Teaser: What started as a school talent show act has rocketed a British pre-teen to Elvis Presley’s own Graceland stage. Cooper Worthington, 12, the UK’s youngest working Elvis tribute artist, caught the eye of Elvis Presley Enterprises with his spot-on singing and pompadour. They invited him to perform in Memphis on Elvis’s death anniversary – a once-in-a-lifetime chance that has this youngster “All Shook Up” (in a good way) .
- Cooper from Hampshire fell in love with Elvis at age 7, inspired oddly enough by Queen’s Freddie Mercury (who idolized Elvis). After watching old Elvis footage, Cooper was hooked on The King .
- He honed his act for years – memorizing Elvis hits, perfecting hip shakes, even styling his hair in a 1950s pompadour. By 12, he was winning talent shows and booking local gigs as a mini Elvis .
- Proud mom Kelly reached out to Graceland officials with videos of Cooper performing in full Elvis regalia. Impressively, they responded with an official contract inviting him to sing at Elvis Presley’s Graceland home during Elvis Week (marking 48 years since Elvis’s passing) .
- When Cooper heard the news, he “could not believe it.” He and his mom had been saving for years to one day visit Memphis – now he’d be going as a performer, with two scheduled slots on stage .
- Suit Up: Cooper plans to don a 1950s young Elvis look for the shows – he’s got the Pink Cadillac jacket, a gold lamé blazer, a G.I. Blues uniform, and a Jailhouse Rock outfit ready to choose from . “It’s a dream come true,” says his mom, who emphasizes they never pushed him – “we couldn’t have stopped him… he just loves it so much” .
Full Story: At an age when most kids are into video games or pop stars of the day, Cooper Worthington has dedicated himself to channeling a legend from decades before he was born. Cooper is Britain’s youngest professional Elvis Presley impersonator – a 12-year-old with a swiveling pelvis, a perfect sneer, and a big voice to match. His fascination started in the most roundabout way: as a little boy, Cooper was a fan of Queen. When he learned Freddie Mercury adored Elvis and even imitated him, Cooper’s curiosity led him to watch Elvis videos to see what the fuss was about . One glimpse of The King’s electrifying performance and Cooper was all in. By age 8, he was belting out “Hound Dog” in a homemade jumpsuit for anyone who’d listen.
Fast forward a few years, and what began as a quirky hobby became a serious craft. With his family’s support, Cooper built an entire Elvis tribute act. His mom, Kelly, sewed him costumes replicating Elvis’s iconic looks: the Pink Cadillac from “Baby, Let’s Play House,” the gold blazer from the 50s TV appearances, even a mini version of Elvis’s Army uniform from G.I. Blues . Cooper studied Elvis’s catalog, learning not just the big hits but obscure songs too. He practiced Elvis’s dance moves in front of the mirror – nailing the leg shake and the microphone toss. In local talent competitions, Cooper’s performances brought down the house. “He entered a school talent competition and won the whole show,” his mom recalled proudly . Soon, he was getting invited to perform at community events and festivals, crowd-pleasing with tunes like “Jailhouse Rock” and “Blue Suede Shoes.”
Despite some naysayers who wondered if they were pushing him too hard, Kelly insists this is Cooper’s passion through and through. “We haven’t pushed him at all, we couldn’t have stopped him if we wanted to,” she laughed, noting the boy eats, sleeps, and breathes Elvis . He’s even grown out his hair to comb into Elvis’s signature quiff and tracked down an old-style American hair gel that Elvis himself used . Cooper’s hard work bore fruit when his mom decided to take a chance: she contacted Elvis Presley Enterprises in the USA, sending videos of Cooper’s tribute act. To their astonishment, the officials at Graceland – Elvis’s famous Memphis mansion – were impressed. They offered Cooper a spot to perform during Elvis Week, which commemorates Elvis’s death anniversary in August, drawing fans from around the globe .
When Kelly told Cooper the news, he was speechless (a rarity for this showman!). “Cooper has wanted to go to Memphis for years and I’ve been working as hard as I can to save up to take us,” Kelly said. “Now it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience” because they’re going not as tourists but as invited performers . According to the contract, Cooper will have two performance slots at Graceland’s soundstage – making him one of the youngest ever to perform officially at Elvis’s home. He plans to impersonate Elvis’s early years (since he himself is a kid), likely choosing a fun 1950s outfit – maybe the gold jacket or the Jailhouse Rock striped shirt .
The UK press has dubbed him a “tiny Elvis with a huge talent,” and indeed this story seems lifted from a Hollywood script. Cooper himself, though, is staying humble and focused. He says he’s “just a typical pre-teen” apart from his unusual hobby . But when he steps on that stage at Graceland, under the summer Tennessee sun, belting “That’s Alright Mama” in front of die-hard Elvis fans, he’ll be living a dream even many adults haven’t dared. “His eyes light up when he is on stage,” his mom says – and one imagines Elvis himself would grin to see this young Brit carrying on his legacy with such enthusiasm . Source: SWNS via GNN on Cooper’s Graceland invitation .
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