On Sunday (January 22nd), family, friends and well-wishers paid their final respects to Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley in Memphis at Graceland. Lisa Marie, the 54-year-old mother of four, died in Los Angeles on January 12th after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose spoke before performing “November Rain” at the request of the family. Also performing was Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan who sang “To Shelia,” with Alanis Morissette singing her 2021 song, “Rest.” Among the speakers were Lisa Marie's mother Priscilla Presley, longtime family friend, “Memphis Mafia” member — and now Beach Boys manager — Jerry Schilling, and Sarah Ferguson, among others.
Ben Smith-Petersen, the husband of Lisa Marie's daughter, actress/director Riley Keough, read a tribute written by his wife.
Prior to performing, Axl Rose addressed the mourners: “I, as I'm sure many of you are, are still in shock — as I feel I will be for quite some time. I feel like I'm supposed to be texting her, like, right now, saying, 'I'm here.' Telling her how, how wonderful everyone is. I never in a million years imagined singing here and especially under these circumstances. This is truly devastating and I'm sure, excruciating for everyone here and all of those effected by her passing. I'm honored to be here for Lisa and her family. I don't know that I deserve to be here, especially speaking amongst those that have known Lisa for longer and were much closer than her and I — especially her family and those that've known her most of their lives or even all of hers. . . We are gathered here today to pay our respects to Lisa and her family and share our memories and to console one another to the degree that we're able. And though under such difficult, heartbreaking, and somber circumstances — also to celebrate the life of a friend, a loved one, a beautiful and good soul, and a dearest and deeply-missed family member. Lisa's is missed and loved by many and will continue to be loved and missed by all those whose lives she touched.” (1:06 OC: . . . lives she touched)
Lisa Marie is buried at the Graceland mediation garden next to her son Benjamin Keough, and across from her father, her grandparents, and great-grandmother.