A judge in Tennessee has halted the auction of Graceland, the iconic former home of music legend Elvis Presley. The disagreement over ownership of the mansion arose between Presley’s granddaughter, actress Riley Keough, and Naussany Investments, a company claiming ownership due to an unpaid loan.
Following the death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, Keough inherited Graceland and most of Presley’s estate. Naussany Investments alleged that Lisa Marie used the property as collateral for a $3.8 million loan that was never repaid, leading them to schedule an auction of the estate.
Keough contested the loan documents, claiming fraud and forgery of her mother’s signature. In response, Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issued a temporary injunction against the auction on Wednesday.
Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises reassured fans that there would be no foreclosure, stating, “There was no validity to the claims. Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans worldwide can enjoy a best-in-class experience at his iconic home.”
Elvis purchased Graceland Mansion in 1957 and resided there until his passing in 1977. The estate was opened to the public as a music history theme park in the early 1980s and currently attracts approximately 600,000 visitors annually.
Riley Keough, known for her roles in Amazon’s Daisy Jones & the Six and films like Logan Lucky and Mad Max: Fury Road, refrained from commenting on the legal proceedings. The BBC reached out to representatives of Naussany Investments for their response.
Elvis Presley, his parents, daughter Lisa Marie, and her son Benjamin Keough are interred at Graceland.