Meet ShElvis, Australia's leading female Elvis Tribute Artist

Record ID: 1705411

  • Title: Meet ShElvis, Australia's leading female Elvis Tribute Artist
  • Date: 6th January 2023
  • Summary: PARKES, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 6, 2023) (REUTERS) AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST, SHERYL SCHARKIE, SAYING: "I'm now in the international hall of fame, Elvis Tribute Artist Hall of Fame. I'm recognised, so that's a thrill in itself. We've all got egos, I won't deny I've got an ego. I enjoy being up on that stage. I enjoy strutting my stuff and you can't say to me that any of the guys or entertainers don't have an ego. You’ve got to be able to put yourself into the vulnerable state, because you are. You're extremely vulnerable up on a stage."
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2023 05:49
  • Keywords: Australia Elvis Presley Elvis Tribute Artist Parkes Elvis Festival ShElvis entertainment music rock and roll
  • Location: PARKES, AUSTRALIA
  • City: PARKES, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA00B074506012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: In the male dominated industry of Elvis Tribute Artists (ETA), it’s a rare sight to see a woman don the bedazzled jumpsuits and coiffed hair, but that’s exactly what greeted the cheering crowd when ShElvis took to the stage at the annual Parkes Elvis Festival in Australia.
    64-year-old Sheryl Scharkie, also known as ShElvis, is Australia’s most prominent ETA and was the country’s only female ETA for most of her career.
    Scharkie has been performing as Elvis for nearly a decade, but even now she still gets a kick out of surprising her doubtful audience members with her deep voice and large vocal range.
    “As soon as I open my mouth, their jaw just drops and then they start getting into it,” Scharkie told Reuters.
    “Once you see them get involved in the music, gender disappears. It's no longer male or female ETA, gender just goes.”
    Scharkie has been a fan of the late king of rock and roll since she was a kid and used to walk around the house singing Elvis after watching his movies at her grandmother’s house. Her musical talents continued into high school where she said her teachers didn’t know what to do with her deep voice, often singing the male parts.
    After a bad breakup in 2008, her friends encouraged her to get up on stage and perform at the local recreational club, launching her musical career. A few years later, she became ShElvis.
    She was recently inducted in the ETA International Hall of Fame, but it hasn’t been easy getting to where she is now, especially as a woman.
    “They don't know what to do with me,” she said. “That’s the biggest challenge.”
    She said that she “can’t do all the knee lunges… and that sort of thing” that many of the men can do, instead focusing on her vocal strength and bringing the softer, more feminine side of Elvis to light.
    Festival attendee, Annette Marden, has been a fan and friend of ShElvis for many years and loves the representation she brings to the community.
    "It's fantastic because we really need more women to bring themselves out into the world and society because women have got a lot of talents, especially Sheryl."
    Scharkie said her dream is to one day perform in a ladies of Elvis show, with women ETAs from around the world. But for now, she hopes that she’ll see more women join her in the community and hopes that her success will inspire others.
    When she’s not on stage, Scharkie swaps her jumpsuits for scrubs, and has been a nurse for over 40 years.
    (Production: Cordelia Hsu)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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