Elvis Presley fans are being introduced to a more personal perspective on his life and that of his family in the newly released memoir, “From Here to the Great Unknown,” co-authored by Lisa Marie Presley and her daughter, Riley Keough.
Oprah Winfrey announced this memoir as her latest book club selection during an episode of “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday. The book delves into Lisa Marie’s complex life, sharing her experiences growing up at Graceland, coping with her father’s death, and her journey through motherhood.
In an interview on “CBS Mornings,” Keough remarked, “Reading the book, it does feel like a tragedy. But I think that it’s important for me to remember that there was so much joy and love and wonderful moments in our lives.”
An excerpt from the memoir shares a vivid memory of Elvis. During one of his tours in Tahoe, he would take the entire top floor of the hotel for himself and his crew. One evening, he was visibly upset, cursing and yelling, prompting someone to instruct Keough to hide behind a chair. She watched as he angrily tossed items off the balcony until he calmed down and requested to see her.
When she entered his room with bottled water, he welcomed her with a hug, showing that he was not inherently angry or rude, despite his outbursts. Keough reminisced about fun times at an amusement park in Memphis called Libertyland, where Elvis would close it down for him and his loved ones.
However, she also recalled moments of distress, such as the night before a planned visit to Libertyland when she heard him yelling and realized the trip was in jeopardy. It turned out that he was frustrated over a lack of something he needed, but after getting it, he was back to his usual self, and their day went ahead as planned.
Keough shared a memorable ride together on the roller coaster called the Zippin Pippin, noting the contrast of the fun atmosphere with the reality of her father’s gun by her side. She described the experience with affection, acknowledging that to those who didn’t know him, it might seem strange, but it was simply part of his character.
Oprah Winfrey highlighted “From Here to the Great Unknown” as her 108th book club selection on October 8.