Riley Keough on Lisa Marie Presley’s Grief over Dad Elvis’ Death: ‘I Don’t Think She Knew How to Process It’ (Exclusive)

Riley Keough recently opened up about her mother, Lisa Marie Presley’s lifelong struggle to cope with the loss of her father, Elvis Presley, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Riley described her mother’s grief as something profoundly private and challenging to navigate. Lisa Marie was just nine years old when Elvis passed away in 1977, and according to Riley, her mother “didn’t know how to process it” even years later.

Riley shared that her mother would often listen to Elvis’ music alone, sometimes while intoxicated, and cry. She recalled finding Lisa Marie on the floor with speakers playing his songs, reflecting the depth of her unresolved emotions over her father’s death. This behavior, Riley noted, was a recurring theme throughout her mother’s life, showing how deeply connected Lisa Marie remained to her father’s memory and the difficulty she faced in dealing with that loss.

The interview also highlighted Lisa Marie’s own struggles, including her challenges with addiction and personal losses, such as the death of her son Benjamin Keough in 2020. Riley revealed that in her mother’s final years, Lisa Marie seemed emotionally tired and detached. Lisa Marie’s grief was further complicated by the emotional weight of writing her memoir, *From Here to the Great Unknown*, which Riley helped complete posthumously after her mother’s unexpected death in January 2023 at age 54.

Riley hopes that by sharing her mother’s story through the memoir and interviews, people will see Lisa Marie in a more vulnerable and human light—beyond just being Elvis’ daughter. The memoir also offers insights into Lisa Marie’s complex life, including her experiences with marriage, motherhood, and addiction, alongside personal anecdotes and never-before-seen family content.