Best Elvis Tribute Artists Revealed

The first Elvis Presley impersonators first appeared right after Elvis was beginning his career. Even in the 1950s, Johnny Cash would perform an imitation of his fellow Sun Studio alumnus during his shows.

Elvis Presley at Joe Freeman Coleseum in San Antonio, 1956.

After his death on August 16, 1977, the number of impersonators across the globe exploded from right at 2,000 to tens of thousands. They became known as Elvis Tribute Artists or ETAs.

According to Elvis Presley Enterprises, Elvis himself was aware of them and, in a complimentary letter to one such artist, wrote that “mimicry is a sincere form of being a fan.”

He also mentioned that his favorite was comedian Andy Kaufmann.

Andy Kaufmann in 1977 on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show.

Not long after his death in Memphis, Elvis tributes came in the form of music, such as “The King is Gone,” by Ronnie McDowell and an album, “My Farewell to Elvis” by Merle Haggard.

Haggard’s October 1977 release made it to #4 on Country Billboard Album Chart.

Some of the most famous ERAs in the 1970s and 1980s included Johnny Harra and Alan.

In 2007, Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) fully embraced the cultural phenomenon by hosting its first Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest during Elvis Week.

Today there are thousands of ETAs around the world who compete in officially licensed preliminaries sanctioned by EPE. Winners are advanced to the finals in Memphis during the Elvis Week contest each August.

♦Brandon Bennett from Louisiana won the ultimate title during Elvis Week 2008,

♦Bill Cherry from Illinois won in 2009,

♦Justin Shandor from Michigan won in 2010,

♦Cody Slaughter of Arkansas took home the 2011 title,

♦Ben Portsmouth from England was crowned the 2012 winner,