Young Elvis impersonator invited to perform at Presley’s Graceland

By Filipa Gaspar

Britain's youngest Elvis impersonator has been invited to perform at Presley's Graceland home in Memphis.

Talented Cooper Worthington, 12, has been a lifelong fan of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" and will now sing at his house.

He has signed a contract with Elvis Presley Enterprises and will be going there in August for two performing slots.

Cooper 'could not believe it' when he was told.

Mom Kelly Worthington, of Paignton, Devon, said: "He is a typical pre-teen he was like 'no way.'

''He is really excited but he is quite cool, calm and collected. I am probably more excited and nervous than him. He doesn't really get nervous anymore.

"We are both so excited. Cooper wanted to go to Memphis for years and I have been saving up and working as hard as I can to take us both there. It is going to be a once in a lifetime experience.

"So far in his little life he has had loads of amazing opportunities so we do feel really lucky."

Cooper was given the invitation after making contact with Elvis House which was impressed by the boy's moves and voice.

Kelly said: "We thought we would reach out to America because Cooper is the UK's youngest working performing Elvis tribute at the moment.

"We sent his videos and Facebook and Youtube links and they got back to us and said he can have two little slots on the 14 and the 16 of August to perform over there by invite only and then they sent us the contract which we signed this morning."

Cooper and his mom are now eagerly planning the best outfits and playlists to take to America.

His mom explained that Cooper is planning to impersonate young 50's Elvis because of his age.

She said: "We do have a lot of outfits that we already have so I expect that it will be a case of choosing one of them.

''We have got the Pink Cadillac outfit, the gold blazer, the GI Blues outfit, the Jailhouse Rock outfit - I'll let him choose.

"He often likes to choose himself and do his own hair and get ready. He will also do his own playlist so we will start working on that soon."

His performing career started with a Freddie Mercury act where he begun busking at the age of six - pulling in $100 a session.

But after hearing of the Queen front-man's love of Elvis, Cooper discovered him on YouTube - and has spent every moment since working on mimicking the Memphis solo sensation.

Kelly said: "He knows all of Elvis' songs now and has perfected the dance moves. He's also grown hair his long enough to quiff it himself naturally.

"He has even found an old American hair gel that Elvis used to use.

"He now just wants to be famous. His eyes light up when he is on stage."

Kelly said shortly after he found Elvis and hasn't looked back since.

She added: "He asked me if he could have an Elvis outfit. He was making all his own money and would always asked for bits for Christmas and his birthday.

"He saw a video of Freddie talking about his love of Elvis as a youngster and his interest grew from there.

"He has not gone busking yet as Elvis but he keeps asking me to do it again. He loved it and was very popular but we did stop after he got some awful comments from people saying we shouldn't be letting him do it.

"But there were so many more lovely comments that really made your day."

Kelly said his act has proved popular every time he's performed - and she couldn't be prouder.

She added: "He entered a school talent competition and won the whole show. A couple of weeks ago he was asked to perform as Elvis as part of our local festival week and keeps getting invited to perform.

"He wants to go on Britain's Got Talent. We haven't pushed him at all, we couldn't have stopped him - he just loves it so much and is his passion.

"He's had a few singing lessons and guitar lessons and did audition for the Voice Kids. He got to the last 90 children after going through five different auditions when he was just seven.

''He was one of the youngest there but when they got to the last 90 they cut it in half and he was in the 45 that went home. But it was an amazing experience."

Cooper said: "I love Elvis' singing the best. I want to be so famous I don't have to go to school - I just want to perform forever.

"My favorite song is Jailhouse Rock and my dream is to perform in Las Vegas and have my own show.

"I got into performing by watching performers on telly and YouTube and live shows and wanted to do it myself.

"I didn't find it hard to learn the moves at all - and managed to do it straight away.

"My dad wants me to be a rugby player like him, but I love performing like my mom."