The Voice winner Jordan Smith will be performing at Wednesday’s People’s Choice awards on CBS. Mark Burnett executive produces of both The Voice and People’s Choice, so there is your connection right there.
What’s more, the singer will be performing with adult contemporary music king, David Foster, and according to People magazine, the two will be working on Jordan’s debut album set to come out this year on Republic Records.
“Just confirmed Jordan Smith performing [on People’s Choice], accompanied by David Foster on piano,” Burnett told People. “They’re in the studio now working on his album together.”
It’s funny, because a group of us were chatting away in comments recently about how David Foster would be a perfect collaborator for Jordan. Yay us. We be prescient…
In case you didn’t know, Foster has worked with popular adult contemporary artists such as Josh Groban, Celine Dion, and Andrea Bocelli. He has a long history with singing show alums, including Clay Aiken, Jackie Evancho (America’s Got Talent), Ruben Studdard, Jessica Sanchez, Katharine McPhee and the late Michael Johns in the studio, or out on one of the producer’s tours.
Foster was the first person to come to mind when I thought about who Jordan–who is clearly not destined for Top 40 stardom–could work with.
Burnett’s wife, Roma Downey, tweeted a photo from what looks like the Burnett home (See: photos of Downey and the Pope on the piano.
Magical night as @NBCTheVoice winner @JordanSmithLive & legendary producer @officialdfoster sing !@RepublicRecords pic.twitter.com/SVluhMkfvl
— Roma Downey (@RealRomaDowney) January 4, 2016
Both Burnett and wife seem to have taken a keen interest in Jordan’s career. Interesting, that despite being the EP of the People’s Choice awards, it’s the first time Burnett has tapped a The Voice winner to perform on the show.
One thing the trio shares in common is a devotion to Christianity. Jordan was not shy about professing his faith on The Voice or in interviews. He was attending the Christian college, Lee University, and sang in the school’s choir, right before competing on The Voice. Downey starred on the religious themed series, Touched by an Angel, back in the 90s, and Burnett has produced The Bible and AD for NBC. Perhaps Burnett was drawn to Jordan’s capacity to inspire fans in a spiritual way from the very start.
The People’s Choice Awards airs on CBS on Wednesday January 6 at 9/8c PM.
