Actress Riley Keough kept news about her baby under wraps when she first became a mother with her significant other, Ben Smith-Petersen. However, the star of Daisy Jones & The Six has recently let the world in on her journey through motherhood via an exclusive with Vanity Fair. The couple’s parenthood was disclosed during a memorial service for Keough’s mother, Lisa Marie Presley. Smith-Petersen eloquently recited a heartfelt tribute penned by Keough, expressing hope of being as loving a parent to her daughter as her mother was to her and her siblings. Furthermore, the new mother divulged the name they chose for their daughter, Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen.
Keough’s Instagram post shared the news of their daughter’s name.
The name Tupelo evolves from the deep-rooted bond with the famous grandfather, Elvis Presley, as it was the name of the city in Mississippi where the King of Rock was born. Keough discussed with Vanity Fair how they decided on the name even before the movie about Elvis was released. She felt the name would be a wonderful reference as it is not as well-known as other cities like Memphis in relation to Elvis. The coincidence of the movie’s release brought numerous mentions of the name Tupelo, eliciting mixed feelings from the new mother. Going by the middle name, the baby girl shares the sobriquet Storm with her late uncle Benjamin Keough, Keough’s sibling who tragically ended his life in July 2020.
Not only did the 34-year-old actress share her daughter’s unusual name, but also shared her unique birthing journey. As Keough battles Lyme disease resulting in infertility, her daughter Tupelo was born in August via a surrogate. During the Vanity Fair interview, Keighley stated that surrogacy was the optimal solution given her physical condition resulting from her autoimmune issues.
Again, the actress’s Instagram post shared the news of the little girl’s birth.
Warmest congratulations go to Keough and Smith-Peterson on the birth of their first child. The hope is that they’ve had the opportunity to relish the first year with their baby, Tupelo.
