- Always on his mind
By JULIE MASON
(Houston Chronicle, July 1, 2006)
President Bush chatting with Lisa Marie Presley. The Japanese prime minister singing from "Man of La Mancha." The Air Force One galley crew serving fried banana sandwiches. Historians may be hard pressed to choose the strangest image from Bush's visit to Graceland on Friday with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, lifelong and devout Elvis Presley fan.
But it was clear that a corner was turned in U.S diplomatic relations. No longer is a visit to Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford the measure of alliance with the commander in chief. Now it takes a visit to the holy church of American kitsch.
At the mansion/tourist attraction where Presley lived and died, Koizumi was so visibly happy it appeared at times he might levitate. And he broke into song, Elvis song, every few moments. "I knew he loved Elvis," Bush said. "I didn't realize how much he loved Elvis." The venerated home was closed to the public for the Bush-Koizumi visit. The two, along with first lady Laura Bush, got a private tour from the music icon's widow, Pr
iscilla, and his daughter, Lisa Marie.
Bush, who has sprinted through the Hermitage in Russia and grown bored at the Great Wall of China, lingered with his friend in Gracelandıs Jungle Room, where Koizumi warbled another song and swooped to his knees in a classic Presley concert gesture.
Hold me close, hold me tight,ıı Koizumi sang to Lisa Marie Presley, draping an arm over The Kingıs offspring.
Lisa Marie, 38, also a musician, remained largely expressionless throughout the visit.
The former wife of Michael Jackson wed producer Michael Lockwood in January - in Kyoto, Japan.
You look like Elvis,ıı Koizumi told her.
- Celebs turn a postmortem profit: Monroe photographers and heirs squabble over the icon's image
By Nathan Koppel, Wall Street Journal
(Sun News, April 3, 2006)
More than 40 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe's photos are used to hawk everything from T-shirts and posters to coffee mugs and key chains. Now, the late actress is at the center of a bitter legal dispute over who controls the rights to her profitable image. ... The central issue in four Monroe-related lawsuits, now pending in Indiana, New York and California is seemingly simple: At the time of her death, was the actress a Californian, or a New Yorker? The answer is worth millions.
... Monroe joined a parade of dead celebrities being marketed aggressively. In 2004, Robert F.X. Sillerman paid Lisa Marie Presley $100 million for an 85 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., which licenses Presley's image and music. Jeffrey Lotman, chief executive of the Los Angeles licensing firm Global Icons, says that after Presley, the most valuable dead-celebrity brands are Monroe and James Dean.
- Priscilla Presley: 'I lost my identity'
By Fiona Edwards
(Digital Spy, April 3, 2006)
Priscilla Presley has blamed divided loyalties between Elvis and her daughter for the breakdown of her marriage. The couple wed in 1967 and daughter Lisa Marie followed nine months later. It was this that Priscilla claims was the beginning of the end of her relationship with the rock-and-roll legend. She said: "He (Elvis) was always the first, he was the first of everything he did. I lost my identity to an extent. Anyone can get lost in that world. When Lisa Marie came I felt like I was serving two masters. I stopped travelling with him but it was still very difficult. He was very demanding." The couple separated in 1972 and were divorced in October 1973. Priscilla now lives with Brazilian writer-director Marco Garibaldi.
- Lisa Marie Pregnant With Third Child
By Felicia Willis
((All Headlines News, March 14, 2006)
Sources reveal that Lisa Marie Presley was pregnant when she tied the knot for the fourth time in January to Michael Lockwood. The couple is rumored to have been planning a spring wedding, but when the royalty rocker found she was expecting her third child, she moved the wedding date up considerably. Lisa Marie and her new husband opted for a traditional Japanese ceremony which took place in the Far East with only 9 close friends and family.
A friend reveals, "Lisa Marie was determined to look great for her wedding. I think she didn't want to be pregnant in her photographs. If they'd have waited until the spring when they were due to get married, the bump would have been showing."As soon as she found out she was pregnant in early January, she told Michael, 'Let's get married now.' They told the wedding planner she had five days to organize a wedding in Japan and told their families to pack their bags." Another friend of the couple confirmed Lisa Marieıs pregnancy, saying, "Lisa didn't want to say anything till she was over the first trimester, but she and Priscilla are very happy."
- Lisa Marie's wacky wedding: Elvis's girl headed to Japan for wedding number four
((Woman's Day [Australian edn], March 6, 2006)
With the king of rock 'n' roll for a dad and a marriage to Michael Jackson behind her, it was unlikely Lisa Marie Presley's latest wedding was ever going to be a normal affair. Even by Hollywood standards, when Elvis's daughter said "I do" for the fourth time, on January 22 to Michael Lockwood, it was a pretty strange affair - or, as one wedding guest described it, a case of "kooky kabuki". For starters, the bizarre geisha-themed ceremony [see Presleys in the Press comment below], which took place in Kyoto, Japan, happened only after Lisa Marie, 38, took the lead and proposed to her boyfriend of two yearts, telling him she wanted to marry him... now! ...
Presleys in the Press comment: I have lived in Japan for nearly 2 years. This was not a "geisha" wedding: the bride, groom and mother-in-law were wearing fairly traditional Japanese wedding dress. Ususally, Japanese brides have a Western white wedding and a traditional Shinto wedding (red is the colour for celebration). In this case, Lisa Marie combined both traditions by having a white under-dress and a red robe, both in excellent taste. Priscilla's black kimono is a formal kimono suitable for formal occasions such as weddings. The exception was Michael's unfortunate beanie.
- Lisa Marie's wacky wedding
By J. Randy Taraborelli
((New Idea [Australian edn], March 4, 2006)
Nothing's too strange for Lisa Marie Presley - not even having her former husband as best man at her surprise wedding. She's been unlucky in love - and marriage - many times, but sources say domineering Lisa Marie Presley may have found the husband of her dreams. Mainly because he never says no to her.
It seems Lisa Marie is in complete control of her new husband and, in fact, it was her idea to marry musician Michael Lockwood in Japan. Amazingly, he had to sign a $900 million pre-nup before they exchanged vows, sources told the National Enquirer. 'Everyone got on a plane to Japan. She paid for all of it, saying: "If I'm going to drag everyone to Japan, I don't expect them to pay," Lisa Marie's Friend Monica Pastelle says. ...
- Lisa Marie and pre-nuptial agreement
((ninemsn.com.au, February 23, 2006)
Insiders say Lisa - the late Elvis' only child - is desperate to protect her fortune after previous marriages failed. The 38-year-old married musical director Michael Lockwood, 44, in a lavish $340,000 Japanese ceremony last month. And sources say the mum-of-two is desperate to have more kids. One pal said: "She swore the only reason she would get married again would be to have more children. She was hoping to be pregnant by the time they announced the wedding.
Only time will tell."
Lisa, worth a reported $952m, earns an estimated $8.2m a year from the tourism business surrounding Elvis' former home, Graceland. She sold part of the lavish Memphis estate last year for $136m. She met guitarist Lockwood two years ago but she insisted on the pre-nuptial agreement in case the union fails. A source said: "However much she loves him, she has to protect her fortune."
American celebrity divorce lawyer Raoul Felder told the National Enquirer: "Because of her tremendous wealth, this would be the mother of all pre-nups." Lisa Marie's new father-in-law told the magazine: "We're really happy. Lisa Marie is lovely." She was previously married to Nicolas Cage and Michael Jackson. Her first husband and the father of her two children, Danny Keough, was best man at the ceremony in Kyoto on January 22. One witness said: "You could feel the love. They were gazing into each other's eyes and stealing little kisses through the service."
- Presley notches another nuptial
By JOHN SMYNTEK
((Detroit Free Press, February 18, 2006)
She's giving Elizabeth Taylor a run for most wedding rings! Lisa Marie Presley -- daughter of the King -- wed guitarist and music producer Michael Lockwood in Kyoto, Japan, in a traditional Japanese ceremony on Jan. 22. Let's get out the pocket calculator. This is the fourth marriage for Presley, 38, who previously wed Nicolas Cage, Michael Jackson and Danny Keough. Note this: Keough served as Lockwood's best man at the ceremony. Keough and Presley have two children together, Riley, 16, who was the maid of honor, and Benjamin, 13, who was a groomsman. The bride's mother, Priscilla (Miss Cilla) Presley, walked her daughter down the aisle and gave her away, what with the bride's father, Elvis Presley, certifiably dead since 1977. Lockwood is Lisa Marie's musical director and is listed as executive producer on her 2005 album "Now What." How apropos.
- Fourth time lucky?
By Rebekah van Druten
((abc.net.au, February 18, 2006)
Musical director Michael Lockwood's talent must have made quite an impression on Lisa Marie Presley. She just married him in a surprise ceremony [in] Japan. Not much is known about Michael.
Too bad we can't say the same thing for Lisa Marie. In case you don't know - she's the daughter of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley and has previously walked down the aisle to meet Nicolas Cage, Michael Jackson and Danny Keough.
- Lisa Marie Presley Marries Guitarist
((Yahoo! News, February 15, 2006)
Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock 'n' roll king Elvis Presley, has married guitarist and music producer Michael Lockwood in a ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, her publicist said Thursday. Presley, 38, and Lockwood exchanged vows in a traditional Japanese ceremony on Jan. 22, spokesman Paul Bloch said. It was Presley's fourth marriage. She was previously married to Nicolas Cage, Michael Jackson and Danny Keough, who is the father of her two children. The bride's mother, actress Priscilla Presley, walked her daughter down the aisle and gave her away, Bloch said. Daughter Riley Keough was maid of honor and son Benjamin Keough was a groomsman. The best man was Presley's first husband Danny Keough. Also attending the wedding were Lockwood's parents, Vivian and William Lockwood. Lockwood was Presley's musical director and is listed as executive producer on her 2005 album "Now What." Presley lives in the Los Angeles area but Bloch said he didn't know where the couple planned to live.
- People watch: Celebrity birthdays
((Star-Telegram, February 1, 2006)
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is 75. Singer Don Everly is 69. Actor Sherman Hemsley is 68. Princess Stephanie of Monaco is 41. Lisa Marie Presley and comedian/actor Pauly Shore are 38. Rapper Big Boi (Outkast) is 31. Country singer Julie Roberts is 27. ...
- Horoscope
((Birmingham News, January 29, 2006)
... Celebrity profiles: It's not easy growing up in the shadow of one of the 20th century's most pivotal pop icons, but assertive Aquarians like Lisa Marie Presley are embracing the spotlight this year with a new sense of wonder. Presley has two hit albums of her own behind her now, and she will use 2006 to focus on her softer side. ...
- Infiltrating Scientology
By David Topping
((The Strand, January 19, 2006)
When I decided to write about the Church of Scientology, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew what I wanted. I really wanted to dislike Scientology. I wanted to see aliens, and I wanted Tom Cruise to be behind a door at the church, ready to tell me about how much he loved Katie Holmes and hated psychiatry. I wanted to be convinced, right away, that they were a religion of mindless idiots, brain-washed losers, and social rejects.
I was proven wrong. But my experience was still far from enlightening. My family and friends certainly seemed to be a lot more worried than I was, the overwhelming concern was that I'd get "sucked in", that Scientology would somehow seduce me. Like my parents and friends, the media isn't too fond of Scientology either, and even though it's always been a bit of a whipping dog for the general public, and one feisty actor has made it the laughing stock of most of the world.
The image most of us have of the religion is, of course, Tom Cruise. In fact, a discussion of Scientology without the actor coming up is almost impossible. Most people are familiar with his unconventional television appearances in 2005, from ranting about the evils of psychiatry to Matt Lauer on the Today Show, and a visit on Oprah which made jumping on a couch the best way to do a Tom Cruise impression. One of the most talked-about celebrities of the year, his strange behaviour is often blamed on his involvement with the Church of Scientology. But even before Cruise, Scientology was not particularly respected or understood.
With all the fuss about Scientology, Elvis Presley's opinions seem to be closest to the way most people feel about the religion. When Elvis decided to drop into the flagship Los Angeles church several decades ago, they, according to his friend, "started doing all these charts and crap for him." Elvis hurried out of the clinic and yelled "Fuck those people! There's no way I'll ever get involved with that son-of-a-bitchin' group. All they want is my money." From that point forward, Elvis "stayed away from Scientology like it was a cobra." Presley's wife and daughter, incidentally, didn't stay away: Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley are both devout Scientologists. ...
- Trash talk: Tabloid roundup
By HOLLY WARREN
((DallasNews.com, January 18, 2006)
WHAT MADE THE COVER:
_"Tom (Cruise) & Katie (Holmes) ... Wedding is OFF! say insiders ... Bitter fight leaves pregnant Katie in tears" (Globe)
_"Lisa Marie's (Presley) $1 MILLION WEDDING ... All the details ... PLUS her baby surprise!" (National Examiner) ...
- MY ALICE HAS TAKEN ME TO WONDERLAND
((dailyrecord.co.uk, January 10, 2006)
Oddball, hellraiser and Oscar-winning Hollywood A-lister, Nicolas Cage admits that at long last, life's just great
NICOLAS CAGE used to be Wild at Heart - dubbed the new Jack Nicholson because of his heavy drinking and womanising. But the actor who once ate a live cockroach on screen, claims he feels like "a new man" thanks to his third wife, former waitress Alice Kim. Now the man who was married to Elvis's daughter Lisa Marie for only three months is happily married with a new three-month-old son he's named Kal-el, the birth name given to his comic book hero Superman. Gone is the edgy, slightly manic actor and in its place an older (he celebrated his 42nd birthday last Saturday) and happier star. ...
- CAGE THANKS PRESLEY FOR CURRENT MARRIAGE
((contactmusic.com, January 10, 2006)
NICOLAS CAGE credits his brief failed marriage to LISA MARIE PRESLEY with giving him the courage to marry a woman 20 years his junior. The FACE OFF star, 42, tied the knot with waitress ALICE KIM in July 2004 after a whirlwind five-month courtship, after realising he had found true love for the first time in his life. The actor was married to Presley for just 107 days in 2002, and divorced actress PATRICIA ARQUETTE in 2001 after six years together. He says, "I feel like a new man. I've been involved in terrible relationships before where I was a lot closer in age to the women I was with and look what happened. So it's not a question of age."
- CAGE RELATED TO WEATHER MAN
((contactmusic.com, January 10, 2006)
NICOLAS CAGE empathised with his character DAVE SPRITZ in THE WEATHER MAN, because he was having similar marital problems at the time. Cage, who was in the process of divorcing ELVIS PRESLEY's daughter LISA MARIE, saw a parallel in Spritz, who is forced to contemplate whether a successful career and a successful marriage are mutually exclusive after being separated from his wife and two children. ...
- Pink marries her biker on the beach
By Dave West
((digital spy, January 9, 2006)
Pink has married her motocross racer boyfriend Carey Hart on a beach in Costa Rica. More than 100 people reportedly attended the singer's big day, including Lisa-Marie Presley. Pink real name Alecia Moore said: "We just love the beach, so we knew we wanted it to be at the beach." The 26-year-old singer and Hart, who has appeared in a US reality TV show, are both to star in upcoming horror film Catacombs. They met at the 2001 X Games in Las Vegas and proposed to him last year during a race in Mammoth Lakes, California.
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