Marking Elvis Presley's 88th birthday, Lisa Marie Presley made a special visit to Graceland for the celebrations early this year.
Taking some time out in the Meditation Garden, she noted that one day there would be a place for her too - but she still needed to, as she still had unfinished business.
Four days after her 54th birthday, tragedy struck when Lisa Marie suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.
Her funeral was a week later at Graceland.
To honor the late King's daughter, Graceland boss Joel Weinshanker organized an Elvis Week 2023 celebration dedicated to her.
Hosting the commemoration were Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling and Elvis' ex-lover, Linda Thompson.
He fondly recalled her appearance during the premiere of Baz Luhrmann's biopic "Elvis," noting how Lisa Marie had thoroughly enjoyed her final days alive and that her spirits were the highest since her son Benjamin Keough passed away in 2020.
According to Express UK, Joel uttered his admiration of Lisa's involvement with the Elvis movie, which she reportedly loved: "Not everyone would agree to work on a project just for the sake of receiving a paycheck."
He revealed that at first, Lisa Marie had many reservations about the movie. He allegedly had to explain everything and answer her questions so she felt comfortable making certain decisions.
"We were meticulous in our choices, yet Baz still managed to be accommodating throughout the whole process. She certainly wasn't someone who could easily be taken advantage of."
"From the beginning of her life to three days before the end of her life, what made her feel good, what made her feel safe was Graceland."
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Joel reminisced about the pre-Golden Globes party Lisa Marie attended before her unexpected passing.
Austin Butler had won Best Actor for playing her father, and it was a special moment.
"She was so joyful," Joel said fondly. "She sent me texts expressing how cherished and valued she felt. After Ben's death, she didn't seem interested in doing anything, but I encouraged her to come with me to Graceland for Elvis' 88th birthday and then on to LA."
Joel stated happily: "After Ben passed away, it had been a while since I'd seen her in such a great mood. She was texting me about how much she felt cared for and valued. Since then, she hadn't wanted to do anything, so I encouraged her to come out to celebrate Elvis' [88th] birthday at Graceland, and then we went on holiday together to LA; we were invited to a party with Austin."
It was a true joy to witness Lisa having such a wonderful time. As her parent, I hovered nearby to ensure everything stayed alright for her. Riley Keough, Austin, Baz, and Jerry were also at the gathering. Yet, it was Graceland that indeed provided her with the strength and contentment needed throughout all of the complexities in her life - from start to finish.
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