Riley Keough reveals she welcomed her baby girl via surrogate to avoid Lyme disease complications — since she shares an unusual name, she gave her as a touching tribute to grandfather Elvis Presley
Riley Keough has revealed that she welcomed her daughter through a surrogate — while also sharing that her little one’s name is a poignant tribute to her grandfather, Elvis Presley.
The Daisy Jones & the Six actress, 34, the daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough, became a mother for the first time last year with husband Ben Smith-Petersen.
Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen arrived in August 2022, but news of her birth was not shared until Riley’s heartbreaking eulogy to her mother Lisa Marie in January 2023.
In a new interview with Vanity FairRiley spoke candidly about enlisting a surrogate to carry her child, while also explaining how her daughter’s unusual name is a sweet tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.
Motherhood: Riley Keough, 34, became a mother for the first time in August 2022 after welcoming daughter Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen
Getting candid: The actress opened up about her journey to motherhood and revealed that she welcomed her first little girl through a surrogate mother
“I think it’s a really cool, selfless and incredible act that these women are doing to help other people,” she said.
“I can carry children, but it felt like the best choice for what I had going on physically with the autoimmune thing.”
Her daughter’s name Tupelo is, of course, a reference to Elvis’ birthplace in Mississippi.
“I was like, ‘This is great because it’s not really a familiar word or name in relation to my family — it’s not like Memphis or anything,'” Riley said.
“It’s funny because we chose her name before the Elvis movie.”
But when Baz Luhrmann’s Oscar-nominated biopic starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks came out in May 2022, Tupelo was called left, right, and center.
“I was like, ‘Oh, no,'” Riley admitted to the publication. “But it’s fine.”
Elvis was born in Tupelo on January 8, 1935 to Vernon and Gladys Presley.
Loving tribute: Riley’s daughter’s name Tupelo is a reference to Elvis Presley’s birthplace
Humble beginnings: Elvis was born in his parents’ home in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935
Cover star: Riley is on the cover of the September issue of Vanity Fair
Family Ties: Elvis and Priscilla Presley married in 1967 and welcomed their only daughter, Lisa Marie, in 1968
He gave birth at home with his stillborn twin brother, Jessie Garon, in a two-room house built by his father, grandfather, and uncle.
Tupelo’s middle name is a tribute to Riley’s late brother, Benjamin Storm Keough, who committed suicide in 2020 at the age of 27.
Riley initially shared the news of becoming a mother in a poem read by her husband Ben at Lisa Marie’s memorial service on Jan. 22.
“I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me,” it read. “The way you love my brother and my sisters. Thank you for giving me strength, my heart, my empathy, my courage, my sense of humor.
‘My manners, my temper, my wildness, my tenacity. I am a product of your heart. My sisters are a product of your heart. My brother is a product of your heart.
‘We are you. You are us, my eternal love. I hope you finally know how loved you were here. Thank you for trying so hard for us. If I didn’t tell you every day, thank you.’
Earlier this month, Riley was officially appointed sole trustee of her late mother’s estate.
Tragic passing: Lisa Marie passed away on January 12, 2023 at the age of 54 and was buried in her father’s Graceland mansion
Legal battle: Riley, pictured with her grandmother Priscilla Presley in 2016, was officially named as the sole trustee of her late mother’s estate
Lisa Marie died on January 12 at the age of 54 and was buried on January 22 at her father’s Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.
Just four days after the funeral, her mother Priscilla filed court documents disputing a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie’s living will.
The amendment removed Priscilla and a former business manager as trustees and replaced them with her two oldest children – Riley and Benjamin.
However, Priscilla and Riley agreed on a settlement in May.
“When my mother died, there was a lot of chaos in every aspect of our lives,” the mother of one shared.
“Everything felt like the carpet had been ripped out and the floor had melted from under us.
“Everyone was a bit panicked to understand how we’re going to proceed, and it only took a minute to understand the details of the situation because it’s complicated. We are a family, but there is also a huge business side to our family.’
A Los Angeles coroner ruled that Lisa Marie died of complications from weight loss surgery she had several years ago. Her death was ruled a natural cause due to the effects of a small intestinal obstruction.