After the death of Lisa Marie Presley, a dispute broke out over the will of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis' only child: Mother Priscilla is suing in court.
Lisa Marie Presley in 2015
Priscilla Presley, widow of Elvis Presley, wants to have her deletion from the will invalidated, according to court documents released Tuesday (01/31/2023). According to the records, in 2010 Lisa Marie Presley enlisted her mother as one of the stewards of her vast fortune. In 2016, however, Lisa Marie apparently changed her mind and decreed that in the event of her death, her children, Riley and Benjamin Keough, would inherit.
Doubts about the authenticity of the signature
This change, in turn, was not discovered by Priscilla Presley until after her daughter's death, according to her attorney. The Elvis widow now applied to the court for the “alleged supplementary declaration” to be declared invalid. According to the court documents, as a reason she stated, among other things, that her daughter's signature on the document “did not match her usual and usual signature”. Her name was also misspelled, according to Priscilla Presley.
Lisa Marie Presley with her mother Priscilla, who was married to Elvis Presley from 1967 to 1973
Lisa Marie Presley, American singer and only child of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley, died of cardiac arrest on January 12 at the age of 54. A maid is said to have found her lifeless in her home in Calabasas, a celebrity suburb of Los Angeles. A statement from the family said her mother, Priscilla Presley, and the Presley family were “shocked and devastated by the tragic death of her lover, Lisa Marie.”
“The Most Wonderful Laughter”: Hollywood- Stars mourn Lisa Marie Presley
The death of the US singer caused a wave of grief on social media. Celebrities and fans have expressed their condolences across multiple platforms.
“Our hearts are broken,” wrote Oscar winner Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson in a joint statement on Instagram. A mother should never have to lose a child, the two emphasized: “Lisa Marie lost her beloved son Benjamin, Priscilla loses her only daughter. That's too much.” The couple had Lisa Marie Presley's family working together met on the recently released biopic “Elvis”. Hanks plays the role of Elvis' manager.
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Oscar winner Nicolas Cage, to whom Presley was married for three and a half months, also spoke up: “Lisa had the most wonderful laugh of anyone I have ever met. She brightened up every room.” He finds comfort in the belief The “Hollywood Reporter” quoted from a statement by the 59-year-old that she was reunited with her son Benjamin. Lisa Marie Presley's son Benjamin Keough committed suicide in 2020 at the age of 27.
Lisa Marie Presley was married to US actor Nicolas Cage for three and a half months
“Beach Boy” Brian Wilson also condoled: “It's hard to take when someone so young and full of life leaves us,” wrote the 80-year-old pop icon on Twitter. Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and pop singer Pink also paid tribute to the late musician. Pink wrote on Instagram, “Oh my heart hurts. Lisa Marie, you were one of a kind. […] The world lost a rare jewel today. May your soul rest in peace.”
US actor John Travolta, known for his roles in films such as Pulp Fiction and Grease, tweeted that he will miss his “Baby Girl” very much.
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Fashion icon Donatella Versace also expressed her sorrow on Instagram. She wrote that she will never forget the time she spent with Lisa Marie and praised her beauty and kindness.
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Linda Thompson, with whom Elvis was in a relationship for several years after separating from his wife Priscilla Presley, posted a photo of the rock 'n' roll legend and his daughter and wrote: “My heart is too heavy for words…”
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Lisa Marie Presley was nine years old when her famous father died in 1977 at the age of 42. The singer's only child outlived the young “King” in age by only a dozen years.
Lisa Marie Presley had followed in the footsteps of her famous father Elvis Presley (pictured in 1956)
Singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley made a name for herself as a singer and released three studio albums of her own. 2003's “To Whom It May Concern” was followed by 2005's “Now What”. Both ended up in the top ten of the US album charts “Billboard 200”. Their third and last studio album is from 2012 and is called “Storm & Grace”. Unlike the first two albums, it was not produced by Capitol Records but by T Bone Burnett. Her new producer saw in her “a folk music artist of great value”. According to Country Standard Time, he was initially curious to hear what the daughter of a pioneering musician had to say. Joseph Henry “T Bone” Burnett was impressed: “What I heard was honest, raw, unaffected and soulful. I thought her father would be proud of her.”
She can also be heard with him, her deceased father – for example on a new recording of his song “In The Ghetto” from 1969. She released the duet in 2007 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. Her voice was mixed to the original version. In 2012 the duet “I love you because” was released. In a similar way she had started her own music career. However, the duet “Don't Cry Daddy”, produced by David Foster in 1997, was not released at the time.
Short marriages with Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage
In the past, their private life has also been in the public eye again and again. Around 2018, when she spoke in a “Today” interview on the US broadcaster NBC about her fight against her drug problems, which she led in her mid-40s.
Again and again she caused a stir with her four marriages. She was married to pop icon Michael Jackson for a year and a half, and her marriage to US actor Nicolas Cage lasted just over three months. She was subsequently married to actor and composer Michael Lockwood. Danny Keough was her first husband, from whom she divorced in 1994. Presley is survived by two 14-year-old twin daughters – Harper and Finley Lockwood – and 33-year-old actress Riley Keough, who starred in the action film 'Mad Max: Fury Road.'
Lisa Marie Presley inherited “Graceland”
By 2005, Lisa Marie Presley had controlled her legendary father's legacy. She then sold most of her shares in Elvis Presley Enterprises to an investment firm. She kept Graceland, her father's home in Memphis, where Elvis Presley was found dead in August 1977. He was then taken to the hospital, where it was determined that he had died of a heart attack. Toxicology testing revealed high levels of prescription drugs in his blood.
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45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Graceland pilgrimage site
Every year on August 16, Elvis fans commemorate their idol by lighting candles for him in front of his former home “Graceland”, where Elvis died in 1977. Up to 75,000 people from all over the world flock to the gates of his former home to honor the “King of Rock 'n' Roll” on the anniversary of his death. Elvis' only child Lisa Marie Presley was the sole heir to the estate.
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45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Elvis – still a “top earner”
The Memphis property is the most visited historic home in the United States after the White House. Lisa Marie Presley managed her father's legacy until she sold most of her shares to a US entrepreneur in 2005. However, she still had the Graceland mansion and personal belongings of her father Elvis, who – like her son Benjamin – is buried on the site.
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more 45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Inspiration for Hollywood
The life story of Elvis Presley, played by Austin Butler, was released in June 2022. The main focus is on the complicated relationship with his shady manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Director Baz Luhrmann provides electrifying music and stage scenes – and Butler is celebrated for his fantastic portrayal of “King”.
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45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
From small town boy to superstar
Elvis Presley was born in the small town of Tupelo, Mississippi. When he was 13, his family moved to Memphis, in the neighboring state of Tennessee. There he recorded his first songs in the studios of the famous label Sun Records in 1954 and created his unmistakable rockabilly sound. Two years later, his breakthrough came with his hit “Heartbreak Hotel”.
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more 45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Military service in Germany
From 1958 to 1960 the star and heartthrob was stationed as a US soldier in Friedberg. Instead of staying in the barracks with his comrades, he checked into a hotel in nearby Bad Nauheim with his grandmother, his father and two bodyguards. Today, hotel guests can stay in the “Elvis Room”.
45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Hits made in Germany
Even though he performs actually banned during his military service, the “King” still found time for his greatest passion: music. In Germany Elvis wrote his two hits “One Night” and “Fool Such as I”. In addition, he helped the German folk song “Must I denn zum Städtele raus” to world fame. In his version, however, it is called “Wooden Heart”.
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45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Happily ever after?
For Elvis, the time in Germany not only meant fast cars and rock 'n' roll. It was here that he met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of a US officer who was only 14 when they met. The couple married in 1967 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. However, Elvis was said to have numerous extramarital affairs. The marriage ended in divorce in 1973.
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45 years after his death : Elvis lives on
The “King” lives on
His legacy is honored around the world. The “European Elvis Festival” in Bad Nauheim attracts numerous doubles of the singer every year. Elvis also has official fan clubs in 38 countries. And of course the “King” could not be missing on stamps either. The Spanish city of Granada printed his face on a stamp as early as 1978, Germany followed in 1988.
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45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Legendary style
Legend has it that Elvis swore by the jumpsuit after his trousers ripped on stage during a concert. Whatever the reason, the garment became an absolute fashion hit. A shop in Charlestown, Indiana makes faithful replicas (photo) of Elvis' overalls. Fans and doppelgangers have to wait 14 to 16 weeks for such a gem.
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more 45 years after his death: Elvis lives on
Dean, the “genius”
Elvis has not only inspired countless doubles, but also filmmakers and generations of musicians. But who inspired the “King”? During his lifetime he revealed that he admired the gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. And he called the actor James Dean (photo) “a genius”.
Lisa Marie Presley would have been 55 on February 1st. Two days before her death, she attended the Golden Globes Gala with her mother. The US actor Austin Butler was awarded best male actor in a drama film for his title role in the movie “Elvis”.
Lisa Marie Presley was buried in Graceland on January 22nd, 2023 Place where her father Elvis was buried. Her final resting place is next to her son Benjamin Keough, who was also buried on the family estate in 2020.
pr/kle/bru/kt/vg (afp, dpa, rtre , ape)
This is the updated version of an article from 1/13/2023.