As The Voice gears up to kick off season 18 on February 24, the current winner, Jake Hoot, is fulfilling life long dreams. On Tuesday (Feb 4) the Team Kelly Clarkson country artist performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville TN.
Jake Hoot Made His Opry Debut
“In the sense of being absolutely terrified,” Jake told CMT in a backstage interview before he made his debut. “it would be singing to the backs of those four [The Voice] chairs. But I will say there’s more of a spiritual sense here at the Opry. You just know it’s something special. There was something about walking out on the stage today that had me crying like a baby. I was looking around at all the sections, being like, ’I sat there. I sat there. I sat there.’”
“So to be on the stage knowing I get to play, it’s like there’s this humbling spirit about it. And I wonder if that oak circle could talk. Imagine the stories it could tell. I’m nervous about tonight, but it’s a different kind of nervous: I want to give it my best and stay humble about it.”
After Winning The Voice, Jake Hoot Kept his Day Job
Speaking of humility. After taking the crown, which included a record deal with Universal and a $100,000 prize, Jake is still working his day job as a country music radio sales executive at WGSQ and WKSW in Cooksville, Tenn.
“Being on The Voice has been hard because I love spending time with my clients,” Jake said. “Just going to sit and talk and catch up and what not. It’s all about building those relationships. God tells us to be good stewards of what were given, and so I actually want to see my clients succeed. But now, I get there and people want to take pictures and get my autograph. Which is awesome, and I’m grateful, but that makes it hard to get my work done.”
A father to two young daughters, Macy and Hadley, Jake has no plans to move to Nashville, despite the career jump start he received from The Voice.
“Cookeville has been great for me,” Jake told CMT. “It’s so beautiful, and the people are so kind and so giving. It’s growing, but still has that small town feel. It’s a very special place. I thought I’d want to leave after I graduated from Tennessee Tech, but now I don’t know why I’d ever want to leave.”
