No parent should have to bury their child, the saying goes, but sadly, Lisa Marie Presley did. Benjamin Keough, son of Presley and grandson to Elvis Presley, died from a gunshot wound in July 2020. It was self-inflicted, and a coroner determined his death to be suicide. Lisa Marie released a statement through a rep saying she was heartbroken and inconsolable, per BBC News. There were tabloid reports that she and her ex-husband, Danny Keough, who is Keough’s father, moved in together as they both grieved (via The U.S. Sun).
Keough’s friend, Brandon Howard, said that he struggled with the pressure of the “Presley” family name prior to his suicide. Expectations boxed him into an acting or musical career. But despite his depression, Keough was often the first among his friends to be there for others, and Howard added that Keough had a great laugh and was an excellent chef, per People. In 2009, there were reports that Keough signed a $5 million five-album deal with Universal Music, but that rumor was denied by the company, per Entertainment Weekly. In an interview with the HuffPost, in the midst of her 2013 “Storm & Grace” tour, Lisa Marie said that she supported Keough in pursuing his own interests when asked if he liked to sing.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).