Soap Alum Gina Tognoni Plays Heartfelt Tribute To Lisa Marie Presley

Soap alum Gina Tognoni played her heart out after learning the news that Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the late Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, died at the age of 54 on Thursday.

Gina Tognoni Plays ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’

As the world reeled from the news of Presley’s death, Tognoni, whose most recent daytime stint was her portrayal of Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless, sat down at her piano to express her emotions. The actress played a beautiful rendition of Elvis’s hit song, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” which was featured in the singer/actor’s 1961 film, “Blue Hawaii.” You can see her heartfelt version below.

Jean-Paul-Égide Martini composed the love song in 1784, and the initial lyrics came from the point of view of a woman. However, when The King recorded it, he changed the lyrics to a male perspective. Elvis fans may remember his upbeat performance of this hit in the Aloha From Hawaii, Live in Honolulu, 1973 special, which you can watch below.

The popular song was also the last song Elvis ever performed live at his concert in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977. The certified platinum single hit number 2 on the United States Billboard Top 100, and it also spent six weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart. In Britain, it spent four weeks as number one.

CNN reported that Lisa Marie Presley died on January 12, 2023, after hospitalization following an apparent cardiac arrest. Her last public appearance was at the Golden Globe Awards two days prior. She and her mother, Priscilla, attended the awards show in support of the Baz Luhrmann film “Elvis.”

Lisa Marie Presley’s son Benjamin Keough died of suicide in 2020, and she is survived by her mother and children Riley Keough, Finley Aaron Love Lockwood, and Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood.

In addition to her portrayal of Phyllis on Y&R, soap fans will likely remember Gina Tognoni as Kelly Cramer on One Life To Live and Dinah Marler Lewis on Guiding Light.

Soap Hub sends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Lisa Marie Presley.