie found strength in the memory of her son. She said that even though the pain was overwhelming, she knew that Benjamin would want her to protect his sisters, and so she did. “I feel his spirit with me every day,” she said. “I see him in my daughters, and I carry him with me in everything I do. He would have wanted me to keep going, to be there for them, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Lisa Marie’s love for her family was evident to everyone around her. She often shared beautiful moments with her children on social media. One particularly sweet memory she posted was of her watching The Nutcracker ballet with her daughters at Christmas.
Another heartwarming moment was when she shared a photo of herself and her daughters backstage at the 35th anniversary of Elvis’s concert in Memphis, a special memory that she held close to her heart. She would often talk about how her three daughters—Riley, Harper, and Finley—were the light of her life.
On her birthday, she once said, “It wouldn’t be a good day without my girls. They are everything to me.”
Riley, Lisa Marie’s eldest daughter, also shared cherished memories of her brother Benjamin. On the first anniversary of his death, she posted a picture of the two of them as children, swinging together in a moment of pure joy. Despite their heartbreaking loss, the family remained close-knit, and their bond grew even stronger.
Even in her final years, Lisa Marie was blessed to have her mother and grandmother by her side. In 2015, she posted a picture of the three generations of women, a beautiful reminder of the family’s enduring legacy. Riley also shared a nostalgic Easter picture with Benjamin, and through all their losses, the Presley family stayed united.
So fortunate 2 have my Mother AND My Grandmother still w me. Such inspiring and strong women, Happy Mothers Day:) xo pic.twitter.com/mxzLttHDHu
— Lisa Marie Presley (@LisaPresley) May 10, 2015
Lisa Marie’s sudden death was a blow to her family, but they knew they would have each other’s back, no matter what. Through her music, her love for her children, and her connection to her famous father, Lisa Marie Presley’s legacy will never fade. She taught those who loved her the importance of family, love, and strength in the face of loss.
Her life may have been filled with pain, but it was also filled with moments of beauty and love, moments that will continue to live on in her children and her fans’ hearts.
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