In a candid new interview for the latest issue of Vanity Fair, actress Riley Keough has opened up about the status of her relationship with her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, following the complex legal process that named Keough the sole trustee of her late mother Lisa Marie Presley’s estate.
Navigating Grief and Chaos
Reflecting on the untimely death of her mother, who passed away in January at age 54 due to a bowel obstruction resulting from complications of a previous bariatric surgery, Keough shared a poignant sentiment: “She always knew she wouldn’t be here too long. Now she is home where she always belonged, but my heart is missing her.”
Keough admitted that Lisa Marie’s unexpected passing left the family in a state of chaos. “Everyone was in a bit of a panic to understand how we move forward and just took a minute to understand the details of the situation because it’s complicated,” Keough explained, noting the significant business interests involved in the Presley estate.
Resolving the Legal Dispute
Following Lisa Marie’s death, a legal dispute ensued when Priscilla contested the authenticity and validity of Keough’s appointment as sole trustee. Last week, Keough secured the legal victory and told Vanity Fair that “clarity has been had.”
Addressing rumors of a family rift, Keough emphasized that her relationship with her grandmother remains positive. “Things with my grandma will be happy,” she stated. “They’ve never not been happy. Anything that would suggest otherwise in the press makes me sad because, at the end of the day, all she wants is to love and protect Graceland and the Presley family and the legacy. That’s her whole life.”
Priscilla Presley has also moved to dispel rumors, telling ET in a May statement that the family is “stronger than ever.”
The Future of Graceland
Under the new arrangement, Keough will own the iconic Memphis estate. Priscilla, who originally kept the home after Lisa Marie sold off most of the Elvis estate in 2004, has long viewed Graceland as the family’s heart.
A reported point of contention during legal negotiations involved Priscilla’s final resting place. Legal documents now state that Keough will, to the extent of her authority, allow Priscilla to be buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland. The agreement specifies the location will be closest to Elvis Presley without moving any existing grave sites.
“I don’t know why she wouldn’t be buried at Graceland if she wants to be, of course,” Keough said, noting that sharing Graceland with the world was Priscilla’s idea from the start.
The garden currently serves as the final resting place for Elvis, his parents, Lisa Marie, and Keough’s brother, Benjamin Keough, who died in 2020. As Keough steps into her new role, she remains focused on the immense responsibility of maintaining the legacy of her grandfather, Elvis Presley.