Day ONE

I can honestly say that the following is something I would never say: Hi, I'm Josh, and I'm a professional Elvis Tribute Artist. 

Had you told me 15, 10, or even 5 years ago that those words would one day emerge, I would have thought it laughable. See, it was only 3 years ago that I stepped onto the stage as an actual Elvis Tribute Artist for the very first time. 

Some of you know my story in this area: the condensed version is that I went out with some friends to a bar when I was 18 years old. I could either sit around while my friends drank or I could do karaoke. For obvious reasons, I chose the latter. It's actually funny that I chose an Elvis song, as this was my second time singing karaoke; the first time, I was 12 and so butchered "Jailhouse Rock" that I didn't do karaoke for 6 years afterward. I'm fairly certain that I scarred not only myself, but also all those who were there. If you sat in a lounge on the Disney Magic many years ago and saw a kid with glasses massacre Elvis, my apologies to you.

Yet sometimes those cool stories start out in unexpected places. It would still be over 10 years from the time I sang karaoke with friends to the moment I seriously took the stage as an ETA for the first time, but what a moment it was to me!

I remember the drive into Tupelo in 2021, bringing confidence along in spades. Was my outfit great? No. Wig? Also not great. But I knew I could sing. That was what mattered.

Backstage on the day of the first round, I looked around and my heart absolutely plummeted. These guys were absolutely dedicated to something I had never seen before. They had suits that perfectly replicated Elvis' own. They knew exactly what they were doing with every step of their makeup. I remember looking around and realizing in that moment, "Oh, I am SO gonna lose." To no one's surprise, I did exactly that. Far more significantly, however, I felt something start within me that day - I HAD to come back and do this again. I *could* do it; the question was simply whether or not I was dedicated enough to honing the craft.

Since that time, I've focused much more than I ever would have imagined on the life of Elvis Presley. I've watched the concerts like a hawk, stood in front of the mirror as I worked on every move, revisited recordings of my own previous performances to hear how I needed to change my presentation for the next time around. 

The world of Elvis tributes is far more unique than I ever would have imagined. It really is its own subculture; different ETAs have their own specific fans, their own approach to the craft, their own understanding of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Elvis Presley. I may not have known what I was getting into that first time I walked onto the stage those years ago, but I'm pleased to have finally come to a place where I too can finally appreciate the fun of this community. 

So what is my specific approach as an ETA? For me, performing as Elvis is a unique opportunity to join many passions. I grew up on Elvis' music. I spent many years performing as a kid and developed a huge passion for it. I then went on and pursued theological education because of my relationship with Christ. All of these come together when I take the stage. I never would have thought this would be such a beautiful combination of the things I've loved, but it is exactly that.

Elvis often identified Rock and Roll as a hybrid of Gospel and Rhythm and Blues. Whenever he came back to his roots, it was always Gospel to which he returned. As we launch Kentucky Elvis, it's important to note that I'm not leaving preaching behind; to do so would be to lose the most important foundation of all. Without Christ, Gospel loses its heart. Without its heart, music loses its power.