THE COUGAR MAGNET: An Interview with Jeffrey Jones

Usually, when I sit down with a young Elvis Tribute Artist, I hear a very specific origin story. It’s almost always some variation of: "I saw the movie, my soul left my body, and I immediately bought a jumpsuit." So, when I sat down with Jeffrey Jones—the 31st ETA I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing—and he mentioned watching the recent Baz Luhrmann flick, I thought I knew exactly where the conversation was heading. I braced myself for the usual "it changed my life" speech. I was so wrong, and honestly, Jeffrey’s honesty was a total breath of fresh air.

Jeffrey: I knew who the guy was, I'd heard the name, and when the movie came out, I didn't go see it in theaters. I watched it on HBO max. I actually turned it off about 40 minutes in, and I was like "man, this movie is boring." Then I figured there's gotta be a reason that it's so highly rated, so I thought I'd give it another shot. Then I thought "Ok, this guy…he's kind of cool." I'm not gonna lie, I've probably watched it 40 or 50 times. Something about the later years just got me…

There is something so relatable about being unimpressed by a masterpiece on the first go, only to end up obsessed with it. Jeffrey and a friend eventually decided to take their newfound interest to a talent show. The funny thing about learning Elvis from a movie is that you’re essentially learning a soundtrack, not a discography. Jeffrey had the movie versions of the songs down pat, but he hit a bit of a snag when he realized that real life doesn't always have a cinematic fade-out. He didn't realize that the intro songs, like "That's Alright Mama," were actual, full-length records and not just snippets designed to transition between scenes. That realization sent him down the rabbit hole of studying the REAL Elvis, and once he saw the man behind the Hollywood lens, he was a goner.

Jeffrey: I was just like "WOW." His charisma, the energy, the emotion…it just hooked me. I haven't been able to let it go. The songs just hit so deep. No matter what mood you're in, there's an Elvis song for everything.

That passion is palpable when you talk to him. We spent a good chunk of time marveling at the fact that Elvis has this universal, timeless magic that can make an 18-year-old and an 85-year-old feel the exact same spark. For Jeffrey, the best part of the job isn't the spotlight; it’s being the bridge that connects an audience member to a cherished memory.

Jeffrey: It's great when you see older people in the audience and you wear a certain jumpsuit or do a certain move, you can just see them remembering. It's such a great feeling. Like, if I can bring somebody back, even for just half a second, I feel accomplished. I'm never going to be able to get close to what he did, so the fact that I did it at all is so amazing. Sometimes it's hard when you have a low energy crowd. We've all been there, when the crowds aren't as reactive. You can't let it stop you. You've just gotta kick it up even higher.

Of course, kicking it up higher comes with its own set of occupational hazards. Jeffrey actually blew his knee out doing "Jailhouse Rock." Honestly, I’m shocked we don’t see more ETAs in casts and knee braces. Those 50s moves are no joke. For a while, Jeffrey felt like he should do the 50s era because he’s a young guy and it seemed like the logical fit. But his heart just wasn’t in it. He shared that a piece of advice from Cote Deonath completely flipped a switch for him: Don’t do the era you think you should do, do the era that you want to do. It doesn't matter if you’re eight years old; if you want to wear the 70s jumpsuit and sing the big ballads, do it. The passion is what the audience sees, and if you aren’t feeling it, they won’t either. Cote also gave him the golden rule of the industry: study the source. Be authentic to Elvis, but don't lose yourself in the process.

Jeffrey: I love some of the stuff that Dean Z does, but that's Dean, you know? I need to be my own person. That's Dean's tribute to Elvis. I'm Jeffrey, doing my most authentic tribute to Elvis. The growth I saw in a year after taking Cote's advice was amazing. It doesn't mean I'm winning anything, but I can see and feel the growth in myself, and it's amazing. It's thanks to guys like that that help the younger guys in the community that make such a difference.

I’m leaning heavily on Jeffrey’s direct quotes here because there is a specific kind of light in his spirit that is hard to capture. He is incredibly grounded for someone his age. In an industry that can sometimes get competitive or catty, Jeffrey’s philosophy is surprisingly kind.

Jeffrey: One of the greatest things I've ever been taught, and this applies to life in general too, is that there's never a reason to tear somebody else down. There's good in everything, no matter what. You can always find the good. And you see that in a lot of these guys in the industry. Dean, Cote, Jimmy, Jay, Ben…they're such great guys. You can just talk to them and it's amazing. They aren't arrogant and they don't tear down others. And that's so important.

But it wouldn't be an interview with me if we didn't get into the weird stuff. We’ve all heard about the teddy bears and the scarves, but Jeffrey hit me with a brand new one.

Me: Someone just handed you their baby?!

Jeffrey: It was the very first show I ever did. I'm standing there, I'm in this Amazon jumpsuit, and I'm holding a living child in my arms. It made me really nervous, to tell you the truth.

I had to stop him right there. Why on earth would someone just hand a stranger their infant? Was it a trade? A teddy bear for a baby? What is the protocol there? Do you just keep it? Apparently, Jeffrey just held the baby for a few seconds and handed it back. So, a quick public service announcement for my readers: please do not hand your children to the performers. It’s weird.

We also touched on the scarf situation. I’ve heard stories of fans keeping sweaty performance scarves in the freezer to preserve the "Elvis scent," which gave Jeffrey a moment of genuine pause. 

Jeffrey: I have Dean's scarf in a shadow box with a ring he gave me.

Me: Yes, but you don't sniff it. Right?

Jeffrey: Oh God, no!

Despite the occasionally bizarre fan interactions, Jeffrey genuinely loves the people he meets. He has a soft spot for the older ladies who follow his journey, and he makes a point to stay in touch and reply to their comments on social media.

Jeffrey: They're just the best. They're good people, you know? They'll swipe up on a story and comment on it, and I always thank them. I like when they keep in touch. I love talking to older ladies.

Me: I'm seeing your headline now: Jeffrey Jones, the Cougar Magnet.

Jeffrey: Perfect.

At only 20 years old, Jeffrey has the kind of sunny disposition that feels contagious. He’s competitive, sure—he’d love to win the Ultimate—but he’s also wise enough to know that a trophy doesn't define his worth. He isn't afraid to fail, and more importantly, he isn't afraid to ask for help, which is a hurdle many people never clear.

Jeffrey: Seek outside advice. You're never going to be able to do it all on your own. It's like with everything in life. I'd rather fall down and fail a thousand times to succeed once. And that one time I succeed is gonna keep me going to fail another thousand times, you know? You're gonna go through rough stints. At some point, you're gonna hate the music. You're gonna wanna quit. But you can't give up on yourself. Don't be scared to ask for help when you need it. Take from the tree as much as you can. Keep going, even when you fail, and learn how to fix it.

It’s rare to meet someone who embraces the "fail forward" mentality so wholeheartedly. Whether he’s rocking a jumpsuit from Amazon or tossing out teddy bears, Jeffrey Jones is doing it with a level of heart and humility that is truly special. Just maybe keep your babies in their strollers when he’s on stage.