Gayle King’s Poignant Final Interview: A Farewell Conversation with Riley Keough on Family, Legacy, and Love

🎤 A Meaningful Farewell

In what has been described as Gayle King’s final interview as host of CBS Mornings, the veteran journalist closed her celebrated chapter in television with a deeply emotional conversation alongside Oprah Winfrey and actress-author Riley Keough.

The sit-down, filmed backstage at CBS Mornings, revolved around Keough’s new and profoundly personal book, From Here to the Great Unknown, a memoir she completed after the death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley.

The interview, equal parts tender and revelatory, served as both a meditation on family legacy and resilience and a fitting reflection of King’s legacy as a journalist who could capture humanity at its most honest.

📚 A Daughter’s Promise: Completing Lisa Marie Presley’s Story

Riley Keough, an Emmy-nominated actress turned author, shared the emotional journey of finishing her mother’s unfinished memoir. Lisa Marie, who passed away in 2023, had recorded hours of voice tapes reflecting on her extraordinary life — from growing up at Graceland as Elvis Presley’s only child to navigating fame, loss, and motherhood.

“It was a wild ride of emotions,” Keough said. “There were funny stories, heartbreaking memories, and everything in between. Listening to her voice again felt like she was right there with me.”

In the book, Keough honors her mother’s wish for authenticity, weaving together Lisa Marie’s raw, unfiltered recordings with her own reflections. The result is a powerful narrative that preserves both women’s voices in conversation — a mother’s truth and a daughter’s tribute.

🏡 Memories of Graceland

Among the memoir’s most memorable passages is a story that captures Lisa Marie’s childhood at Graceland. Keough recalled her mother’s mischievous streak as a four-year-old, driving a golf cart through the estate and playfully “firing” staff members, who always played along.

“She was a terror — but in the most charming way,” Keough said with a laugh. “That house was both a playground and a reminder of the legacy she carried.”

Those stories of innocence, set against the backdrop of Elvis’s enduring fame, offer readers a rare glimpse into the human side of America’s royal musical family — full of laughter, chaos, and love.

💬 Oprah’s Reflections: “Lisa Marie Was Both Joy and Sorrow”

Joining King for the interview, Oprah Winfrey revealed that she had personally chosen From Here to the Great Unknown for her Oprah’s Book Club, calling it “a story of truth, strength, and survival.”

Oprah, who fondly referred to Lisa Marie as a “cousin,” shared that she had witnessed both her friend’s light and her pain.

“Lisa Marie lived a life of deep joy and deep grief,” Winfrey said. “She loved fiercely — especially as a mother. After losing her son Ben, she told me Riley and her daughters were the reason she kept going.”

Winfrey also touched on the enduring fascination with Elvis Presley’s legacy, noting that thousands still visit Graceland daily — many moved to tears.

“Graceland wasn’t just a home for her,” Oprah added. “It was a sacred place, a space for healing.”

☎️ The Call from Oprah

In one lighthearted moment, Keough recounted how she discovered that Oprah had selected the memoir for her book club.

“I was at a doctor’s appointment when I got a call from an unknown number,” she said, laughing. “I picked up, and it was Oprah. My doctor just stared at me. It turned into this hilarious, surreal moment.”

The story captured the blend of humor and humility that both the memoir and the interview embodied.

💔 Gayle King’s Graceful Goodbye

For Gayle King, this conversation represented more than another celebrity profile — it was a bookend to a remarkable career in morning television.

Her sensitive handling of grief, legacy, and love reflected the qualities that made her a trusted voice for decades. Oprah herself praised King’s ability to “listen with empathy and ask with heart.”

While King has not announced her next move, this final interview served as a reminder of her journalistic integrity and emotional intelligence — hallmarks of a career built on authenticity and connection.

📘 A Legacy of Love

From Here to the Great Unknown stands as a living conversation between generations — between Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough, between grief and healing, and between memory and music.

For fans of the Presley family and readers drawn to stories of resilience, it offers both heartbreak and hope — the same qualities that have long defined the family’s place in American culture.

As Gayle King signed off from CBS Mornings, she did so the same way she conducted her career — with compassion, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling.

“This isn’t just a goodbye,” one viewer commented online. “It’s a reminder that great journalism, like great art, comes from the heart.”

From Here to the Great Unknown is available now — a lasting tribute to Lisa Marie Presley’s voice, preserved by the daughter who refused to let it fade.