The Enigmatic Journey of Lisa Marie Presley: Uncovering an Icon's Marriages, Musical Legacy, Battle with Addiction, and Beyond

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of legendary rock and roll icon Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, has inherited the musical gene from her father. Born in Tennessee, she has released three albums throughout her career: To Whom It May Concern (2003), Now What (2005), and Storm & Grace (2012). In a touching tribute to her father, Lisa Marie recorded duets using tracks that the late "Hound Dog" singer had released prior to his untimely passing in 1977.

Lisa, the only inheritor of her father's fortune, was just nine years old when the renowned musician passed away. Upon watching Baz Luhrmann's 2022 movie Elvis, the "Shine" vocalist expressed her deep emotional response, confessing that it brought her to tears.

In her Instagram post from May 2022, alongside a promotional poster of the biopic, she lauded Austin Butler's portrayal, proclaiming that he flawlessly captured her father's essence and spirit. Lisa further declared that, in her humble opinion, his performance was unparalleled and a faithful representation. She even jokingly mentioned that if he didn't receive an Oscar for his role, she would humorously consume her own foot.

Having experienced profound loss during her formative years, the singer-songwriter encountered a multitude of challenges throughout her adolescence and into her adult life.

"I would consume cocaine, sedatives, marijuana, and alcohol simultaneously. Maintaining sobriety seemed insurmountable," Lisa revealed in a 2003 interview with Paper Magazine. "Surviving that period remains a mystery to me."

In 2016, the musician known as "Dirty Laundry" sought help for her addiction to prescription pills by enrolling in a rehab program. After three years, she took the opportunity to share her experiences in Harry Nelson's book titled "The United States of Opioids: A Prescription for Liberating a Nation In Pain" by writing the forward.

In her essay published in March 2019, Lisa confessed that she had never before discussed her addiction to opioids and painkillers in public. She revealed that her dependency began in 2008, when she was prescribed these medications for a short-term period during her recovery from giving birth to her twin daughters, Harper and Finley.

The mother's journey as a parent has been touched by a heartbreaking tragedy. In July 2020, her son Benjamin, whom she had with her ex-husband Danny Keough, tragically took his own life.

On what would have been Benjamin's 28th birthday in October 2020, the grieving mother took to Instagram to express her profound loss. She wrote, "My beloved angel, I adored you while you were here on earth and now in Heaven. You took a piece of my heart and soul with you. The pain I feel is relentless, consuming me every minute of every day. I have been forever changed."

Lisa had a daughter named Riley in 1989 with her ex-husband Keough, in addition to their shared child Benjamin. Keough and Lisa were married from 1994 to 1998. Lisa also had marriages with Michael Jackson, Nicolas Cage, and Michael Lockwood, who is a guitarist and producer. Lisa and Lockwood have twin daughters together. Take a tour through the various stages of Lisa's life below.

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Lisa Marie Presley Through the Years: Marriages, Music Career, Addiction Struggles and More

Rock and roll royalty. Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, followed in her father’s footsteps by pursuing music.

The native of Tennessee, Lisa, released three albums throughout her career: To Whom It May Concern (2003), Now What (2005), and Storm & Grace (2012). She paid tribute to the King by recording duets using tracks that the late "Hound Dog" singer had released before his death in 1977.

Lisa, who is the sole heir to her father's estate, was just nine years old when the legendary musician passed away. After watching Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film Elvis, the singer of "Shine" revealed that she was deeply moved and brought to tears.

"Austin Butler beautifully channeled and embodied my father's heart and soul," she posted on Instagram in May 2022 alongside a promotional poster for the biopic. "His performance is unprecedented and portrays my father's story accurately and respectfully. (If he doesn't receive an Oscar for this, I'll eat my own foot, haha.)"

Following early childhood loss, the singer-songwriter encountered numerous challenges throughout her teenage and adult years.

"I had been consuming cocaine, sedatives, marijuana, and alcohol simultaneously. I was unable to maintain sobriety," Lisa revealed to Paper Magazine in 2003, reflecting on her drug use during her teenage years. "It's a miracle that I survived that period."

In 2016, the artist behind "Dirty Laundry" sought help through a rehabilitation program to address her addiction to prescription pills. Three years later, she courageously wrote the introduction to Harry Nelson's book, The United States of Opioids: A Prescription for Liberating a Nation In Pain, where she candidly shared her personal struggles for the first time.

Lisa disclosed in her March 2019 essay that she had never openly addressed her personal struggle with opioid and painkiller addiction. It was during her recovery from the birth of her twin daughters, Harper and Finley, in 2008 when she became addicted after receiving a short-term prescription.

In addition to her journey as a mother, Lisa has also experienced heartbreaking tragedy. In July 2020, her son Benjamin, whom she co-parents with her ex-husband Danny Keough, tragically took his own life.

On Benjamin's 28th birthday in October 2020, the mourning mother expressed her deep affection for him, both on earth and in Heaven, through an Instagram post. She conveyed that her love and devotion accompanied him even in his afterlife, and the pain of his absence is overwhelming and constant. She acknowledged that this loss has forever changed her.

Aside from Benjamin, Lisa had a daughter named Riley, born in 1989, with Keough, her former spouse from 1998 to 1994. She has also been married to Michael Jackson, Nicolas Cage, and guitarist and producer Michael Lockwood, with whom she has twin daughters.

Scroll through for a look at Lisa’s life over the years:

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1977

Lisa became the joint heir to Elvis’ estate — along with her grandparents — when the cultural icon died suddenly at age 42. She was nine years old at the time.

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1988

The Graceland heiress married her first husband, Keough. 

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1989

Lisa and Keough became parents for the first time with the birth of their daughter, Riley. 

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1992

The “Thanx” singer and Keough welcomed their son, Benjamin. 

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1994

Despite their divorce, Lisa and Keough maintained a close relationship following their separation. In a 2003 interview with Rolling Stone, Elvis' daughter expressed her gratitude towards her ex, stating, "The best decision I ever made was to have children with him. I knew that he would be someone I could stay connected to for the rest of my life."

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1996

Lisa and Jackson finalized their divorce in August after separating the previous December. 

Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2003, Lisa expressed her thoughts on her connection with the acclaimed "Billie Jean" performer: "You get pulled into the trap of feeling sorry for someone who is constantly misunderstood... I am easily swayed by that. ... I trusted him implicitly because of his incredibly convincing nature. .. I just wholeheartedly believed every word he uttered, without any explanation."

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1994

Twenty days following her divorce from Keough, Lisa remarried Jackson. They had briefly crossed paths at a concert in the 1970s, but it wasn't until almost twenty years later that they truly got acquainted.

During the summer of 1993, the King of Pop sought solace in Lisa's presence after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler. Jackson vehemently denied these allegations and eventually reached a settlement of $23 million with Chandler's family in January 1994.

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2002

Lisa married the Raising Arizona star in August, but just 107 days later, Cage filed for divorce.

In a 2003 interview with Barbara Walters, the Oscar winner reminisced about an encounter with the daughter of the King of Rock and Roll at a party in 2000.

"I entered into a party without any knowledge of who I might come across, and there before me stood a stunning young woman in the center of the living room. She was adorned in a short leather skirt and a fluffy jacket, and as she made eye contact with me, I was captivated by her large, exquisite, and soulful eyes," he expressed at the time. "Her eyes appeared to hold a somber tale, and I was completely awestruck.

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2003

The “Over Me” songwriter released her debut album, To Whom It May Concern.

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2004

Lisa and Cage officially completed their divorce.

In a 2003 interview on Larry King Live, Lisa expressed that she and the actor from Leaving Las Vegas had a strong and meaningful bond during the initial phase of their relationship.

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2006

Lisa married Lockwood, her guitarist and music producer. Keough served as best man at the nuptials, held in Japan.

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2012

After being a member of the Church of Scientology since childhood, Lisa announced that she was stepping away from the organization.

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2008

The “I Love You Because” singer welcomed twin daughters with Lockwood. 

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2016

In July, Lisa initiated divorce proceedings, citing irreconcilable differences. She also requested that Lockwood only have supervised visitation with their daughters. Subsequently, in August, it was confirmed by Us that she had voluntarily enrolled in a rehab program for her addiction to pills.

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2020

The songwriter’s son, Benjamin, died by suicide in July. 

"[Lisa] is devastated, shattered, and unable to find solace, but she is making an effort to remain strong for her 11-year-old twins and her eldest daughter, Riley," stated her representative, Roger Widynowski, to Us in a released statement. "She deeply cherished that boy. He was her true love."

During that very same month, Lockwood submitted fresh documents in their ongoing custody dispute, suggesting that this unforeseen tragedy might lead to a potential drug relapse for Lisa.

“Petitioner’s son tragically caused his own untimely demise within Petitioner’s residence (despite Petitioner not being present at the time),” Lockwood conveyed in documents acquired by Us. “This distressing event gives rise to an unresolved twofold predicament: the children’s welfare and an increased probability of Petitioner reverting back to substance abuse.”

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2017

In February, the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed that an investigation into Lockwood was underway. This came after Lisa, in court documents relating to their divorce, stated that she had discovered "disturbing" images of children on her estranged husband's computer. Around the same time, Priscilla revealed that she was looking after her twin granddaughters following the alleged child abuse incident.

One month later, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation ended its probe into Lockwood without filing charges or opening an official case.

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2021

Lisa and Lockwood finalized their divorce in May, nearly five years after their split. 

The music producer went on to marry Stephanie Hobgood in October 2022.

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2022

The “Weary” crooner supported Luhrmann’s homage to her father’s life by attending the premiere of Elvis in June alongside her daughter, Riley, and her mother. 

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2023

Lisa was urgently hospitalized in January due to experiencing cardiac arrest. According to TMZ, paramedics were called to her residence in Calabasas, California, and administered CPR to the singer-songwriter.

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2023

Priscilla confirmed in January that Lisa Marie died at age 54 after suffering from cardiac arrest.

"It is with deep sadness that I must inform you of the tragic loss of my beloved daughter Lisa Marie," Priscilla stated. "She was an extraordinary woman, full of passion, strength, and love. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate through this overwhelming grief. We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and prayers. There will be no further comments at this time."

In July of that same year, Us confirmed the cause of Lisa Marie's death as complications resulting from a small bowel obstruction. The autopsy revealed that the obstruction was a result of adhesions that formed after undergoing bariatric surgery several years ago, resulting in a strangulated small bowel.