With a gospel choir backing him, Lee University's Jordan Smith delivers his knockout version of Queen's "Somebody to Love" on "The Voice."(Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC)Also read
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In an ironic twist of fate, the high-pitched voice that once caused Jordan Smith such teasing in his youth helped him win the coveted title of NBC's "The Voice" on Tuesday night.
Smith, the Lee University student who hails from Harlan, Ky., won the Season 9 crown over finalists Emily Ann Roberts of Knoxville, Barrett Baber of Arkansas and Jeffery Austin of New York.
The 22-year-old choked back tears, hugged runner-up Emily Ann Roberts, then hugged coach Adam Levine when his named was called by host Carson Daly. He managed to keep it together long enough to sing a chorus of "Climb Every Mountain" before the show signed off.
As the Season 9 winner, he will receive a $100,000 and a recording contract. Also, each finalist was given their choice of a new Nissan.
"This is such an exciting night for all of us at Lee! We have been following Jordan throughout this competition; even during final exams and commencement week the buzz has been all about 'The Voice,'" said Paul Conn, president of Lee University, of Smith's win.
"I am personally very happy for him. He is the kind of student who deserves all the good things that are happening," Conn added.
"This is one of the best things that's happened in our county in a long, long time," said Danny Howard, mayor of Harlan, where a town viewing party complete with chicken dinner was held at the Harlan Center. "Everybody is beside themselves. He's just got one of those voices and control of it that very few people have."
Coming into this week's finale, Vegas odds were a don't-bet-against-him 1-5, with a prediction the Lee singer had an 83 percent chance of winning.
Smith has been considered the front-runner since the show began airing 12 weeks ago. Each of his live performances has cracked the top 10 downloaded songs on iTunes' singles chart - making him the first "Voice" artist to do so in the show's history.
But it was Smith's backstory and his near-three-octave voice that really set him apart from other contestants.
In the first show of this season, "The Voice" producers hid Smith's face from television viewers so they experienced his blind audition just as the judges heard it. Not until the first judge's chair turned did everyone see that it was an adult male singing Sia's "Chandelier." After getting a quadruple chair turn from the judges, Smith told them his high voice often caused people to mistake him for a woman on the telephone. He said he "hadn't always been the coolest person," but instead was one who has suffered self- esteem issues.
Smith has used his national airtime to encourage others who have been bullied or mocked for being different. The singer told the Times Free Press he picked Adam Levine to be his coach because "he saw my heart and that the world needed to hear what I had to say."
Levine has called Smith "the best singer ever seen on the show" on more than one occasion this season.
Lee University is the only college in the country to have two of its students reach the championship rounds of TV's top two talent shows. Smith is the school's first winner. Lee alumnus Clark Beckham finished second to Nick Fradiani on the season finale of "American Idol" in May.
"Lee University has had such an amazing opportunity to showcase student musical talent this year. This is the kind of positive attention we could never have orchestrated," Conn said. "We attract so many bright, young students, then we prepare them to step up and deliver when their opportunity comes."
Smith had completed three years at Lee when he took a year off to pursue the chance to be on "The Voice." He is a music business major at Lee, with a goal of becoming either a music producer or studio singer following graduation. The last three months spent on "The Voice" has been good experience.
Prior to the finale, the singer said he planned to finish his degree - win or lose.
"Since being part of the show, I have discovered my true love for performing and singing," Smith said. "Regardless of the outcome, I plan to pursue a career in performing. I hope to eventually become a producer. I also plan to continue leading worship and involving myself in church music wherever I end up."
Smith is scheduled to fly to New York City this morning for a round of press interviews and appearances.
Contact staff writer Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.