How a Kentucky gospel singer became the most successful artist in The Voice history
In short: Jordan Smith arrived on the national stage as a self-doubting gospel singer from Harlan, Kentucky. Through a series of record-breaking performances on The Voice, he transformed from a local choir member into a chart-topping phenomenon, eventually reshaping his home region's reputation and securing his place in music history.
Born in 1993 in Whitley County, Kentucky, Jordan Smith was raised within the musical tradition of the House of Mercy church in Wallins Creek. His early development as a singer occurred within church choirs, a foundation that eventually led him to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Despite his talent, Smith initially struggled with self-perception, having been rejected during his first audition for the singing competition The Voice. It was not until his live playoff performance of "Halo" that he began to view himself as a legitimate artist.
Smith’s breakthrough occurred during season 9 of The Voice in 2015. His audition performance of "Chandelier" prompted all four coaches to turn their chairs, with Adam Levine calling him the most important contestant in the show's history. Throughout the season, Smith achieved unprecedented commercial success, becoming the first artist to reach No. 1 on the iTunes Store for pop songs. His rendition of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" famously displaced Adele’s "Hello" from the top spot, a feat he repeated multiple times with subsequent performances, including "Somebody to Love" and "Mary, Did You Know?"
By December 2015, Smith held the title of the highest-selling artist to ever compete on the show. His impact extended beyond the charts; he was named a Kentucky Colonel and the 2015 Kentuckian of the Year, with local officials crediting his success with helping to reverse negative regional stereotypes. Following his win, Smith released his debut album, Something Beautiful, in 2016. While critics offered mixed reviews—some praising his vocal confidence while others found the material overly cautious—Smith continued his career as a songwriter, notably penning "Ashes" for the Deadpool 2 soundtrack, and represented Kentucky in the 2022 American Song Contest, where he finished in third place.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jordan Smith (musician)
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