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Introduction
SHOCKING REVEAL: Riley Keough Opens Up on Presley Family Turmoil and the Fate of Graceland
When a dynasty like the Presleys faces strife, the world takes notice. Recently, Riley Keough — actress, granddaughter of Elvis, and now sole trustee of Lisa Marie Presley’s estate — finally spoke candidly about the storm that followed her mother’s sudden death. Her account is not just about inheritance, but about grief, duty, and the effort to keep love intact in the middle of chaos.
Riley described the immediate aftermath of Lisa Marie’s passing as if “the ground had vanished beneath my feet,” a striking picture of shock and devastation. In that fragile moment, she was handed the responsibility of trustee — a role bearing both heavy emotional meaning and high financial stakes, as the future of Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises depended on her.
She acknowledged there was conflict, calling it “a period of upheaval.” Yet she also emphasized that matters have settled and shared sorrow over how her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, was portrayed in the press. At the core, Riley said, the most important thing is honoring her mother’s intentions.
The legal fight revolved around a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie’s trust that removed Priscilla as co-trustee and instead listed Riley and her late brother Benjamin. Months of tension ended in a settlement: Riley agreed to pay Priscilla $1 million plus $400,000 in legal fees. Despite courtroom battles, the family stood united at Lisa Marie’s Graceland memorial, a reminder that family ties endure.
Beyond lawsuits, Riley revealed parts of her private life: welcoming a daughter via surrogacy, her marriage to Ben Smith-Petersen, and treasured Thanksgiving dinners at Graceland filled with Southern traditions. These intimate moments balance the gravity of her heritage with her identity as a mother, wife, and creative artist.
Her career continues to rise — from her Emmy-nominated performance in Daisy Jones & The Six to directing War Pony. She is building her own legacy, showing the world she is more than Elvis’s granddaughter.
Riley also spoke of battling Lyme disease and surviving immense loss — her brother in 2020, her mother in 2023. “I could surrender or find the courage to push through,” she reflected. She chose resilience.