A SON, A STAGE, AND A SUPER MOM- An Interview with Espn Daniels

Me: Sooooo, obvious question. Are your parents big sports fans?

Espn:  Yep! Me too. Big Razorbacks fan.

I’m gonna pretend I know what he's talking about. Personally, I just hope both teams have fun. Espn (pronounced Ess-pen) is a college student from Arkansas who is, appropriately, majoring in sports management. Once again, interviewing a 20 year old made me feel like an ancient being. 

Me: I’m literally from the 1900s.

Espn: Wow, how were the dinosaurs?

Me: -shocked gasp- How dare you!

Espn: In ten years, you’ll be forty.

Me: MEAN!

LOOK. AT. THE. LITTLE. JUMPSUIT!!!

Espn's been visiting Graceland since he was little

To clarify, this was all in jest, because Espn’s a sweetheart and I had an absolute blast talking to him. But while his name points to the field, his heart belongs to the stage. He's been a lifelong Elvis fan and a devotee of the tribute artist world since before he could walk. In fact, he was less than a year old when his parents took him to see a then-14-year-old Cody Ray Slaughter. As the son of a former ETA, it was almost inevitable that Espn would eventually don the jumpsuit himself. He took the plunge at age three, dancing around in a little white suit his mother bought him. As he grew, he spent more time focused on the moves than the melodies, but a few years ago, he decided to take the vocal side of the craft seriously. He was officially bitten by the bug during a state-level Beta Club competition. He performed as Elvis and was genuinely shocked to find a line of people waiting for his autograph afterward. The spark had become a flame.

While Espn credits his dad with sparking his initial love for the King, he’s the first to tell you he wouldn’t be anywhere without his mom’s support. That life-changing Beta Club performance? It almost didn't happen. The school funded his first year, but couldn't cover the second. Enter Becky, the "Super Mom." Knowing how much the competition meant to him, she paid their way out of pocket. 

Espn: My mom is basically my manager. She’s been one of my biggest supporters. I know she’s gonna read this, and I want her to know that I love her for supporting me in what I do. It means so much to me.

We had been chatting for about an hour when there was a knock on the door. It was Becky! She’d been walking by, heard us talking, and popped her head in to say hello. 

Becky: It’s nice to meet you, I didn’t mean to interrupt! 

Me: Not at all! Heck, pull up a chair.

Embarrassing your son is one of the perks of motherhood, so naturally, I took the opportunity to get some stories out of her. Luckily, Espn was a good sport, only turning a little red as his mother bragged on him. It’s clear she’s raised a good man.

Becky: It makes me so happy when he does those nursing homes. He shows those people so much love and connects with them. There was a lady who passed away last year, and the family told us, “You wouldn’t believe how much she talked about his visit.” I told Espn that, for some people, his performance might be the highlight of the rest of their life. I’m not that healthy myself. I would have given up a long time ago if he didn’t say, “Come on, Mom, let’s go do this or that.” A lot of 20-year-olds would say, “I’m not taking my mom!” But he doesn’t. He’s a good boy. My dad is 80 now, and he just beams watching him. People hear him sing or watch him move a leg, and all of a sudden they’re smiling. We need more of that in the world.

Becky and I are totally Facebook friends now. Hi, Becky!

Espn has dipped his toe into the competition circuit and is ready to dive into the deep end, with Becky right by his side. When I asked where he wants this career to take him, he couldn't help but smile. 

Espn: If this could be a full-time thing, I would never work a day in my life because it’s something I love. And to be an Ultimate… you’ve gotta be the best that year. To have that title would be amazing.

For Espn, it’s about more than the trophy; it’s about the man behind the music. 

Espn: To see how many Elvis fans there still are nearly fifty years after he left us is just phenomenal. His impact was crazy- and not just his music. He was a wonderful human being, so giving and compassionate. If all celebrities were like Elvis, this world would be 150 times better.

Being a tribute artist isn’t all rhinestones and cheers. There is a darker side, often found lurking in the comments sections. Being a tribute artist, you have to have thick skin anyway. You’re literally going on a stage to go up against a bunch of other performers like you and getting judged for your performance. Even the thickest skin can be pierced by the sharp claws of the internet haters, and it can be overwhelming. Shockingly, some of the harshest comments come from the hardcore Elvis fans.

Espn: We see comments like “you’re not Elvis! Stop trying to be something you’re not!” And that’s not what we’re doing. We’re not trying to be him, we’re trying to make sure his legacy doesn’t die out. And people love to hate, it got to the point where I almost decided to just stop allowing comments. I have thick skin but no one needs that constant negativity.

While it’s easy to see all the negative, you have to decide if the good outweighs the bad. Sure, the trolls come out in droves, but there’s also the real fans you gain. There’s real, genuine people that get to see you perform when they otherwise wouldn’t get to, and that’s an amazing thing. You can reach people on other sides of the world, and make some incredible friendships and connections that make it all worth it. But I do encourage you to prioritize your mental health. If it’s doing you more harm than good, ditch it!

Since I have the attention span of a squirrel, I realized I’d been chatting with Espn for over an hour and needed to get the interview back on the rails. As always, I ended by asking for his advice for those just starting out. 

Espn: It sounds cliche, but it really isn’t. Have fun. That’s what everybody is there for, to have FUN. If you’re gonna do it just to make yourself look good and have girls screaming at you, go sing your own stuff. I don’t think you should waste your time being Elvis, because if you’re doing that, you’re just an Elvis impersonator, which is a slur. You shouldn’t be an impersonator; you should be a tribute artist because that’s what you’re doing. You’re giving tribute to Elvis when you perform, one of the best human beings there was on this Earth. So if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, you might as well just do something else. We aren’t here to be him, we’re here to make sure his music and his legacy doesn’t die out. 

Whether he’s on a massive stage in Tupelo or singing for a handful of residents at a local nursing home, Espn Daniels carries the same spirit of generosity that defined the King himself. It’s a rare thing to see a young man so dedicated to his craft while remaining so grounded in his gratitude for his family and his fans. As he prepares to take his place among the next generation of great tribute artists, one thing is certain: with his talent and his "Super Mom" Becky by his side, the future of Elvis’s legacy is in very good hands. Be sure to catch him at a show this year- you’ll leave with a smile, and maybe even a new Facebook friend.

Espn's facebook

Email: beckyaricketts@gmail.com

Espn Daniels is a young ETA that loves to introduce Elvis to the young and put a smile on the faces of elders.! He performs at Festivals, Fairs, private parties and events. Message to book him or for more info.