Lisa Marie Presley Celebrated at Touching Graceland Memorial Service

Lisa Marie Presley’s public memorial service took place at Graceland today.

Along with friends and family, the general public was invited to be part of the service, which took place on the front lawn of Graceland, beginning at 9 a.m. local time. Anyone unable to attend could watch via a livestream.

Filmmaker Joel Weinshanker gave opening remarks, telling the crowd that Lisa Marie had one request for her memorial someday: “Don’t make it sad.”

The service began with “Amazing Grace” by Jason Clark and The Tennessee Mass Choir, and Pastor Dwayne Hunt was there to preside over the service.

He added, “Lisa, we will try to honor your wish today.”

The service included remembrances from Lisa Marie’s mother Priscilla Presley and daughter Riley Keough Performances included “To Shiela,” by Billy Corgan, “Rest” by Alanis Morissette, and “November Rain” by Axl Rose. Sarah Ferguson also gave a tribute to the children.

Priscilla shared writings by one of her granddaughters, saying “this says it all.” She did not indicate if it was Riley, 33, Finley or Hadley, both 14, that wrote the remembrance. Riley, however, had her own reading later.

An emotional Priscilla read, “The old soul. I have no idea how to put my mother into words, truth is there are too many. Lisa Marie Presley was an icon, a role model, a superhero to many people all over the world. But mama was my icon, my role model my superhero in much more ways than one even now I can’t get across there is to be understood or known about her but as she always said, I’ll do my best.”

Priscilla also shared the granddaughter’s poem about “old soul” Lisa Marie, which touched on the singer’s second child, Benjamin Keough who died by suicide in 2020.

In 1968 she entered our world born tired, fragile, yet strong.
She was delicate but was filled with life.
She always knew she wouldn’t be here too long.
Childhood passes by with a glimpse of her green eye.
She then grew a family of her own.
Then came her second child, leaving her with suspicion.
Could this be the angel that takes me home?
Time of course flew by, it was time for a tragedy.
She knew it was close to the end.
Survivor’s guilt some would say, but a broken heart was the doing of her death.
Now she is home where she always belonged but my heart is missing her love.
She knew that I loved her, I fear I’ll never touch her,
But the old soul is always with me she doesn’t drift above.

Priscilla closed with, “Our heart is broken Lisa, we all love you.”

Afterward, Riley’s husband Ben Smith-Petersen read a message from the actress. “A letter to my mama. Thank you for being my mother in this life. I am eternally grateful to have spent 33 years with you. I am certain I chose the best mother for me in this world and I knew that as far back as I can remember you.”

The letter continued, “I remember how it felt to be loved by the most loving mother I’ve ever known. I remember how safe it felt to be in your arms, I remember that feeling as a child and two weeks ago on your couch. Thank you for showing me that love is the only thing that matters in this life. I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me, the way you loved my brother and my sisters.”

Us Weekly later confirmed that Riley and Ben secretly welcomed a daughter.

The reading went on, “Thank you for giving me strength, my heart, my empathy, my courage my sense of humor, my manners, my temper, my wildness my tenacity.”

She added, “I am a product of your heart, my sisters are a product of your heart, by brother is a product of your heart. We are you, you are us. My eternal love, I hope you finally I know how loved you were here. Thank you for trying so hard for us. If I didn’t tell you everyday. Thank you.”

The People noted that “Elvis” star Austin Butler and his girlfriend Kaia Gerber were in attendance as well as director Baz Luhrmann.

After the memorial service, guests were invited to join a procession to see Lisa Marie’s final resting place at the Meditation Garden.

TMZ recently reported that a private family gathering would be held before Sunday.

Sources told the outlet that Lisa’s three daughters, her mom Priscilla, and her exes Danny Keough and Michael Lockwood would be in attendance.

To keep it private, the outlet reported that attendees will be asked to sign an NDA to prevent details from leaking.

Lisa Marie died January 12 at the age of 54 after suffering cardiac arrest at her Calabasas, California, home.