Divorce can be extremely difficult when children are involved. If you're a public figure, it's even worse. Lisa Marie Presley's estranged husband, Michael Lockwood, made things difficult when it came to participating in Elvis' big birthday celebration. He forbade his 11-year-old twin daughters, Harper and Finley, from traveling to the big event. Based on the custody agreement he has with Lisa Marie, both parents need to sign off on travel like this.
Lisa Marie, rightfully, wasn't very happy about this turn of events. The day before the celebration was set to happen, her legal team at Brot, Gross, Fishbein tried to put together emergency documents that would allow the kids to attend. But since the situation wasn't necessarily an "emergency," the judge dismissed the case.
Lisa Marie is the only child of Elvis and actress Priscilla Presley. That means her children are Elvis' only grandchildren. Aside from the twins, she also has a son and daughter with ex Danny Keough. Both are adults.
The move may seem cold, but it's important to figure out why Michael wouldn't want the kids there.
It wasn't like Michael and Lisa Marie had a quick marriage. The two were officially together for 10 years, marrying in 2006 and calling it quits in 2016. However, kids can make things tricky. Both seem to want as much time as possible with the twins, meaning that this refusal could have been personal.
The exes have a history of custody disputes. This upcoming July, they have a court date set to work out custody agreements and child support, meaning that things may officially change up. But since Elvis' special celebration was a one-time deal, the kids have already missed out.
The event took place in Memphis, Tennessee. If Elvis were still alive, he would have turned 85 years old. While there are plenty of conspiracies out there, Elvis died from a heart attack at the age of 42. He was rumored to have had a prescription pill addiction, which ended up damaging his heart.
Elvis himself was a twin. Unfortunately, his brother died at birth. Elvis' career started after he wanted to record a few songs for his mother to give as a gift. Sam Phillips, who owned the recording studio, recognized Elvis' talent and realized that his rare type of singing voice would be a hit with music fans.
Sam was correct. Elvis' career took off, especially in the South. In September 1956, Elvis was featured on The Ed Sullivan Show — and much like the Beatles, the young women in the audience went crazy for him. Elvis' signature move was pelvic vibrations, which — back in the day — were considered scandalous. Still, they helped cement his place as an icon.
He married Priscilla in 1967, and the couple had Lisa Marie just a year later. Unfortunately, he was found unconscious on August 16, 1977. Lisa Marie only had 10 years with her dad, and many of them included her witnessing Elvis' declining health. Fans have held quite an interest in her since Elvis' death.
Lisa Marie has been married four times. Aside from Danny Keough and Michael Lockwood, she's also said "I do" to Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage. She didn't have children with either of them, but both relationships made headlines — especially Michael.
The two were married for less than two years, but they still went public with it. Fans of MTV likely remember the big kiss during the 1994 Video Music Awards. They married in secret, with people learning about it due to a strange announcement released by Lisa Marie shortly after it happened.
It read, "My married name is Mrs. Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson. My marriage to Michael Jackson took place in a private ceremony outside the United States weeks ago. I am very much in love with Michael, I dedicate my life to being his wife. I understand and support him. We both look forward to raising a family."
But they didn't. Rumor has it that Michael lamented about never being a father after their divorce, and dermatology assistant Debbie Rowe offered to be a surrogate. The two married, and in quick succession she gave birth to two of his children. They divorced after three years, and she reportedly gave Michael full custody. Since Michael's death, Debbie has formed a decent relationship with daughter Paris Jackson.
Lisa Marie's latest relationship was definitely her rockiest. In 2019, it was reported that she had a very low net worth, and she was still trying to seek full custody of the twins. Her mother, however, has been doing just fine. Fans couldn't believe that Priscilla wasn't stepping up more to help, especially since her granddaughters were involved.
In January of last year, Lisa Marie was looking disheveled as she was spotted leaving a medical facility. So this divorce has taken a lot out of her. Hopefully, she realizes that what her kids really need is a mom who's been able to take some time for herself and be healthy. It's a shame they missed the birthday celebration, but in the grand scheme of things, Lisa-Marie's general well-being is a lot more important.
Her twins have a lot to be proud of, no matter what. They're the grandchildren of an icon who will always be celebrated. Elvis' music lives on and finds new audiences all the time. Even if the twins couldn't go to Memphis now, maybe a future trip could be in the works once custody is figured out for good.
Regardless, it's very obvious that Lisa Marie just wants what's best for her family, especially her kids. While their parents continue to make things difficult, hopefully, the children know how loved they are. Fingers crossed that Lisa Marie and her ex can make amends in the future, for the sake of the girls.
