Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Everything Riley Keough Has Said of Grandmother Priscilla Presley Over the Years: Quotes
Family drama is nothing new for the Presley dynasty, but few relationships have been under the spotlight as much as Riley Keough and her grandmother, Priscilla Presley. Their bond has faced major highs and lows, especially after the devastating death of Keough’s mother (and Priscilla’s only daughter), Lisa Marie Presley, in January 2023.
What followed was a very public legal battle over Lisa Marie’s estate. Her will gave Keough control of her late mother’s estate — including Graceland and the family’s shares of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Priscilla challenged the will, leading to a tense court battle between the grandmother and granddaughter. By May 2023, the two reached a settlement, with Keough officially named sole custodian of Graceland.
Despite putting on a united front after the dispute, a newly unearthed letter shows just how strained things really were. The letter, written by Keough to her grandmother shortly after Lisa Marie’s death, surfaced in September 2025 as part of an amended lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court connected to Priscilla’s ongoing business battle.
In the note, Keough expressed how painful the situation had become. “Unfortunately Nona as you are taking me to court I am being forced to defend my mother’s wishes legally and publicly which would not have been my choice. It is really hurtful that after years of me trying to resolve your and my mother’s broken relationship and restore our family, you are taking me, of all people, to court.”
She also criticized how quickly the estate dispute erupted. “I found being called about the will, less than 24 hours after my mother passed and getting emails from lawyers before my mother was even buried, incredibly heartbreaking.”
Keough further claimed she had long been the one protecting Priscilla from legal drama with Lisa Marie. “I have protected you from lawsuits from my mother, often advocating for you and always tried to keep everyone operating out of love,” she wrote. “Even a few weeks before my mother passed she wanted to sue you again and you called me for help. I advised her so strongly against it… But as you know she chose to listen to me and not sue you.”
Scroll through our gallery to see everything Riley Keough has said about her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, over the years.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Life & Style does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.