Young Elvis tribute artists compete in Tupelo to keep singer’s legacy alive

Young Elvis Presley tribute artists, ages 7 to 17, took the stage last week at the Tupelo Elvis Festival’s youth tribute competition in Tupelo, Mississippi, aiming to keep the singer’s music alive for a new generation, festival officials said. The performers wore jeweled jumpsuits and wigs and covered Presley songs, drawing applause and singalongs from the audience, organizers said. Some wore costumes created by B&K Enterprises Costume Co., which the company says is licensed to recreate Elvis’ outfits and provide costumes for films, musicals and television. Competitors said they spend hours studying Presley’s voice, mannerisms and style and prefer to identify as tribute artists rather than impersonators. “We’re not trying to be him,” said Tucker Gladden, a 17-year-old from Madison, Mississippi. “We want to recreate the experience as much as we can for people that maybe didn’t get to see Elvis in their lifetime.” Several tribute artists credited the 2022 film Elvis with sparking their interest. Some said they discovered distant family ties to Presley, while others were drawn by his faith and charity. “I just broke down in tears because it healed me,” said 16-year-old Ayden Maloy of Logansport, Indiana, who began performing as an Elvis tribute artist three years ago. RJ Hursey, a 14-year-old from Bloomington, Illinois, won the youth competition. “It means the world to me,” Hursey said. Before the contest, competitors toured the Elvis Presley Birthplace complex, and 15-year-old Charles Session of Morrilton, Arkansas, said it felt “surreal” to perform in Presley’s hometown. “I hope that he’s looking down and smiling at all these young performers,” Session said.