“Graceland Is My Family Home”: Riley Keough on Preserving Elvis’ Legacy and Her Role as Owner

Graceland may be one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the United States, but for Riley Keough, it’s much more—it’s her family home. After the death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, in January 2023, and following a brief legal dispute with her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, Riley, star of Daisy Jones & the Six, became the sole owner of the historic Tennessee estate and the sole trustee of her mother’s trust.

The legendary residence, purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957, has been open to the public since 1982. However, despite its status as a tourist destination, both Elvis and Lisa Marie’s bedrooms remain private. Riley, who spent weekends at Graceland as a child, still visits the home with her family, keeping the personal connection alive, according to Hello Magazine!.

Currently promoting her late mother’s posthumous memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, which she helped complete, Riley opened up about her experiences at Graceland during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Reflecting on her childhood, she shared: “There were some nights that [Lisa Marie] wanted to stay there, and she would bring us with her. The tours start in the morning and they end at 4 pm, so if we were to stay in the house—Elvis’ room and my mother’s room are not part of the tour—we would stay upstairs and have to wait, we’d get stuck until the tours were over.”

Though Riley admitted that as she grew older, her visits became less frequent—just once or twice a year—she has spent much more time at Graceland since her mother’s passing. This includes recent visits for a book tour stop and an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Riley, married to stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen since 2015, welcomed their daughter, Tupelo Storm, named after Elvis’ birthplace and her late uncle’s middle name, in 2023. She mentioned she has already brought her daughter to Graceland, introducing her to the special place.

In a recent interview with People, Riley discussed her responsibilities as the estate’s owner, emphasizing her commitment to preserving the legacy. “My hope is to continue what my grandmother did, and then my mother did, which is simply to preserve our family home,” she stated.

Elvis purchased Graceland for $100,000 in 1957 at the age of 22, and Priscilla moved into the property in 1963 at age 18, marrying Elvis four years later. At the time of Elvis’ death, 20 years after buying the estate, Graceland was valued at $5 million. Since then, its value has skyrocketed, thanks in large part to Priscilla’s decision to open it to the public. Today, the estate reportedly generates over $10 million annually, and a Presley executive told Rolling Stone in 2020 that it is valued at over $500 million.