Introduction:
What if the whispers surrounding Lisa Marie Presley’s life were more than speculation? What if the truths she carried—painful, intimate, and profoundly human—were finally laid bare in her own words? With the release of From Here to the Great Unknown, the posthumous memoir co-written with her daughter Riley Keough, we are granted a rare glimpse into the private world of Elvis Presley’s only child. This book is more than a collection of memories—it is a raw confession, a heartfelt testimony, and a final act of vulnerability from a woman whose life was lived in the glare of public attention but whose deepest struggles were often hidden from view.
The memoir confirms what many long suspected while revealing so much more. From Lisa Marie’s childhood fears of losing her father to the shattering grief of her son Benjamin’s death, each page resonates with emotional honesty. One of the most touching recollections comes from her early years, when she accompanied Elvis to his concerts. Walking hand in hand with him onto the stage, she felt both awe and pride as thousands of fans erupted in joy. Yet even in those magical moments, shadows lingered. She recalls writing as a child, “I hope my Daddy doesn’t die,” a desperate plea born from witnessing his fragility behind closed doors.
Her stories also bring to life the larger-than-life presence of Elvis in everyday settings. She fondly remembers him attending her school conference dressed in black pants, jeweled belt, sunglasses, and cigar in hand—turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable one. But the magic of those moments could not shield her from the devastation of losing him at just nine years old. The memoir reveals her heartbreaking private farewell, sitting alone with his body, clinging to the last physical connection she would ever have.
Motherhood, too, is portrayed as both Lisa Marie’s greatest gift and her anchor in life. Her children—Riley, Benjamin, and twins Finley and Harper—were her world. When the weight of writing her memoir became too great, it was Riley who stepped in, carefully piecing together her mother’s voice from hours of recordings. This collaboration transformed the book into a mother-daughter legacy, preserving Lisa Marie’s story with authenticity and tenderness.
Perhaps the most searing passages recount her grief after Benjamin’s tragic death. To her, he was a reflection of Elvis—not only in appearance but in spirit. Her decision to keep his body at Graceland for two months may have shocked others, but in her eyes, it was a desperate attempt to hold onto her son a little longer. It was a gesture of love that revealed the depths of her sorrow.
The memoir does not shy away from Lisa Marie’s struggles with addiction, candidly detailing her battle with opioids and the toll it took on her health and relationships. Nor does it avoid the complexities of her highly publicized marriage to Michael Jackson. In a startling revelation, she claimed he was still a virgin when they wed, offering rare insight into the private life of one of the world’s most enigmatic figures.
Through every revelation, Lisa Marie Presley emerges not only as Elvis’s daughter but as a woman defined by resilience, vulnerability, and an enduring love for her family. From Here to the Great Unknown is more than a memoir—it is her final song, one that reshapes the Presley legacy and ensures her voice will never be forgotten.