Dakota Striplin, who claims to be Elvis Presley’s grandson, delivered a fresh take on “Love Me Tender” during his audition on The Voice, making it hard to ignore the potential familial connection.

In the audition clip, Dakota Striplin begins to sing and play guitar with an angelic voice. One judge immediately turns her chair around, placing her hand on her heart. “I need to see what’s going on here,” another judge says as she flips her chair. By the end of his song, the judges are delighted not only by his singing but also by his guitar playing.

Curious about his song choice, the judges ask Dakota why he selected that particular song and artist. Dakota explains that Elvis Presley has always been an inspiration to him. He shares that his grandmother, who loved attending Elvis’ shows, often joked that he could be Elvis’ grandson. This revelation prompts the judges to chuckle as they notice the resemblance.

Dakota further elaborates that his father rarely discusses it, but his grandmother used to travel to Hawaii to assist with Elvis Presley’s shows, often bringing Dakota’s father along, while leaving her other children at home. His grandmother experienced profound grief when Elvis died. A few years ago, a DNA test revealed that Dakota’s supposed grandfather was not his biological grandfather, fueling the theory that Dakota Striplin might indeed be Elvis’ grandchild.

After sharing his story, two judges stand up, hoping to be chosen as his coach. Ultimately, Dakota chooses the judge who turned for him first. Following this, another clip shows Dakota performing in a knockout round.

While we may not always know our exact origins, we can find comfort in our unchanging identity in Christ. Embracing Jesus as our Savior means being adopted into God’s family.