The Voice 9 winner, Jordan Smith, returned home to Harlan Kentucky to a hero’s welcome, including a parade through town and a fan rally that included town and state dignitaries and hundreds of well wishers.

During the event, Harlan county Judge-Executive Dan Mosley named Jordan an Honorary Harlan County Coal Miner, and the Harlan City Council awarded him the Key to the City. The school district superintendent announced the Fine Arts wing of Harlan County High school would be named after him. Jordan was also named Harlan Countian of the Year, the 2015 Kentucky Monthly Kentuckian of the Year, and Kentucky Colonel.

“Not only is Jordan the winner of Season 9 of The Voice, but on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky it is my privilege and honor to now address you as Col. Jordan Smith,” said Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.

“Jordan, you made us all so very proud,” said Mosley. “As each week passed, you continued to blow us away and set the bar even higher.”

“I don’t know of another event or personality that has stirred this kind of enthusiasm and love and affection in eastern Kentucky,” local congressman Hal Rogers said. “There’s no parallel.”

“While I get to represent you…this is a win for all of you guys,” Jordan told the crowd. “All I’ve done the entire time is be the person you made me into. I didn’t have to do anything or change anything or be anybody I’m not because of you guys. You guys made me this person. You guys did all this. It’s all you, it’s not me.”

Jordan closed the event with a performance of The Voice fan-favorite, “Hallelujah.”

“It’s so overwhelming to be back home after such a huge win,” Jordan said afterward to the Harlan Daily Enterprise. “To come back here and spend (time) with my family in my hometown and celebrating with them was so special.”

On what’s next, Jordan said, “I’m going to get a little bit of rest, relaxation and celebrate the holidays with my family. Then I’m going to head back to L.A. and get started working just as quickly as I can to get some music out there.”

“You’re never too old or too young for a new dream or for a dream to come true,” he said.

“Getting to meet all these people, they’re amazing,” Jordan told WBIR. “They’ve made me the person I am, and they’ve voted me through this each week. They’re the reason I have this win.”

WKYT Report