Lisa Marie Presley’s sudden death in 2023 came as a shock to fans worldwide. Just two days before her passing, she made a public appearance at the Golden Globes, where her frailty caught the attention of many.
Lisa Marie, at 54, seemed to struggle with her speech, and she tightly gripped the arm of Jerry Schilling, her longtime friend. Despite her apparent weakness, she managed to praise actor Austin Butler, who portrayed her father, Elvis Presley, in the movie Elvis. She described Butler’s performance as “accurate” and “spot-on,” and admired how the film portrayed her father’s legacy without mocking his artistic spirit.
Yet, even as she praised Butler, fans couldn’t help but notice that something seemed off. The singer had recently faced unimaginable pain. In 2020, she tragically lost her son, Benjamin Keough, to suicide.
Grief had marked Lisa Marie’s life, and her Golden Globes appearance was just one of many moments where her strength was quietly, and often painfully, visible.
Lisa Marie had been devastated by the loss of Benjamin, her only son. She had written an emotional tribute to him on his birthday, describing the suffocating pain of his absence. “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,” she wrote.
Her words were both heart-wrenching and full of love. Despite her grief, she remained determined to care for her daughters, knowing that Benjamin would want his sisters to be protected and loved.
The mother of four had always been deeply connected to her family. At the Golden Globes, she shared an emotional moment with her mother, Priscilla Presley, as they both wiped away tears during Austin Butler’s speech.
Butler had thanked the Presleys for welcoming him into their lives during the filming of Elvis, telling them, “I love you forever.” His words were filled with gratitude, and Lisa Marie, alongside her mother, felt the weight of the gesture.
Lisa Marie had always been a devoted mother. She often shared heartwarming moments on social media, like the time she watched the Nutcracker ballet with her daughters at Christmas.
She also honored her father’s memory, posting a photo of herself and her daughters at the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s concert in Memphis. “It wouldn’t be a good day without my girls,” Lisa Marie said in a heartfelt birthday post. Her daughters were the light of her life, and she cherished every moment with them.
Her bond with her family ran deep, and the pain of losing her son was made all the more unbearable by how much Benjamin had loved his sisters. Lisa Marie had written about how hard it was to navigate the world without him.
Yet, she continued, because she knew her son would want her to stay strong for his sisters. “I still feel his spirit with me,” she had said. “I see him in my daughters, and every day without him is a struggle.”
Despite the overwhelming sorrow that shadowed her life, Lisa Marie found solace in her family. Her daughter Riley, like her mother, shared cherished memories of Benjamin.
On the first anniversary of his passing, Riley posted a throwback photo of herself and Benjamin as children, smiling on a swing. “I miss you more than words can say,” she captioned the photo, a simple yet powerful tribute to the brother she lost too soon.
The Presley family, despite the heartbreak they faced, remained tightly knit. Lisa Marie was fortunate to have had her mother and grandmother in her life for so long.
In 2015, she posted a photo of the three generations of women, each one beautiful and strong in their own right. Even as they endured devastating losses, they leaned on each other, finding strength in the love they shared.
When Lisa Marie passed away, her family was left to cope with yet another loss, but they were not alone. They had each other. Riley, in particular, often shared moments from their family’s past, reminding fans of the deep connections that remain even after death.
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
A picture of Benjamin and Riley from Easter showed them smiling, a testament to the bond that remained strong despite the pain of loss.
Lisa Marie Presley’s life was one of resilience, love, and immense tragedy. Her passing left an unfillable hole in the hearts of those who loved her, but her legacy, like her father’s, will live on. And while the Presley family continues to grieve, they know that they have each other to lean on through the most difficult times.
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