I just got back from the Illinois Elvis Festival, and honestly? What. A. WEEKEND! My heart is still full, my feet are still tired, and my brain is still trying to process all the incredible music. Fun fact, Collinsville, Illinois is actually known for being the home of Brooks Catsup. The city is so devoted to their hometown condiment that their water tower is a giant ketchup bottle. I’m not kidding. There used to be a ketchup festival, and I’m devastated that I was not aware

There is a very specific kind of magic that happens when a kid falls head-over-heels in love with the music of Elvis Presley. Usually, you can trace it back to a cool uncle with a massive vinyl collection, or maybe a parent who insisted on blasting "Suspicious Minds" during long road trips. But every now and then, the origin story of an Elvis Tribute Artist defies the usual family-tree trajectory. For Christian Parson, the spark didn't come from his household at all. It came

Pull up a chair and let me tell you about the time a fifteen-year-old completely knocked my socks off. I was hanging out at the Nashville Elvis Festival this year and watching the final round of the competition. At one point, the announcers mentioned they were going to let a young kid sing. I smiled, thinking, “Oh, that’s sweet, they’re letting a young fan have a moment on the big stage.” Then they added that this teenager had already raised thousands of dollars for St. Jude

If you see Jim Barone's name attached to a show, you're in for a treat! He's been in this industry and taking home first place trophies since 1993. It's been ten years since he competed in Memphis, but thanks to his win at the Niagara Falls Elvis Festival, Jim's in the running for the Ultimate title! Being an Elvis Tribute Artist is a full-time gig for Jim, and his calendar stays absolutely packed with regular shows, as well as a rather surprising career in…construction? Jim