Priscilla Presley, 80, revealed that her daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s death has deeply divided the Presley family. She shared these sentiments during a speaking event in Las Vegas over the weekend alongside her son, Navarone Garibaldi Garcia, 39.
Grieving the Loss
“It’s kind of separated us in a way,” Priscilla stated. She explained that before Lisa Marie’s passing, the family regularly gathered for meals and quality time together.
Lisa Marie died in January 2023 at age 54 from a small bowel obstruction. She left three daughters: 18-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, shared with ex-husband Michael Lockwood, 64; and Riley Keough, 36, from her marriage to ex-husband Danny Keough, 61. Tragically, Lisa Marie and Danny’s son, Benjamin Keough, died by suicide in July 2020 at age 27.
Priscilla noted that her granddaughters Harper and Finley, now 18, lead independent lives. “They have their boyfriends and, you know, do their thing,” she said. “Even though we’re close,” she began, before Navarone interjected.
Multiple Tragedies Fracture Bonds
Navarone highlighted Benjamin’s death as the initial breaking point. “When you would think that would be something that should bring everybody together, that somehow separated us further,” he explained. “Everybody grieves in different ways, and everybody felt, you know, put blame on somebody in different ways.”
Navarone, whom Priscilla shares with ex-partner Marco Garibaldi, 71, offered a more optimistic view on Lisa Marie’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 said.
Legal Tensions and Reconciliation
Despite their complex history, Priscilla and Lisa Marie appeared together days before her death at the Golden Globes, celebrating Austin Butler’s win for the 2022 Elvis biopic.
Priscilla settled a legal dispute last year with granddaughter Riley over Lisa Marie’s estate. She had contested a 2016 amendment to the will that removed her as trustee, replacing her with Riley and the late Benjamin.
A $50 million lawsuit by Priscilla’s former business partners, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, included a poignant letter from Riley. In it, Riley expressed pain over the court battle: “Unfortunately Nona as you are taking me to court I am being forced to defend my mother’s wishes legally and publicly which would not have been my choice.”
“It is really hurtful that after years of me trying to resolve your and my mother’s broken relationship and restore our family, you are taking me, of all people, to court,” Riley wrote. She claimed to have protected Priscilla from lawsuits Lisa Marie considered filing, even convincing her mother not to proceed weeks before her death.
Riley also shared her distress over early inquiries about the will: “I must also share with you that I found being called about the will, less than 24 hours after my mother passed and getting emails from lawyers before my mother was even buried, incredibly heartbreaking.”
She urged Priscilla to reconsider: “My hope is that you are being poorly advised and this is not actually coming from you.” The pair later stated they were on good terms after settling.
Lisa Marie rests beside her father, rock legend Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, and son Benjamin. Priscilla and Elvis separated in 1972 and divorced in 1973. She welcomed Navarone in 1987 with Garibaldi; they parted in 2006.
