Exclusive: Riley Keough Unveils Daughter's Name and Powerful Reasons Behind Choosing Surrogacy

Riley Keough, who became a mother almost a year ago, is now discussing her choice to have her first child, daughter Tupelo Storm, through a surrogate. In her September 2022 Vanity Fair cover story, published online on Tuesday, August 8, Keough, 34, explained that although she could have carried the child herself, she felt it was the best decision considering her autoimmune condition, which she has openly discussed and battles with, such as Lyme disease.

Keough and her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, discreetly celebrated the arrival of their baby girl in January. The couple exchanged vows in 2015 after getting engaged in 2014.

Both Keough and Smith-Petersen have chosen to keep their journey into parenthood private. However, Keough recently shared her experience of becoming a mother in an interview with Interview magazine, disclosing that her daughter was born in 2022.

While talking to Vanity Fair, Keough expressed her admiration for the surrogacy process, stating, "I believe it's a remarkable, selfless, and extraordinary act that these women undertake in order to assist others."

Riley Keough, photographed by Mario Sorrenti for Vanity Fair, spoke about the significance of her daughter's name and its connection to her family's heritage. Being aware of her grandfather Elvis Presley's upbringing in Tupelo, Mississippi, she initially believed that the reference would go unnoticed.

"We actually chose her name before the release of the Elvis movie," she shared. "I thought it was perfect because it wasn't a common word or name associated with my family, like Memphis for example. But then when the Elvis movie came out in 2022, everyone was talking about Tupelo. I was like, 'Oh, no.' But it's okay."

In addition to paying tribute to Presley, Keough incorporated her late brother Benjamin Storm into her daughter's middle name. (Benjamin tragically passed away by suicide at the age of 27 in 2020.)

Tupelo, despite her name being linked to Keough's family, bears a striking physical resemblance to her father. Keough playfully describes her daughter as a mini-version of her husband. She teasingly remarks that she sees herself reflected in a single curl on Tupelo's head.

Discussing her aspirations as a mother, Keough becomes emotional. She expresses that being a mom is the most significant and cherished aspect of her life. Keough acknowledges that perfection is unattainable in parenting, but her utmost priority is to strive to be the best mother possible for Tupelo. This holds great importance for her.

After less than six months since Tupelo's birth, Keough's mother, Lisa Marie Presley, tragically passed away in January at the age of 54. The cause of her death was determined to be cardiac arrest resulting from a small bowel obstruction, which had developed due to scar tissue from a previous bariatric surgery.

A funeral was conducted for Lisa Marie at the Graceland estate in Tennessee several weeks after her passing. Smith-Petersen delivered a eulogy written by his wife, expressing his gratitude for her role as his mother throughout his life. The tribute commenced with the words, "I am forever thankful to have had you as my mother in this lifetime. For 33 years, I cherished the moments we shared together. From my earliest memories, I knew without a doubt that you were the perfect mother for me... I hold every memory close to my heart."

Keough further expressed, "I have vivid memories of the incomparable affection bestowed upon me by my adoring mother. ... I am immensely grateful for teaching me the invaluable significance of love in this existence. My aspiration is to love my daughter just as passionately as you loved me, my brother, and my sisters."