Priscilla Presley says Lisa Marie Presley’s death ‘separated’ their family
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Priscilla Presley has opened up about her daughter Lisa Marie’s death and how it has reshaped their family dynamics. Lisa Marie Presley was 54 when she died in January 2023 due to a small bowel obstruction.
During a live conversation at the Westgate Las Vegas on May 2, the widow of Elvis Presley reflected on how family life has changed since the loss.
“It’s kind of separated us in a way. You know, we would get together and have meals and have family,” Priscilla said, describing how regular gatherings have become less frequent.
Priscilla Presley says Lisa Marie Presley’s daughters are focused on their lives
The 80-year-old actress also spoke about her granddaughters, Harper and Finley Lockwood, 18, whom Lisa Marie Presley shared with ex-husband Michael Lockwood.
She noted that they are now focused on their own lives, saying they “got their boyfriends” and “do their thing.”
Navarone Garibaldi shares different view on family separation
Priscilla Presley’s son Navarone Garibaldi, whom she shares with Marco Garibaldi, offered a different perspective on when the family began drifting apart.
He suggested that the shift began earlier, after the death of Lisa Marie Presley’s son Benjamin Keough in 2020.
Benjamin Keough was 27 when he died in July 2020.
“I think actually losing Ben was the first thing that separated us. When you would think that should be something that would bring everyone together. That somehow separated us further because everyone grieves in different ways,” the 39-year-old said.
Navarone Garibaldi says family is now coming closer together
He added that differing reactions to grief initially created distance within the family.
“Everybody put blame on somebody in different ways, and just felt different ways about it. Somehow, that separated us further,” he said.
However, Navarone noted that the family has started reconnecting since Lisa Marie Presley’s death.
“Now, after my sister died, I feel like now we're actually coming closer together, and I feel like we're all letting go of those feelings,” he added.
Riley Keough described emotional chaos after her mother’s death
Earlier, Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter Riley Keough, whom she shared with Danny Keough, spoke about the emotional aftermath of her mother’s passing.
In August 2023, she told Vanity Fair, “When my mom passed, there was a lot of chaos in every aspect of our lives. Everything felt like the carpet had been ripped out and the floor had melted from under us.”
“Everyone was in a bit of a panic to understand how we move forward, and it just took a minute to understand the details of the situation, because it's complicated,” the 36-year-old added.
Following Lisa Marie Presley’s death, Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley were also involved in a months-long legal dispute over control of the family’s Graceland estate, which was later resolved after Riley was named sole trustee.
