'American Song Contest': Iowa's Alisabeth Von Presley star began rising at age 9!
NBC's biggest music competitive show, 'American Song Contest', is scheduled to premiere on March 21, 2022. One of the many contestants representing their region is Iowa's professional singer, dancer, and photographer Alisabeth Von Presley. She removed her surname Calaway and changed her name to just Alisabeth after being inspired by Madonna. She then added Von Presley, thereby naming herself after the King of Rock ‘n' Roll; she firmly believes that she is Elvis' reincarnation.
Alisabeth first came into the spotlight when she made her appearance on Season 12 of 'American Idol'. All of her shows are a mix of electric guitar, back-up dancers, and, in her own words "all-out girl power".
Presley dons many creative hats. As a photographer, she serves as visual director of TINT Photography in Cedar Rapids; as a musical theater performer, some of her roles have been Maureen in 'Rent', Holly in 'The Wedding Singer', and Cassie in 'A Chorus Line'. As a dancer, she choreographed for the Cedar Rapids’ Kennedy High School and sharpens her skills as a backup dancer for drag queens at both Club Basix and Studio 13. She'll be competing against celebrities like Michael Bolton on the show, which is to be hosted by Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg.
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Who is Alisabeth Von Presley?
Presley was born in a small town in Iowa and her singing career started when she was just 9, taking home a big win in the town's local talent show. Little did she know that this baby step would be the beginning of her lifelong singing and songwriting career.
As a child, she loved putting up shows for her family - complete with costume changes, backup singers (her cousins!), with the stage set up assembled with simple household items.
Looking back at the numerous ‘living room shows’ that she staged and organized for her loved ones, it doesn't come as a surprise that she now performs on some of the biggest platforms all around the world.
Her 2017 album 'Diamonds in the Blackout' set a precedent for the quality of music that she is capable of producing. Presley describes the album as "an album full of battle cries, anthemic dance jams, and a soundtrack for a modern-day wonder woman". She also mentioned that her inspiration for the title name came from a metaphor for life, and she compares that to the contrasting nature of diamonds and blackouts.
Alisabeth told Little Village, "Growing up, I lived out in Springfield, Iowa which was miles and miles away from, dare I say, civilization. So I kind of had to find things to do with my time, and if I got bored, I’d play a silly song on the piano or I’d go in my room and play with Barbies."
"I would play all the parts. I’d play the guys, the girls, the moms, the teachers, the babies. I’d have friends over and we’d play Barbies together and it would turn into them just sitting and watching me play Barbies because I’d make it such a show," she said.
We already know she's a die-hard fan of the king of music, Elvis Presley. In addition, she also has a portrait of him tattooed on her left forearm, plays the guitar, always performs in glamourous setups and costumes, some of which are sure to take us back in time to Elvis’ sequined jumpsuits.
Alisabeth spent months perfecting her song for the show's premiere. What's more, it looks like she's 10 steps ahead in winning the competition and our hearts, by playing a keytar, called Jezzika (a keyboard and guitar hybrid), on stage. Her power instrument further helps the talented singer in rendering the beautiful melodies and chord progressions on a piano whilst also maneuvering the guitar.
She dropped a hint on Instagram so viewers will get an idea of the type of music she'll be performing. The post said, "Mixing a lil’ of Eddie Van Halen’s rhythmic arpeggios, the wailing high notes of Steve Vai + the glitz and glam of Gaga…here we go Hollywood!".
With her vibrant and vivacious nature and rock and roll loving persona, representing Iowa will definitely have her stand a whole class apart from the rest of the competition.
'American Song Contest' premieres on March 21, 2022, at 7 pm, only on NBC. Stay tuned!