THE SOLDIER, THE SINGER, AND THE KING: An Interview With Austin Pugh
- Allie West
- Feb 16
- 8 min read
“What have you done?"
That’s what Austin Pugh said to his wife Kristen when he arrived at his first competition. It’s one of those moments we’ve all had- that split second of "how did I get here?" when reality finally sets in. You see, Austin had only just started performing as a tribute artist. He and Kristen had heard through the grapevine about the various festivals and contests, but they were still very much in the discovery phase of this world.
Kristen, being the proactive partner she is, signed him up for the Smoky Mountain festival. At the time, she didn't know anything about the "Ultimate" title or that this specific event was a sanctioned qualifier for the world’s most prestigious Elvis competition. It wasn’t until they attended the orientation meeting before the event that Austin looked around and realized he hadn’t just dipped his toe in the water- he’d essentially jumped into the deep end of the pool without a life vest.
Austin’s journey to the world of "Elvis-ing" is truly unique, born more out of a family moment than a lifelong obsession. It all started after his daughter won a beauty pageant and was invited to participate in a local parade. The theme of the parade was “Tennessee Icons,” and Kristen knew exactly which icons she wanted to portray. She donned a big blonde wig and plenty of sequins to channel Dolly Parton, and Austin managed to find a cheap, starter jumpsuit.
There they were, Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley, escorting the little beauty queen on a bright pink Cadillac float. Since Austin had been singing his whole life, he decided to lean into the character and perform a handful of Elvis songs as they rolled along the parade route.
Austin: People loved it. But there’s a lot of Amish in our small community, and the kids were just holding out their candy bags in awe.
Me: I bet that was a culture shock!
Despite undoubtedly startling the local Amish community, Austin’s portrayal of Elvis was incredibly well-received. That spark of success made him decide to try dipping his toe into the water of the tribute artist world to see if it was a fit. That’s when Kristen, in a move of ultimate support, shoved him into the deep end with a “good luck!” and a smile. Though he felt unprepared for the technicalities of the competition circuit, Austin quickly discovered he loved the tribute artist world, and the couple has never looked back.
One of the most interesting parts of their story is their personal evolution as fans. Austin and Kristen obviously knew WHO Elvis was- he’s an inescapable part of the culture, but they were amazed when they started digging deeper and learning his real story. They looked past the "King of Rock and Roll" persona and found the man. After getting to know the person behind the legend, they went from being casual listeners to total die-hard fans.
That love for Elvis is on full display in their daily life. During our interview, both Austin and Kristen were wearing Elvis shirts, and the wall behind them was a sight to behold, covered floor to ceiling in signs, posters, and a treasure trove of memorabilia. However, as much as they love the man himself, they emphasize that they love the community they’ve joined even more. In the ETA world, they’ve met friends that have become more like family, and they truly can’t imagine their lives without the bond they share with their fellow fans and performers.
Having grown up in a strong Christian family, Austin hadn’t really listened to much of Elvis’ music outside of the gospel tracks. He knew that if he was going to take this seriously, he needed a lot of practice to master the hits. One day, he hit on a novel idea: why not go live?
Using social media gave him the perfect opportunity to practice performing live in a low-stakes environment, and it had the added benefit of exposing his talent to a much wider audience than he could reach locally. His live videos became more and more popular as the weeks went by. Now, every Monday, he gets into character, dresses like Elvis, and puts on a show for his followers. His livestreams have become so popular that people have even started sending him tips during his performances to support his journey.
While the online performances helped him build the confidence he needed for the big stage, he found that the actual competitions were a different mental game. In the beginning, he’d get really discouraged when he didn’t place in the top tier. It was a learning curve, and he eventually realized that a change in his attitude would benefit him, both mentally and in terms of his performance.
Austin: I was thinking “maybe it’s not for me, maybe I need to do something else.” After about the third one, I realized that you just have to go sing for Elvis and for yourself. I stopped worrying about winning and placing, and just went out there and gave it my all. I sang for Elvis, God, and myself. I just had fun with it. And people could instantly see a change in my performance.
This shift in perspective is what truly allowed his talent to shine. Another practical pre-performance tip Austin has picked up on is tuning out the competition. When you're backstage at a festival, it’s easy to get distracted or thrown off by listening to all the other tribute artists warming up and competing. To stay in his own lane, Austin puts in his headphones and just listens to the King. He avoids the noise and stays focused on Elvis’s original voice until the very moment he walks onstage.
Outside of the spotlight, Austin is an introvert and isn’t a huge fan of the typical after-party scene. However, he told me he has realized just how important it is to be accessible to the fans. He recalled a story about one of his fans, someone who knew him primarily through his weekly livestreams, who said she’d been trying to find him for two days at a competition just to get a chance to speak with him.
It was a reminder that even if you’re exhausted after a long day of competing, it’s always a good idea to mingle, at least for a bit. If you make a personal connection with some of the fans you meet, you’ll make a lasting impression. They’ll always remember you for being as awesome offstage as you are on it. Because at the end of the day, the fans are the reason that any of this is possible.
I also asked Kristen about her life as an ETA wife and manager. It’s clear they make the perfect team- while he focuses on the vocals and the choreography, she’s the one behind the scenes booking his performances and making the complicated travel arrangements.
Their backgrounds actually play a huge role in how they manage the business. He’s an Army vet and she’s a Nurse Practitioner who used to work in surgery, so you can bet they execute their travel plans and backstage routines with surgical precision—pun intended. There was a lot of trial and error in the beginning when it came to the hair and makeup (which is a science in itself in this industry), but now they breeze through the prep work. Austin’s mom, a former beauty queen who competed for the title of Miss Tennessee, once quipped about the irony: she had three girls, none of whom wanted to do pageants like she had, and now it’s her son competing onstage with his hair and makeup fixed.
Kristen: It’s essentially a pageant, especially with the outfits.
Me: Yes, but I don’t think anyone’s going to ask you about world peace. It’d be entertaining if they did, though.
They also discussed one of the festivals that featured a unique contest format, and it absolutely blew my mind. It was a contest in Louisiana that had a "blind vocal round," where the competitors sang from behind a curtain. They were judged solely on their vocal talent, without the judges being able to see their look or their moves.
I was stunned when I heard this, because WHY AREN’T MORE CONTESTS DOING THIS?! Whether it’s intentional or not, we all judge with our eyes first. If someone’s look is slightly off, or perhaps you’re already a fan of the contestant, you make snap judgments based on those things. A blind vocal contest would remove every bias and put the competition on a more level playing field.
I don’t know who the "powers that be" are that make these decisions, but I think having a blind vocal round would be an incredible addition to every competition circuit. Plus, it’s kind of like “The Masked Singer” and would be a lot of fun for the audience to try and guess the contestant. I’d suggest wild costumes like on the show, but I think it might take away from the Elvis aspect... a giant pineapple singing "Suspicious Minds" might be a bit much for the purists. You can’t deny it would make things interesting, though.
To wrap things up, I asked Austin what advice he’d give to new tribute artists just getting their start. He emphasized the importance of being loose and relaxed onstage, but the most important thing was staying true to Elvis. He suggests watching the movies and really studying those little mannerisms he has, because it’s those small things that make a big difference.
However, he warned that you can’t get so focused on nailing the moves that you come off as stiff and unnatural. On the opposite side of that, if you move too much or too wildly, it’s distracting and takes away from your vocals. And at the end of the day, his core advice remains simple: don’t focus on singing to win a contest. Sing for Elvis, and sing for yourself. When you do that, the audience feels the authenticity, and that’s the real win.
At the end of the day, Austin’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to find a new passion, even if it means being shoved into the deep end once in a while. He’s proof that if you stay true to the music and stay accessible to the people who love it, you’ve already won- no matter what the judges say. Thanks to Austin and Kristen for letting us into their Elvis-filled world. I know I’ll be watching (and listening) for whatever comes next.
Austin Pugh is a Lancing, Tennessee native and U.S. Army Veteran whose musical journey began in childhood singing gospel with his family. Now an accomplished singer-songwriter and musician, Austin has dedicated himself to the art of the Elvis Tribute Artist, fueled by a passion for the way Elvis’s music connects with and moves an audience. His dedication to the craft has earned him prestigious accolades, including the 2024 "Spirit of Elvis" Award and back-to-back "Fan Favorite" honors at the Tupelo Elvis Festival in 2024 and 2025. Having placed in the top tier of major competitions from Nashville to Las Vegas, Austin continues to honor the King’s legacy by transporting fans through timeless performances that celebrate the joy and memory of Elvis Presley.
Instagram and TikTok: AustinPughMusic
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