Most kids rebel against their parents' hobbies, but Ryan Rose did something much more surprising: he actually chose to follow in his father’s footsteps. Growing up as the son of a professional ETA, you’d think the jumpsuit was forced on him at birth. But after a childhood spent as a 'cute novelty' performer, Ryan actually walked away from the stage to become a legitimate basketball star. It wasn't until the sneakers were hung up for good that he felt the pull of the music aga

They say it takes a village, but for Lain, it really just took one very dedicated grandmother. She was the one who bought the first suits, studied the old recordings with him, and set the bar high with her motto: 'If you’re gonna do something, do it right. Especially if it's Elvis.' Talking to Lain about his journey back to the competition stage, you get the sense that the glitzy jumpsuits and the trophies are great, but the re al prize is the bond they’ve built through the m

If you think you’ve heard every "Elvis" story in the book, you haven’t sat down with Dan Barrella. With two decades in the tribute world, Dan has gone from singing in local bars to owning three dozen jumpsuits and MC-ing major festivals. He’s seen the best, the worst, and the literal "behind-the-scenes" of the industry- and he isn’t afraid to tell the truth about any of it. I spent an hour with him and laughed until I couldn't breathe, covering everything from childhood memor

Ruben Castillo knows how to make an impression-literally. He’s always had a knack for vocal impressions and debuted his Elvis at a talent show. Most people get a round of applause for a middle school talent show; Ruben got a punch in the face from a jealous bully. It was the first sign that he had a talent people couldn't ignore. Today, the "professional partier" and nightclub MC channel that energy into a roster of legends: Elvis, George Michael, Bon Jovi... But behind the g

I used to think young Elvis Tribute Artists were a rare breed- the kind of thing you only see once in a blue moon. But after crossing paths with two incredible performers in the last week, I’ve officially been proven wrong. Young ETAs are having a major moment, and 17-year-old Evan King is leading the charge. I caught up with the Scottish native to talk about his 'old soul' aesthetic, his rapid rise to the championship stages, and what it’s really like to step into the shoes

You’d think a career playing the King of Rock and Roll would start with a flashy jumpsuit, but for Leo Days, it actually started with a bowl of popcorn and a TV with rabbit ears. Whether it was watching Michael Jackson’s moonwalk on Motown 25  or catching Elvis specials with his parents, Leo was hooked on the magic of entertaining from day one. But what’s really cool about Leo is that he didn't just "put on a costume." He devoted himself to a lifelong character study of the K

Today's chat is a special one. We often talk about Elvis’s legacy in the past tense, but for a whole new generation, the "King" is just getting started. I recently sat down (virtually!) with Lewis Goddard, a 17-year-old tribute artist from England who is proof that Elvis’s magic is truly timeless. Lewis isn't just a fan; he's a rising star who recently took home a major title. We talked about everything from splitting trousers on stage to the "illegal" act of being British an

I was thinking about Elvis today, which would’ve been his 91st birthday. Not just the music, but the way he absolutely owned every room that he walked into. He lived a life that was loud, colorful, and unapologetically bold. Even if you aren’t planning on wearing a jumpsuit to your next meeting (hey, Elvis would be all for it) , there’s actually a lot we can learn from the King’s approach to life. To celebrate his big day, I’ve rounded up five life lessons that remind us to b

I sat down with Randy Travis (yes, like the country singer, and yes, he gets that a lot) and his wife Lana. We discussed cosplay, the unpredictability of nursing home performances, and his five most important tips for paying tribute to the King. Me: So there’s not really a non-creepy way to say I was researching you (read: light facebook stalking) before this interview and saw that you’re a cosplayer! So when you cosplay, you’re portraying a fictional character. When you’re

Welcome! Today I had the opportunity to chat with Josh Pack, a pastor and Elvis Tribute Artist (ETA) from Kentucky. I shouldn’t play favorites, but I have to say that Josh is one of the standout ETAs for me. I first became a fan of his when I heard his rendition of “Unchained Melody.” That song, at least Elvis’s version, ends on a sky-high note that a lot of ETAs shy away from. It’s a vocally challenging song on its own, but that big finish makes a lot of people reluctant to

Do I have any qualifications as a fashion critic? Absolutely not! Despite the name "Beyond the Jumpsuit", this article will feature a lot of jumpsuits, because come on, it's Elvis. I went to Google and looked up the ten most famous Elvis looks and I've ranked them below. The gold suit I'm sure this is a controversial pick for my least favorite Elvis look, but I stand by it. It's just....SO much gold. It's hard to look directly at it. I want to, because it's Elvis, but under t