24-year-old Dakota Striplin stole the show on The Voice Australia singing Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender”, and then dropped a bombshell on the judges. Striplin definitely shares Elvis’s golden voice and distinctive jawline, but he revealed that there’s an even deeper connection between the two rockers.
Striplin said he might just be the grandson of The King, saying “I’ve always loved Elvis. He’s been a big idol for me since I was little. But recently my dad actually 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.” Kelly Rowland pointed out his resemblance to the star and Striplin dropped a hammed up Elvis impression, getting a laugh from the crowd. Check out his audition below.
If you look at side-by-side pictures of Striplin and Elvis the resemblance is really undeniable, including not only the jaw but also his nose and brow. During his audition, Striplin showed off a honeyed voice, a distinctive style of rhythm guitar playing and a real x factor that got plenty of cheers from the ladies in the crowd.
Rowland turned her chair for Striplin before he was done with the first line, and Delta Goodrem soon followed suit. Guy Sebastian looked close to pressing his button before deciding against it. He later changed his tune, saying “you were playing then? You’re seriously talented. I really regret not pushing that button.” Striplin showed off his versatility by singing an upbeat and fun version of “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” from The Lion King later in the series, which you can watch below.
Rowland had no regrets with her choice to turn her chair, screaming “we have waited for you! I’m so excited you’re here. I genuinely would love the opportunity to work with you. You are amazing.” Goodrem then put in her pitch, saying “I would also love you on my team. I truly am a huge fan of this sound of music. Your tone is so rich; it’s so full. I love the electric guitar and just the way you were in command of the whole stage. It was really, really sublime.”
Rowland and Goodrem then stood up and traded efforts to convince Striplin to join their team as the young singer mulled it over. Stripin might just be a big Destiny’s Child fan as he eventually chose Rowland. Under her tutelage he later performed “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” in the knockouts round, although he was then eliminated from the series.
Striplin later auditioned for season 12 of America’s Got Talent and got four yes votes after singing “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease. He later performed Elvis’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” in the judge cuts, although he was eliminated at the end of the round. Striplin has continued to release original music since his talent show appearances. If you would like to see more from Dakota Striplin, you can follow him on Facebook or Instagram.