I was trying to pinpoint the sense of loss over Lisa Marie dying "just like that." You said "Lisa Marie wasn't royalty: she was too prickly for that." I was 25 when she was born and my sense of loss IS as having lost a member of the royalty. That is the word I needed.
I was almost finished rereading Peter Guralnick's brilliant two volume biography of Elvis Presley when Lisa Marie died. ( I read the books not as a fan of Elvis Presley, but as someone who understood that Elvis's life and art is a way of understanding post war America) Thank you for your sensitive and insightful essay. It's so easy to not take Lisa Marie seriously especially with all that has been written recently about the nepo baby phenomenon. Which I think is true, but we can paint too broad of a brush because not all children of the rich and famous are the same. You bringing in John F. Kennedy Jr in was apt and illuminating, a king (rock n roll) and a President child together. The legacy of both families were made even more intense by their public nature and tragedy. Agree, Lisa Marie lived boldly and honestly and was conscious of the long shadow of her famous family. and quietly cut her own path. As you wrote that is quite an accomplishment.
TBH I found the nepo baby conversation slightly interminable beyond the fact that it helped illuminate some family trees I had not been aware of. Carrie Fisher did a hilarious bit in her one-woman show showing the insanely elaborate Hollywood Family Tree from which she sprung! It's all what you do with what you have been given. And Lisa Marie wasn't just the daughter of a rich famous person but ..... the otherworldly whatever-you-want-to-call-it figure of EP - soooo ... what IS that? I was always interested in how she was handling it and I weirdly wished her well. I didn't even question it at the time. I just wanted her to do all right and be okay. This "attachment" to her happened without me even noticing - a very strange thing. I think she played the hand she was dealt admirably and with grace!
This was a beautiful read. Thank you. You have definitely captured a mood and emotions that many of us might not have expected to have at this awful and sad news.
She was the daughter of Elvis Presley. She married Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage. Birthed by any 'normal' woman, she would not have been meant for any of that. That she dealt with any of it poorly is not a surprise. She, like JFK, Jr., was destined to be 'less' than expected from the beginning. I have no idea what that is like, and I'm glad I don't have to find out. Very few are burdened with being the son or daughter of an icon. Even fewer survive the role.
"That she dealt with any of it poorly is not a surprise". I honestly can't think of many examples where she dealt with it poorly. I think she handled the majority of her insane surreal existence with grace - and humility as well. She didn't go around making demands because of who her dad was. She tried to find her own way. She was a loving friend, and a devoted mother to her four kids. She was broken by the suicide of her son.
I'm heartbroken at her early death, but as I keep saying here - she did the best she could with the very strange reality thrust upon her. She did her father and mother proud, that's for sure.
Thank you so much for this. My mom loved Elvis - she was exactly of the age to grow up with his music and he was 100% the soundtrack to my childhood. Lisa Marie and I were born the same year and yes, this one hurts so much. The way you have captured how many of us are feeling is the best thing I have read thus far on why she mattered far and beyond her father's legacy.
Seems that way. While I ignored her, I was aware of a few things she did that captured the attention of the celebrity media and gossip columnists (mostly drugs and MJ).
I am listening to STORM & GRACE as I type this. On this first listening, the instrumental tracks stand out but the words are a blur. I will continue to listen.
and that's the danger with just absorbing tabloid stuff. Her drug use was mainly in her late teenage years which ... makes her a pretty normal teenager.
I was trying to pinpoint the sense of loss over Lisa Marie dying "just like that." You said "Lisa Marie wasn't royalty: she was too prickly for that." I was 25 when she was born and my sense of loss IS as having lost a member of the royalty. That is the word I needed.
Unruly royalty! Loved her for it.
I was almost finished rereading Peter Guralnick's brilliant two volume biography of Elvis Presley when Lisa Marie died. ( I read the books not as a fan of Elvis Presley, but as someone who understood that Elvis's life and art is a way of understanding post war America) Thank you for your sensitive and insightful essay. It's so easy to not take Lisa Marie seriously especially with all that has been written recently about the nepo baby phenomenon. Which I think is true, but we can paint too broad of a brush because not all children of the rich and famous are the same. You bringing in John F. Kennedy Jr in was apt and illuminating, a king (rock n roll) and a President child together. The legacy of both families were made even more intense by their public nature and tragedy. Agree, Lisa Marie lived boldly and honestly and was conscious of the long shadow of her famous family. and quietly cut her own path. As you wrote that is quite an accomplishment.
TBH I found the nepo baby conversation slightly interminable beyond the fact that it helped illuminate some family trees I had not been aware of. Carrie Fisher did a hilarious bit in her one-woman show showing the insanely elaborate Hollywood Family Tree from which she sprung! It's all what you do with what you have been given. And Lisa Marie wasn't just the daughter of a rich famous person but ..... the otherworldly whatever-you-want-to-call-it figure of EP - soooo ... what IS that? I was always interested in how she was handling it and I weirdly wished her well. I didn't even question it at the time. I just wanted her to do all right and be okay. This "attachment" to her happened without me even noticing - a very strange thing. I think she played the hand she was dealt admirably and with grace!
This was a beautiful read. Thank you. You have definitely captured a mood and emotions that many of us might not have expected to have at this awful and sad news.
I am so glad to hear you say that, Rehna - thank you.
She was the daughter of Elvis Presley. She married Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage. Birthed by any 'normal' woman, she would not have been meant for any of that. That she dealt with any of it poorly is not a surprise. She, like JFK, Jr., was destined to be 'less' than expected from the beginning. I have no idea what that is like, and I'm glad I don't have to find out. Very few are burdened with being the son or daughter of an icon. Even fewer survive the role.
"That she dealt with any of it poorly is not a surprise". I honestly can't think of many examples where she dealt with it poorly. I think she handled the majority of her insane surreal existence with grace - and humility as well. She didn't go around making demands because of who her dad was. She tried to find her own way. She was a loving friend, and a devoted mother to her four kids. She was broken by the suicide of her son.
I'm heartbroken at her early death, but as I keep saying here - she did the best she could with the very strange reality thrust upon her. She did her father and mother proud, that's for sure.
Thank you so much for this. My mom loved Elvis - she was exactly of the age to grow up with his music and he was 100% the soundtrack to my childhood. Lisa Marie and I were born the same year and yes, this one hurts so much. The way you have captured how many of us are feeling is the best thing I have read thus far on why she mattered far and beyond her father's legacy.
That really means a lot to hear, Colleen. Thank you.
Sheila, you've made me teary. :) A beautiful tribute.
Thank you and thank you for reading!
Oh Sheila. This is so exquisitely beautiful x
Sabina - thank you so much.
SHEILA
As big a fan of Elvis as I am, I just ignored his daughter all these years. Your tribute/essay makes me wish I hadn’t . . .
NEAL
Neal - There was a lot there.
S
Seems that way. While I ignored her, I was aware of a few things she did that captured the attention of the celebrity media and gossip columnists (mostly drugs and MJ).
I am listening to STORM & GRACE as I type this. On this first listening, the instrumental tracks stand out but the words are a blur. I will continue to listen.
N
PS: Thanks for making me pay attention ...
and that's the danger with just absorbing tabloid stuff. Her drug use was mainly in her late teenage years which ... makes her a pretty normal teenager.