In a riveting display of talent on “The Voice”, Dakota Striplin made a bold claim that sent shockwaves through the competition: he hinted at being the descendant of the legendary Elvis Presley. Commanding the stage with charisma and skill, Dakota enraptured both judges and audience alike with a rendition of “Love Me Tender” that echoed the spirit of the King himself. Armed only with his guitar, he delivered a performance that was both haunting and electrifying.
The first judge, visibly moved by Dakota’s ethereal vocals, swiveled her chair in a gesture of admiration, her hand resting over her heart. It didn’t take long for another judge to follow suit, drawn in by Dakota’s magnetic presence and undeniable talent, eager to unravel the mystery behind this mesmerizing performance.
Following his spellbinding act, the judges couldn’t help but inquire about Dakota’s choice of song and the inspiration behind it. With heartfelt sincerity, Dakota shared anecdotes of his family’s connection to Elvis, recounting his grandmother’s fond memories of attending the King’s concerts. He even injected a bit of humor into the conversation, playfully hinting at a familial resemblance to the rock and roll icon that left the judges chuckling.
But Dakota didn’t stop there, he tantalized the panel with hints of other intriguing facets of his lineage, alluding to a recent DNA revelation that cast doubt on his established ancestry and hinted at a potential link to Elvis Presley himself.
Embark on a journey through Dakota Striplin’s captivating performance and enigmatic backstory by tuning in to the full video below.
Meet James Martin, the First Actor With Down Syndrome to Win an Oscar
When James Martin was born, doctors told his parents that he might never speak. However, he did not only learn to speak, but 31 years later, on his birthday, he walked on Hollywood’s biggest stage to collect his Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, An Irish Goodbye. James became the first actor with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award. And, as icing on the cake, the entire audience sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
James Martin never let his condition hold him back.
James Martin’s father, Ivan Martin, is very proud of his son and revealed that he does everything with great gusto, and he’s very glad that his efforts have paid off.
“He has spent his life pushing the envelope. People are very good at saying, ’You can’t do this, and you can’t do that’… He’s done it, and he does it consistently,” he said.
Martin is the first person with Down syndrome to win not just a BAFTA but an Oscar too, and he’s very proud of himself. “It doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome, as long as you’re doing what you do. I do what I can to be funny,” he said.
His girlfriend also supports him and says the win was a magical moment. “It shows to everyone that it’s changing your mindset on how people with disabilities can achieve as much as everyone else can,” she declared.
For the past 10 years, Martin has been working at Starbucks.
His co-workers and manager at Starbucks are very proud of Martin and his acting success, and to support him, good-luck posters were placed in the coffee chain’s city stores.
However, Martin’s dad revealed that despite the fame, he doesn’t see his son quitting his job as a barista anytime soon.
Martin caught the acting bug after he joined the Belfast-based Babosh theatre company for children with learning disabilities.
There, Martin did all types of shows, and he enjoyed every moment spent there. This was a stepping stone for him, as he later managed to land the lead role in Ups and Downs, starring alongside actress Susan Lynch.
Martin then went on to land a role in the series, Marcella, but his role in An Irish Goodbye, which won him both a BAFTA and an Oscar, is his most high-profile role to date.
Preview photo credit MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/East News, An Irish Goodbye / First Flights and co-producers
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