THE JERSEY AND THE JUMPSUIT: An Interview With Ryan Rose

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 again- this time, entirely on his own terms. From thrift-store jackets to Nashville competitions, Ryan’s return to Elvis wasn't about family pressure; it was about a genuine love for the performance that he had to discover for himself. I chatted with Ryan over Zoom in the middle of a snowstorm, where we were both snowed in.

Me: “For a 7 year old future basketball star, Ryan Rose sure knows a lot about a rock ‘n’ roll legend who died long before he was born.” Is that you?

Ryan: Elvis week of ‘07? Yep, that’s me.

When doing my customary google search about my interviewee, I came across an article about Elvis week, where they interviewed little Ryan in his powder blue jumpsuit. Unfortunately, the article did not have a picture. I asked Ryan if this was his starting point as a tribute artist, but it actually started much younger than that. 

Ryan’s dad, Don Rose, was a professional ETA, who traveled extensively. While he was on the road, Ryan’s mom would play him videos of his father’s show. Little Ryan would stand in front of the tv and copy him move for move. 

Ryan: I learned the whole show. When my dad came home, my mom was like “we’re in trouble, I’ve gotta show you something.” And then they threw me on stage when I was 3. And I fell in love with it! I had a big personality as a kid; I wasn’t shy at all. I grew up in the entertainment environment so I was really comfortable around adults. They got me some jumpsuits and I started singing. I couldn’t sing worth a crap. It was more of a cute, novelty thing. But I could dance! I did that until I was about ten or eleven. Then I started focusing on basketball. 

The article was right when they called him a future basketball star! He won “player of the year” and first-team All State. After high school, he played on two different college teams. An injury kept him from pursuing it further, and he fell out of love with the sport. Ryan wasn’t sure what his future held now, and he got a degree in business with a minor in communications. In the meantime, his father began performing again and was planning an Elvis show. They were trying to cover all the Elvis eras, but didn’t have someone to cover the 50’s. Enter, Ryan.

Ryan: So they threw me up there. I did four songs, I didn’t have black hair, I found a random pink jacket at a thrift store, and I went for it. I did ok, it was a bit rough…but I liked it and started working on it. 

Right before graduating college, Ryan took the leap and entered the Nashville Elvis competition. He hadn’t sung with a band since he was a kid, he didn’t know a soul there, and he decided to just see what happened. And what happened then?

He made the top ten.

After that, Ryan wanted to keep going. He still does the contests and would love to compete in the Ultimate one day, but that’s not what drives him. He’d much rather form a connection with an audience during a longer show because he just loves performing and bringing Elvis’ music to the fans. He currently performs 50’s Elvis, because it’s the best fit with his age and his voice, but he’s transitioning to the later years. His favorite Elvis era is “That’s the Way It Is”, which includes 1968-1972. He does an “Eras” show with his father, where the eras are split between the pair. Ryan takes the 50’s, his dad covers the movies, Ryan comes back and covers ‘68, and then his dad takes it home with the 70s. He’s grown more confident in his ‘68 Elvis performance, but still hopes to one day conquer the 70s.

While Ryan couldn’t recall any awful performances outright, he lamented about the state of his hair in those early shows. He said he cringes when he sees those photos. I think we can all relate to that. He did have an excellent story to share about one of his best performances. 

Ryan: My dad has been playing at the Riverside Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada for 21 years. Over the last couple of years, he’s been easing me into the show. I started doing four songs, then I did 50’s and 60’s, but they were still short segments. This last year, during the birthday week celebration, I was able to carry the whole first half of the show. So being in that place with my dad, growing up there and having all those memories as a kid to him trusting me to carry half of the show…it was really a full circle moment. I used to sit backstage or in the audience watching, and now I’m doing this, I’m part of it. My face is on the poster.

Ryan was also there to witness his father’s dream coming true. 

Ryan: There’s this big dinner theater, “La Comedia”, it’s old school and kind of reminds you of the “International” from back in the day. It seats about 700. My dad had always dreamed of playing there, but it hadn’t worked out over the years. And finally in October of last year, we got it booked. They started selling tickets and they sold out within two weeks. We packed the place. He finally got to play where he’d always dreamed of playing and we got to do it together. 

Ryan is fortunate to have a deep support system, spanning from his family to his workplace and friends. At the country club where he works, he’s lucky to have a boss who champion’s his passion by staying flexible with his schedule. His friends, however, didn’t quite "get it" at first. That changed the moment they saw him perform. Though they arrived knowing only the hits like “Hound Dog” or “Blue Suede Shoes,” they left with a newfound appreciation for the King. It’s a testament to Elvis’s enduring legacy: you don’t have to walk into the show as a fan to walk out as one. 

Ryan: One of my favorite gigs was in a small venue about ten minutes from my house. I invited my coworkers and a bunch of friends from school. And they ALL came. I had one row with all my friends, some of my high school teachers, and all my coworkers from the country club. They all cared enough to show up and have a good time, they were genuinely into it. And a lot of them have come back for multiple shows because they enjoyed it more than they expected to. 

One important thing to understand about Ryan is this: he’s doing this because HE wants to. Yes, it’s in his family, and yes his dad does it professionally, but he chose to come back to it. His family never pushed him or tried to force the music onto him. Ryan came back on his own and fell in love with it all over again. Because when you get down to it, Ryan is an Elvis fan. 

He loves going to the festivals not just to compete, but to watch the other performers, because there’s a lot to learn.

Ryan: We’re all paying tribute to the same guy, but we’re all doing it differently. You might notice someone doing a different move, or singing a song a little differently. You can always learn something by watching the other tribute artists. 

I asked Ryan for his best advice that he’d give to aspiring tribute artists. You might expect something about perfecting the voice or studying the movements, but Ryan’s advice? Make friends. 

Ryan: Be sociable and kind, make connections. Don’t be afraid to say hi to someone and introduce yourself. I never thought I’d end up with so many friends in the Elvis world, and now I talk to some of them almost daily. You can create a lot of great relationships that way. There’s so many people I never would’ve met and friendships I never would’ve formed without Elvis. It’s a beautiful thing. He has a way of bringing us all together. People have gotten married and had kids because they met through their love of Elvis. And it’s really special to be a part of that. 

I have to agree with Ryan. It has been a genuine pleasure speaking with every ETA I’ve interviewed. Some of us live on opposite sides of the world, and we never would’ve met otherwise. But this blog has given me the opportunity to meet and get to know so many great people, and it’s been a blessing to become friends. 

It’s clear that for Ryan, the stage moves and the costumes are only part of the story. Whether he’s perfecting his ‘68 show or preparing to tackle the 70s, he’s doing it for the right reasons: a genuine love for the music and the people it brings together. From that seven-year-old kid in the blue jumpsuit to the man sharing a sold-out stage with his father, Ryan’s journey has come full circle- not because he was expected to, but because he chose it for himself. It’s rare to find someone so sincere about the tribute world, and even rarer to see a father and son build something so successful together. Ryan isn’t just carrying on a family tradition; he’s found his own place in the community, proving that the best paths in life are the ones we decide to walk on our own terms.

Ryan Rose is a 26-year-old Elvis Tribute Artist who first took the stage at age three in Las Vegas alongside his father, Don. After a successful collegiate basketball career and earning a degree in Business Administration, Ryan returned to his first love of performing in 2023. Today, he headlines showrooms across the country—from Nevada to New Mexico and his home state of Ohio—frequently performing as a duo with his father. A versatile performer, Ryan also makes featured appearances in the nationally acclaimed production One Night in Memphis. Driven by a deep admiration for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Ryan is dedicated to honoring Elvis’s legacy with a respectful, high-energy tribute that keeps the music alive for fans of all generations.