In January 2023, Riley Keough and her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, announced they had a baby daughter.
During her mother, Lisa Marie Presley’s memorial service on Jan. 22 at Graceland, Smith-Petersen shared the news while reading a heartfelt speech written by Riley in tribute to her mother.
Key Takeaways
- Riley Keough and her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, had their first child, a daughter named Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen.
- The child was born in August 2022 through a surrogate due to Keough’s health challenges.
- Their daughter’s first name, “Tupelo,” honors Keough’s great-grandfather Elvis Presley’s birthplace, while her middle name, “Storm,” is a tribute to Keough’s late brother Benjamin.
Riley Keough’s Journey Into Motherhood & The Meaning Behind Her Daughter’s Name
A few months after the service, in an interview, Keough shared that she became a mom in 2022 and revealed details about their daughter, including her name.
Her daughter’s name is Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen, born in August 2022 via surrogate.
Riley explained that opting for a surrogate for her daughter felt like the best decision considering her health issues, especially her struggle with Lyme disease.
Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen with their daughter spent a delightful day in Calabasas, California. pic.twitter.com/tJTCz8swuw
— 21 (@21metgala) November 16, 2023
Her name, “Tupelo,” is an homage to her family’s heritage, particularly her great-grandfather, Elvis Presley, who was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Keough mentioned they picked the name before the “Elvis” movie, liking its uniqueness, but then the film made it more common. Still, she’s happy with their choice.
Tupelo’s middle name, “Storm,” is a tribute to Keough’s late brother, Benjamin Storm Keough, who passed away in 2020.
“She’s literally like someone shrunk my husband, and that’s our baby,” said the “Daisy Jones & the Six” actor.
Riley Keough Cradles Baby Daughter While Grocery Shopping With Her Husband Riley Keough and her husband took their little one out for a casual grocery run in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/OTZy8Deu6L
— Soulwell Publishing Group® (@SoulwellPublish) April 27, 2023
She expressed her desire to be the best mother she can be, acknowledging the challenges but claiming to do whatever she can for her child.
On October 19, 2023, ‘In Touch‘ reported that the couple was expecting baby number two.
However, it’s not clear if the couple is using a surrogate like they did for their first child or if Riley is pregnant this time.
From ‘Mad Max’ Romance To Parenthood
Keough and Smith-Petersen met on the “Mad Max: Fury Road” set in 2012.
Ben is an Australian stuntman and actor who has worked in movies such as “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” and “Suicide Squad.”
In addition, he’s been in a few TV shows and movies, including “Spark and Light,” “Manodrome,” and “The Dead Thing.“
They officially began dating in 2013, and within one week, she knew she had a future together.
“We stopped at this little gas station to get chips and fill up the tank. We were so young, he was 22, and I was 24, just getting coffee and smoking cigarettes, without a care in the world.”
Hence, the couple became engaged in 2014 and had two wedding ceremonies in 2015: one in Nepal and one in Napa Valley, CA.
FAQs
What Did Riley Keough Inherit?
The actress inherited “Graceland,” her grandfather’s famous estate in Memphis, Tennessee.
How Much Did Riley Keough Get Paid For Daisy Jones?
It is unclear what her exact salary was, but a source estimated her earnings to be around $1.5 million for the series, which is about $150K per episode.
Did Riley Keough Meet Elvis?
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll passed away 12 years before her birth; hence, she never met him.
