It’s time for me to put my two cents in. I’ve been getting tons of emails asking me, “Oh my gosh! Did you know that Trent Carlini, your favorite Elvis Stylist, is on ABC’s The Next Best Thing!” “What’s happened to his face?” “Did he always sound like that?” “He won! Are you happy!”

While it’s true, all these emails came from my mother, I still feel a need to open up and discuss the multitude of emotions I am having over this event.

I first saw Trent Carlini when I was in college. My old roommate, Catherine the Red and I were watching the Vicki Lawrence show one afternoon. The show took place in Vegas and she had a number of Elvis Impersonator’s on, talking and the performing. I remember Trent Carlini taking the stage and singing, The Wonder of You. I had never before seen anyone so completely capture Elvis. I was blown away and I made a mental note that some way, somehow, I would go to Vegas and see Trent Carlini. Years went by, I graduated and started working. I was sent to a Trade Show in Vegas. Rather than go alone, I brought my mom with me. This trip was one of the greatest I had ever been on. I remember very little of the trade show. What I remember was my mom and I going wild! We visited the Liberace Museum, stuffed ourselves at buffets, plunked quarters in any of the caesar slot machines that had pictures of cherries showing (my mom said that was her secret, the thing is, I don’t think we won a cent using that strategy). We went to tons of shows, one of which was FX starring none other than DAVID CASSIDY! We visited Debbie Reynolds’ old hotel and looked at her collection of movie star costumes. Then one evening, my mom said to me, “What should we do tonight?” Just as those words were uttered, a brochure fell out of the magazine I was flipping through. We looked down at the brochure and it was for Trent Carlini performing at the Holiday Inn Boardwalk casino! We bought tickets over the phone that instant and were in the audience within an hour.

That first live experience of Trent was magical. My mom and I were both bowled over! We kept whispering into each other’s ears, “It’s like watching the King!” He’s exactly like Elvis!” I cannot convey the magnetism, the energy, the ELVIS-quality that Trent exuded. It was uncanny.

Years went by and we always spoke fondly of Trent and recommended his show to everyone we knew who were going to visit Vegas. I was sent on several other trips to Vegas and whenever it was possible I would see his show. None of his subsequent performances lived up to that very first one but they were all wonderful nonetheless.

Trent has now really moved up to the big time. He won the The Next Best Thing, a show that pits celebrity impersonator’s against each other. I never caught an episode on TV but have watched a few episodes on ABC’s Web site. Having seen Trent just last April in Vegas, I knew he has some plastic surgery performed but seeing him on TV, I couldn’t believe the extensiveness of it. His face is entirely plastic looking. He didn’t need any surgery too look like Elvis (He already did) — I can only conclude he is trying to make himself look younger. His performances on the show were fine, I guess I just had a hard time accepting his new look. He is now clearly wearing a wig and his face looks odd. I am happy that he won the competition. I just wish he didn’t have to change his face.

It is true, Trent. You look different.

And here’s the real Elvis:

Do we have a match?