Woman Pleads Guilty In Graceland Scam

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On the heals of the passing of Lisa Marie Presley, a Missouri woman tried to defraud the Presley Family and take possession of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fortunately, the scheme was foiled and now the woman has plead guilty to a count of mail fraud.

From Billboard:

A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to mail fraud for her role in an alleged scam to steal the Elvis Presley family’s ownership interest in the famed Graceland mansion.

Lisa Jeanine Findley, who has gone by various aliases including Lisa Holden and Lisa Howell, initially pleaded not guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft last year. But during a hearing before a Memphis federal judge on Tuesday (Feb. 25), Findley agreed to plead guilty to one count of mail fraud. According to court documents, the other charge — a count of aggravated identity theft — will be dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Findley was arrested in August on the charges, with prosecutors alleging she posed as three different people affiliated with a fake company named Naussany Investments & Private Lending to claim that Presley’s daughter, the late Lisa Marie Presley, had utilized the music legend’s Memphis, Tenn., home as collateral for a $3.8 million loan she had failed to repay. Findley also allegedly falsified loan documents and forged the signatures of both Lisa Marie and a notary public in order to file a false deed of trust with the Shelby County Register’s Office, as well as a false creditor’s claim with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles.

To read more, go here. 

Elvis's Granddaughter Fighting Foreclosure of Graceland

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Elvis Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, is fighting a foreclosure of Graceland, alleging that some signatures are forgeries.

NBC News reported:

Elvis Presley’s granddaughter is trying to halt the court-approved sale of Graceland, the late singer’s Memphis, Tennessee, compound.

Riley Keough, a successful dramatic actor also known as Danielle Riley Keough, has filed a claim in Tennessee civil court that alleges the creditor behind the foreclosure claim used forged signatures.

Keough, who was granted virtual control of Graceland Mansion and much of Elvis' estate after her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, died last year, alleges in the suit that the creditor's paperwork on a $3.8 million loan to Graceland trustees, with a deed of trust on the compound pledged as collateral, is fraudulent.

In a statement, Elvis Presley Enterprises — the entity that runs Graceland and the assets of the Elvis Presley Trust — suggested the announced sale is a scheme.

“Elvis Presley Enterprises can confirm that these claims are fraudulent. There is no foreclosure sale. Simply put, the counter lawsuit has been filed is to stop the fraud,” it said.

To read more, go here. 

Presleys Come To Estate Settlement Agreement

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The dispute between Priscilla Presley and granddaughter Riley Keough over Lisa Marie Presley's estate has been settled.

Rolling Stone reported:

Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough have reached a settlement over the estate of Lisa Marie Presley, CNN reports. 

Lawyers for Priscilla (Lisa Marie’s mother) and Keough (Lisa Marie’s daughter) announced the agreement at a court hearing in Los Angeles Tuesday, May 16. Details of the agreement were not divulged, and the settlement request itself will be submitted under seal. The motion must be filed by June 12, while a follow-up hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 4.

The dispute — which emerged just a few weeks after Lisa Marie’s sudden death earlier this year — centered around an amendment in Lisa Marie’s living trust, which Priscilla claimed was “invalid.” The document, dated March 11, 2016, reportedly sought to remove Priscilla and former business manager Barry Siegel as co-trustees of her daughter’s Promenade Trust and name Keough and her now-deceased brother, Benjamin, as co-trustees. 

Priscilla, however, argued that the document was “never delivered” to her during Lisa Marie’s lifetime, as required by “express terms” of the trust agreement. They also argued its validity was dubious because the amendment misspelled Priscilla’s name, wasn’t witnessed or notarized, and that “Lisa Marie’s signature appears inconsistent with her usual and customary signature.”   

After the hearing where the settlement was announced, Priscilla’s attorney, Ronson J. Shamoun, told reporters, “The families are happy. Everyone is happy, unified, together and excited for the future.” Keough’s lawyer, Justin Gold, added that Keough is “very content” with the agreement. (The two lawyers did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for additional comment.)

To read more, go here. 

Lisa Marie Presley, R.I.P.

Above, a Twitter post by her mother Priscilla earlier today.

Lisa Marie Presley has passed away at age 54.

People reported:

Lisa Marie Presley, singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, has died. She was 54.

"It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us," Priscilla confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE Thursday evening.

"She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment."

The musician, who released three albums throughout her career, was hospitalized on Jan. 12. EMTs responded to Lisa Marie's home in Calabasas, California on Thursday for a possible cardiac arrest, just two days after she attended the 2023 Golden Globes with Priscilla and Elvis star Austin Butler.

Presley has had a particularly rough two years since her son Benjamin took his life at their Calabasas, California home and a messy divorce. But she's now at peace and with her son and dad.

To read more, go here.

Lisa Marie's Cardiac Episode

Hearing the news of the cardiac episode of Lisa Marie Presley made me think back on my own episode four and a half years ago in Wells, Nevada.

I didn't go into cardiac arrest, but my pulse rate was down to 24. Bad enough, I'd say.

Thankfully, I was lucky it happened where and when it did. I was immediately treated by paramedics and flown by helicopter to Twin Falls, Idaho and had two stents put into a coronary artery the medical team found to be partially blocked.

Above, Lisa Marie Presley in 2006.

The latest news on Lisa Marie Presley comes from People magazine's website:

Priscilla Presley is asking that fans keep her daughter Lisa Marie Presley in their prayers after she was rushed to the hospital Thursday.

"My beloved daughter Lisa Marie was rushed to the hospital. She is now receiving the best care. Please keep her and our family in your prayers," Priscilla, 77, said in a statement to PEOPLE.

She continued, "We feel the prayers from around the world and ask for privacy at this time."

EMTs responded to the singer's home in Calabasas, California on Thursday for a possible cardiac arrest, just two days after Presley attended the 2023 Golden Globes with mom Priscilla and Elvis star Austin Butler, PEOPLE confirmed.

After having "been there, done that" myself, my thoughts and prayers that Lisa Marie makes a full recovery as I did. She was lucky to have been at a place where there were people to take action when it occurred. That makes a big difference.

To read more, go here. 

UPDATE (1613 hrs.):

TMZ reported:

Lisa Marie Presley is in the Intensive Care Unit, on life support with a temporary pacemaker after suffering cardiac arrest ... sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

Our sources say Lisa Marie is in an induced coma and in critical condition.

‘How Many People Have a Family Grave in Their Backyard?’

Above, the Presley Family graves in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

How many people have a family grave in their backyard?

Not many, but that is something Lisa Marie Presley questioned in an interview some years ago. 

Her father and son, along with other Presley family members, are buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland.

Showbiz Cheat Sheet posted:

Elvis Presley‘s beloved Graceland Mansion, located in Memphis, Tennesee, was a place where Presley shared many happy memories. However, it also has the unique distinction of being a family gravesite. Interred in its meditation garden are the King of Rock and Roll, his father Vernon, mother Gladys, grandmother Minnie Mae, and grandson Benjamin.

Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie, revealed some painful truths about how she feels every time she looks out the mansion’s back window. She questioned, “How many people have a family grave in their backyard?”

To read more, go here. 

  

Elvis All-Star Tribute

The Elvis All-Star Tribute special was aired last night on NBC and is now history.

It was a 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1968 Singer Presents...Elvis, also on NBC (more commonly known as the '68 Comeback Special). The producers tried to recapture the Presley special with a similar setting.

The show was entertaining (it was two hours long), but over half of the performers, I must confess, were totally unfamiliar to me.

The line-up and songs:

“Trouble”/ “Guitar Man” – Blake Shelton
“Hound Dog” – Shawn Mendes
“Burning Love” – Keith Urban
“Baby, What You Want Me to Do” – Keith Urban and Post Malone
“Jailhouse Rock” – John Fogerty
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Ed Sheeran
“Always on My Mind” – Kelsea Ballerini
“Heartbreak Hotel” – Jennifer Lopez
“One Night” – Darius Rucker
“Suspicious Minds” – Blake Shelton
“Love Me Tender” – Alessia Cara
“Memories” – Mac Davis
“A Little Less Conversation” – John Legend
“Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Little Big Town
“Blue Suede Shoes” – Adam Lambert
“Love Me” – Pistol Annies
“That’s All Right”/“Don’t Be Cruel”/“Blue Suede Shoes” – Mac Davis, Post Malone, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton
“How Great Thou Art”/“He Touched Me”/“You’ll Never Walk Alone” – Carrie Underwood and Yolanda Adams
“Little Sister” – Dierks Bentley
“It’s Now or Never” – Josh Groban
“If I Can Dream” – Elvis Presley, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood

If was fun to see Mac Davis. He looked pretty good for his age (77) and he was the only performer there who actually knew Elvis. He noted this by saying that everyone else is dead.

The original 1968 producer, Steve Binder talked about the show and there were also appearances by Priscilla Presley and Lisa Maria Presley. The special also included clips from the 1968 special.

To read more, go here.

Lisa Marie Presley Wins Court Battle Against Ex-Husband

Some prenups are ironclad and some aren't.

It turns out that a court has decided Lisa Marie Presley's prenup is ironclad and her ex-husband will be getting nothing out of her.

Hollywood News Daily reported:

Lisa Marie Presley has been battling her estranged ex-fourth husband Michael Lockwood in court for the past two years and finally, her determination has paid off. 

Lisa Marie Presley will NOT be paying Michael Lockwood the crazy amount of spousal support that he has been fighting her for, in fact, he is receiving exactly zero dollars! According to TMZ, Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood’s 2007 prenup is ironclad and Michael Lockwood knowingly signed away his right to spousal support. 

As previously reported, Lisa Marie testified in court last week that she felt she had no obligation to Lockwood because, one, he signed the prenup stating that he, or, Lisa Marie would get spousal support if the marriage ended…And Two, Lisa Marie claims Michael literally stole millions of dollars from her by making purchases on her credit cards without her knowledge.

To read more, go here. 

News From Graceland

Celebrate the King at Elvis Week Join us here in Memphis in just a few short weeks for an amazing Elvis Presley celebration of his life and legacy. With more than 25 events and 40 guests, it is the perfect place to celebrate all that is Elvis. From gospel to the ’68 Special to Elvis live on screen, the week will offer something for every Elvis fan! Celebrate Elvis' Love of Gospel Music During Elvis Week Elvis' favorite genre of music was gospel. He recorded several gospel records - in fact, his three GRAMMY Awards are for his gospel recordings, included gospel songs in his concert setlists and enjoyed late-night gospel jams with the quartets that sang with him. At Elvis Week 2018, we're celebrating the king's love for gospel with several events, including a listening party with Lisa Marie Presley for the new Elvis gospel album, "Where No One Stands Alone," as well as a Conversations on Elvis: Gospel panel, and The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley Celebration Concert. Learn More Don't Miss These Exciting Elvis Week Concerts Elvis Week 2018 features more concerts than ever before! Legendary singer Darlene Love will make her first Elvis Week appearance with a concert at the Graceland Soundstage on August 13. The next night, The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley Celebration Concert will take you to church with powerful performances by gospel quartets who sang with the king. The '68 Special 50th Anniversary Celebration Event, set for August 16, will feature an enhanced screening of the special with live music and special guest appearances. Elvis Week wraps with Elvis in Concert - with an All-Star Band on Saturday, August 18. Plus enjoy three nights of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist events on August 10-13! Get the Details Join Special Guests at Elvis Week We have incredible special guests, including Elvis' friends, family, co-stars and fellow musicians, lined up for Elvis Week. Just a few of our special guests include Lisa Marie Presley; '68 Special director Steve Binder; Sweet Inspirations member Dr. Emily "Cissy" Houston; Elvis' "Wild in the Country" co-star Millie Perkins; Armond Morales, Terry Blackwood and Jim Murray of Elvis' Imperials; Elvis' friend T.G. Sheppard; and so many more. See the Elvis Week Special Guests Experience Elvis Week like a VIP Make the most of your Elvis Week experience with our Elvis Week Elite Package! This unique package features the best seating, can't-buy experiences, first-ever Elvis Week opportunities, a Graceland Ultimate VIP Tour and more. Plus, enjoy a special photo and autograph opportunity with Lisa Marie Presley. Elite packages are still available, so get yours now! Find Out More Book Your Elvis Week Stay Now The Guest House at Graceland is the perfect place to stay during Elvis Week! It's steps away from all our events - and several events take place there, too. Make your reservations today to stay at The Guest House at Graceland during Elvis Week. Book Now

News From Graceland

New Elvis Gospel Album to be Released This August Pre-Order Now Lisa Marie Presley Sings Duet with Her Father on Album's Title Track Groundbreaking New Elvis Album features 14 Original Performances of Gospel Songs with Newly-Recorded Instrumentation and Backing Vocals featuring Legendary Presley Alumnae including Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, The Imperials and The Stamps "Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone," a new Elvis album celebrating the artist's everlasting love of gospel music, will be released on Friday, August 10. Produced by Joel Weinshanker, Lisa Marie Presley and Andy Childs, "Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone" introduces newly-recorded instrumentation and backing vocal contributions from music legends who performed on-stage and/or in-the-studio with Elvis. It also includes a reimagined duet with Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, on the album’s title track and spiritual touchstone. "It was a very powerful and moving experience to sing with my father," wrote Lisa Marie in her notes for the album. "The lyrics speak to me and touch my soul. I’m certain that the lyrics spoke to my father in much the same way." Background vocalists on the album include: Darlene Love (who first sang with Elvis on his 1968 NBC television special); Dr. Cissy Houston (who, with The Sweet Inspirations, sang with Elvis on-stage beginning in 1969); Terry Blackwood, Armond Morales and Jim Murray (members of The Imperials, who sang on Elvis' "How Great Thou Art" – with the title song winning the 1967 GRAMMY for Best Sacred Performance); and Donnie Sumner, Bill Baize, Ed Hill and Larry Strickland (members of Presley's longtime backup group, The Stamps). Learn more about the album. JOIN LISA MARIE PRESLEY AT ELVIS WEEK FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT Join Lisa Marie Presley at Elvis Week for an exclusive launch party for the “Where No One Stands Alone” album on Saturday, August 11 at 1:00 pm at Graceland. Celebrate this “once in a lifetime” moment with Lisa Marie as we listen to this powerful and emotional duet with her father of the album’s title track for the first time. Lisa Marie, who co-produced the album, will be joined album co-producers Joel Weinshanker and Andy Childs, along with John Jackson (Senior Vice President, A&R, Legacy Recordings/Sony Music Entertainment) to discuss the making of this incredible new album celebrating Elvis’ love for gospel music. Tickets are $30 to attend the Listening Party and can be purchased online here. “WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE” GRACELAND EXCLUSIVE $50 OFFER  The pre-sale for the new “Where No One Stands Alone” release is now available at ShopGraceland.com. ShopGraceland.com has a Graceland Exclusive $50 Offer that includes a limited-edition version of the album on opaque blue 12” vinyl, plus a CD and cassette. Anyone purchasing the three-piece merchandise offer will receive a limited-edition lithograph signed by Lisa Marie Presley. Click here to visit Shop Graceland to purchase the “Where No One Stands Alone” Graceland Exclusive $50 Offer. If you are an Elvis Week package holder, please check your email for more details.

Did Lisa Marie Presley's Ex-Manager Mislead Her?

Above, Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lisa Marie Presley may or may not have overspent her inheritance, but it seems from court documents obtained by RadarOnline that her ex-manager led her to believe that her finances were just "hunky dory" in several text messages.

RadarOnline reported:

Lisa Marie Presley hit back at her ex-manager, claiming he repeatedly assured her that she was not having financial trouble as he lost her $100 million fortune, in court documents exclusively obtained by RadarOnline.com. 

Elvis’ daughter and Barry Siegel are locked in a vicious court battle over her squandered wealth, with the King’s daughter alleging that he lost all of her money. 

The new documents obtained by Radar were filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Presley claimed she fired Siegel in 2015, “after discovering that Siegel had kept LMP [Lisa Marie Presley] in the dark about the Trust’s true financial condition, having lost more than $100 million of the Trust’s net worth in a matter of only 10 years, and putting the trust deeply into debt,” according to court docs obtained by Radar. 

She blamed the financial crisis on “a single decision in 2005 to sell 85% of the Trust’s stuck [I'm sure they meant "stock" - A.] in “Elvis Presley Enterprise,’” in the documents.

It will be interesting see how those text messages play out in the final resolution as the litigation proceeds. This is only one side, but it doesn't seem to look very good for Siegel.

To read more, go here.

Lisa Marie Presley and Cissy Houston To Appear At Elvis Week

Above, the main gate of Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A notice on this year's Elvis Week set for August showed up and it says that Cissy Houston, a former back-up singer for Elvis Presley and the late Whitney Houston's mother, will be attending as a special guest.

According to the Memphis Business Journal:

Graceland is expecting this fall's Elvis Week in to be its "biggest Elvis Week in history." 

Beginning Aug. 9 and spanning 10 days, the event will include Lisa Marie Presley, gospel and soul legend — and former Elvis back-up singer — Cissy Houston, Elvis '68 Comeback Special performer Darlene Love, and Elvis' drummer from the TCB Band, Ronnie Tutt. 

It will be the first Elvis Week appearance for both Houston and Love.

Unless global warming is more severe than we all thought, I always thought that the month August was in the summer. Whoever wrote the article goofed!

To read more, go here.

Lisa Marie Presley's Ex Fires Back

Above, the back of Graceland mansion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The nasty divorce between Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood is getting nastier by the day.

Lockwood is disputing Presley's claims that she's $16.8 million in debt.

According to RadarOnline:

Presley's ex is suing her for spousal support & attorney’s fees in nasty divorce. 

Lisa Marie Presley’s ex said there is “very good reason” not to trust Elvis’ famous daughter when she said she is flat broke, according to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com. 

Michael Lockwood’s attorney, Jeff Sturman, said Presley keeps changing her story about just how much she is in the hole, claiming on a February 2017 filing that she is $7.8 million in debt, but then doubling that amount when she filed documents eight months later that listed her assets and debts. 

The exes, who were married for 10 years, have been locked in a legal battle not only concerning their divorce, but also their post-nuptial agreement. Lockwood is also seeking spousal support, but in February 2017, the court ordered a separate trial regarding the validity of the post-nuptial agreement. A judge ruled that until the validity of the post-nuptial agreement was determined, Lockwood would not receive any spousal support.

I have to wonder about guys who seek spousal support, especially ones who signed pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements with their wealthy wives. That rubs me the wrong way.

According to the article, Presley gets about $100,000 a month from the trust that holds Elvis Presley Enterprises, who operates the Graceland attraction in Memphis.

To read more, go here.

Lisa Marie Presley $16.7 Million In Debt

Above, the Lisa Marie jet of Elvis Presley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lisa Marie is in debt. The daughter of Elvis Presley, not the jet Lisa Marie.

Ouch! It is hard for me to get around the thought that someone could get themselves into a financial hole of $16.7 million. Apparently, Lisa Marie Presley is in that financial hole.

According to E! Online:

Lisa Marie Presley states in court documents filed amid her divorce battle that she is $16 million in debt. 

In 2016, the 50-year-old daughter of the late Elvis Presley and fellow singer, who is also famous for her short-lived marriage to the late Michael Jackson, filed for divorce from current husband Michael Lockwood, with whom she shares twin daughters. Amid their court battle, legal documents have revealed glimpses of Lisa Marie's finances. 

Newly submitted documents show that she is more than $16.7 million in debt. She said she has yet to pay more than $10 million in tax bills from several years past, that she has defaulted on a $6 million mortgage she took out for a home she owns in the United Kingdom and that she also has more than $47,800 in credit card bills and also has tens of thousands of dollars owed to attorneys.

To read more, go here.