Many have tried to imitate Elvis Presley – but nothing can truly compare to the original. Or can it?
When Dakota Striplin stepped onto the stage of The Voice and began singing the timeless classic Love Me Tender, the judges were instantly moved.
But it wasn’t just his voice that stunned them. After his performance, Dakota dropped a bombshell that nearly made the judges fall out of their chairs…
A few years ago, a charismatic young man appeared on The Voice Australia. The 24-year-old Dakota Striplin stole the show when he performed Elvis Presley’s 1956 ballad, Love Me Tender. The resemblance to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was uncanny. Dakota had Elvis’s distinctive jawline, the same hairstyle, and, most notably, a golden voice that brought back memories of the legendary performer.
Even his nose and eyebrows echoed Elvis’s features. During the performance, Dakota captivated the audience with his smooth, honeyed voice, and he also showcased his guitar skills, adding an emotional touch to his performance. The crowd erupted in applause, and it was no surprise—many in the audience likely thought they were witnessing Elvis’s grandson live on stage.
The judges were equally impressed. Before Dakota finished the first verse, two of them had already turned their chairs and hit their buttons. The third judge, Guy Sebastian, almost pressed his button but hesitated at the last second—something he would later regret.
But what about the connection to Elvis Presley? When you compare side-by-side photos of Dakota and Elvis, the likeness is undeniable. And the mystery deepened when Dakota revealed that he might actually be the King’s grandson.
“I always loved Elvis. He’s been a big idol for me since I was little. But recently, my dad found out that his father wasn’t his biological father, and there’s a lot of history with my grandma. She used to work at Elvis concerts and apparently knew him,” Dakota shared.
While look-alikes of Elvis occasionally appear, it’s rare for them to have more than just a striking physical resemblance. Elvis had only one grandson, Benjamin, who was the spitting image of the King.
But regardless of any family connection, Dakota Striplin proved he has incredible talent, and I’m sure Elvis would have appreciated his rendition of the classic ’50s hit. Dakota later showed his versatility by performing several other songs, including an energetic version of I Just Can’t Wait To Be King from The Lion King. Watch the clip below and enjoy his amazing performance for yourself!
Lisa Marie Presley kept her son Benjamin’s body at home for two months after he passed away.
Lisa Marie Presley was so devastated by the loss of her son, Benjamin Keough, that she kept his body in her home for two months after he passed away. She even invited a tattoo artist to see him so she could get matching tattoos.
This is just one of many surprising details in Lisa Marie’s new memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, which was completed by her daughter, actress Riley Keough, after Lisa Marie passed away in January 2023.
Lisa Marie (left) next to her beloved son Ben, along with her third husband, Michael Lockwood, and a guest, at the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in November 2010.
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In her book, Lisa Marie shared that she had to fight to stay alive for her other children, Riley and her twin daughters Harper and Finley, who are now 16. She didn’t say goodbye to Benjamin right away because she was torn between burying him in Hawaii or at Graceland, the Memphis estate where Elvis, her father, is buried.
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Lisa Marie kept the room at 55 degrees to preserve Benjamin’s body and got so used to caring for him and having him there.
Riley and Lisa Marie decided to honor Benjamin by getting tattoos like his. Benjamin had his sister’s name on his collarbone and his mom’s name on his hand. Riley had her brother’s name tattooed on her collarbone, and a tattoo artist was called to Lisa Marie’s home to add Benjamin’s name to her hand. When the artist asked if they had photos of Benjamin’s tattoos to match the font and placement, Lisa Marie said, “No, but I can show you.”
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Riley writes: “Lisa Marie Presley had just asked this poor man to look at her dead son, who was right next to us in the guest house. I’ve had a very strange life, but this moment is one of the weirdest.”
Lisa Marie also knew it was strange. She said, “I think it would scare the heck out of anyone else to have their son there like that. But not me.”
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Soon after the tattoo day, Riley remembers that everyone felt like Benjamin wanted to be laid to rest.
Even Lisa Marie said she could feel him communicating with her, saying, “This is crazy, Mom, what are you doing? What the heck!”
The family held a funeral for Benjamin in Malibu, and New Age author Deepak Chopra led the ceremony. Riley said she had to keep her eyes closed the whole time because she was struggling to cope with everything.
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Benjamin was buried at Graceland, next to Elvis, and Lisa Marie would later be buried there too.
Riley writes a lot about her brother’s struggles with mental health and how he often went on drinking binges. She doesn’t believe he truly wanted to die.
After his death, she and her mom went through his phone, looking for answers.
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Riley writes, “We found a text he sent to my mom a couple of weeks before he died that said, ‘I think something’s wrong with me mentally. I think I have a mental health issue.’ It’s heartbreaking to me that he only realized he might need help just two weeks before he took his own life.”
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