Biography of Lisa Marie PresleyPerhaps only JFK and Jackie had a more celebrated '60s marriage than Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu. In any case, the relationship between rock star and aspiring actress culminated after their nuptials, in a baby being born on February 1st, 1968. Lisa Marie Presley came into a very welcoming but invasive world where, as daddy's little girl, all her wishes came true.
difficult life for the king's princess
Treated to a life of luxury at the 14-acre estate known as Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee, life was still hard for young Lisa Marie. Her father's volatile character made an impression on her and, with all the media present, she was forced to retreat into her shell in order to find some peace and solitude.
At the age of five, Lisa Marie saw Elvis and Priscilla go through a very public divorce. Her mother subsequently won custody over her, though Elvis saw her frequently and never stopped lavishing her with gifts, which included jewels, meetings with celebrities like John Travolta, ponies, and even a golf cart in which she famously rode around the grounds of her father's estate with.
tragedy strikes... and only the beginning
August 16th, 1977 was, of course, the day Elvis tragically died. Lisa Marie, now nine years old, was at the house when it happened and, to escape the madness that ensued, took refuge in her golf cart. After Priscilla later arrived to console her, it was revealed that Elvis had left his entire estate to little Lisa Marie, to be taken over when she turned 25. The will was later altered so that she would take control of the funds on her 30th birthday.
Lisa Marie's late adolescent years were filled with partying, drugs and alcohol. Only after constant pressure by Priscilla did the junior Presley finally relent her crazy ways: at 18, she went through Scientology's Purification program (Travolta supposedly introduced her to the religion), and has not touched drugs since.
clean and finally happy
After rehabilitation, Lisa Marie's love life took off. In 1988, she married musician Danny Keough and with him, had two children: Danielle Riley, now 13, and Benjamin Storm, now 10. The marriage lasted five and a half years and, of her three husbands, Danny remains the most present today, as one of Presley's best friends.
During the early 1990s, Presley was in the public eye not for scandals, but for establishing or attending many Elvis-related events. Tribute concerts, stamp conventions and even a car commercial with her mom all took place. The news about Lisa Marie would change in tone, however, not too long after her divorce from Keough.
wave after wave of controversy
Twenty days after her split with Keough, Presley married Michael Jackson in the Dominican Republic, in May 1994. They had been friends for a long time (Lisa Marie actually first met the King of Pop when he was touring with the Jackson 5; Elvis introduced them), had lost touch, and then reconnected. Thanks to a highly watched interview with both Presley and Jackson on network television, as well as a very public kiss at MTV's Video Music Awards, their marriage became the focal point of tabloids throughout its short life. Though she swore that she was at one point madly in love with him, Presley eventually could not take the marriage anymore and filed for divorce in January 1996.
Still in the limelight, Presley appeared on the cover of Vogue not long after her split with Jacko, and was also in the news after establishing Elvis Presley's Memphis, a now highly successful restaurant and nightclub. Unfortunately, despite being a presenter at MTV and VH1 awards shows, appearing with Janet Jackson on Janet's Velvet Rope album, and breaking ground with her own Scientology center in Memphis, the world seemed to only take in negative news about Presley.
Even when she turned 30 and became one very powerful businesswoman after taking over Elvis Presley's $150 million estate, the media did not cut her much slack. Her engagement and subsequent breakup with John Oszajca and then romance (and brief) marriage to Nicolas Cage in 2002 were popular news stories.
a royal heart
Despite the negative press, Lisa Marie Presley deserves a lot of accolades. Her presence at Congress in 2002, where she spoke out against medicating mentally-challenged children, was an emotional experience while the establishment of Presley Place, a housing development for previously homeless families, was a very charitable project.
a musical turning point
Philanthropy aside, Presley has been keeping busy producing her very first album. Putting aside her modeling duties for the Gap, Versace and Cartier watches, she released her rock/pop CD called To Whom It May Concern in April 2003. Behind the strength of the first single, "Lights Out," and its accompanying video, the album debuted at number five on the Billboard chart. Her appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone helped spread the word of her musical talent and now, sales predictions are looking good.
Finally, it seems that Lisa Marie Presley has come into her own and, with a tour on the way in June, is sure to be remembered for more than just being daddy's little girl.
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