MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late Elvis Presley, struggled to cope with the death of her son before her own untimely demise, according to a close friend.
Jerry Schilling, a longtime friend of the Presley family, revealed in an interview with People magazine that after the loss of her 27-year-old son, Ben Storm Keough, Lisa Marie withdrew from public life. Schilling admitted that he was unsure if she would even survive the tragedy.
“She survived that for two years because of the love and care for her three daughters,” Schilling said, referring to Lisa Marie’s daughters with her first husband, Danny Keough, and her twin daughters from her fourth marriage to Michael Lockwood.
It wasn’t until the production of Baz Luhrmann’s film “Elvis” in 2022 that Lisa Marie decided to re-enter the public eye. Schilling believes that the support she received from the cast and crew of the film helped her to start moving forward.
Schilling, who was present at the hospital when Lisa Marie was born, reminisced about their long history together. He described how she appeared frail and shared her sentiment that she would never be the same following her son’s death. However, she was determined to try.
Tragically, Lisa Marie passed away unexpectedly on January 12, 2023, due to complications from a small bowel obstruction and cardiac arrest. Although small traces of opioids and antipsychotic drugs were found in her system, they did not contribute to her death. Lisa Marie was laid to rest at Graceland alongside her iconic father and her beloved son.
The death of Lisa Marie Presley marked the end of a tumultuous journey for the renowned singer and daughter of rock ‘n’ roll royalty. Her struggles with grief and the loss of her son were deeply felt, but she persevered as a mother and found solace in her work on the film “Elvis.” Her memory and legacy continue to resonate with fans around the world.