On January 8, 2023, Lisa Marie Presley made a rare public appearance at Elvis Presley’s 88th birthday celebrations.
During her visit to Graceland, she spent some time in the Meditation Garden by her father’s grave and pointed out how one day there would be a spot for her, but she still had some things to do.
Tragically, she would be dead just four days later at the age of 54 after suffering a cardiac arrest and was buried there within a week.
During Elvis Week 2023, Graceland boss Joel Weinshanker paid tribute to The King’s daughter in a special celebration of her life with Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling and Elvis ex Linda Thompson, who helped raise her.
He spoke warmly of her involvement on Baz Luhrmann’s biopic and how she was having a great time during her last days, being in the best mood since her son Benjamin Keough died three years prior at just 27.
Joel said of her involvement on the Elvis movie, which she adored: “You get some people who’ll take a cheque and they’ll support anything. Lisa was initially very, very concerned about the movie. I had to really talk and walk her through a lot of it. We were very cautious and careful about what we would approve and wouldn’t. Baz was a doll and a dear to work with because we had so many concerns and changes. But she was never the pushover.
“From the beginning of her life to three days before the end of her life, what made her feel good, what made her feel safe was Graceland.”
He then went on to describe the pre-Golden Globes party Lisa attended a few days before her sudden death, where Austin Butler won Best Actor for playing her father.
Joel shared: “She was in the best mood that I’d seen her since Ben had passed away. She sent me texts about how much she felt loved and how much she felt appreciated. She never wanted to do anything after Ben passed away, but I really pushed her to come to Graceland for [Elvis’ 88th] birthday and then we flew to LA where we were at a party with Austin.
“She had such a great time. I didn’t realise that I’d become the hovering parent to Lisa. But even at the party, I was hovering 10 feet behind her to make sure that she was okay, which was. [Her daughter] Riley was there and Austin was there and Baz was there and obviously, Jerry was there. But from the beginning to the end, with all the issues that she had in her life, it was Graceland that really gave her strength and happiness.”
