“The Voice” has its Season 26 winner.
The velvet-voiced Sofronio Vasquez III, a 31-year-old would-be dentist from Mindanao, Philippines, was named the champion of the Emmy-winning NBC singing competitors, clinching the primary victory for rookie coach Michael Bublé.
Dubbed the Filipino Phenom on-line, the Utica, N.Y., resident topped his fellow Group Bublé finalist Shye on Tuesday evening. He additionally outperformed contestants chosen by the competitors collection’ different coaches, Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani, who had Danny Joseph, Jeremy Beloate and Sydney Sterlace within the operating, respectively. On Monday evening, Sofronio sang an upbeat model of “Unstoppable” by Sia and a down-tempo model of “A Million Dreams” from the 2017 musical “The Greatest Showman.” He additionally sang a soulful rendition of the Miracles’ “Who’s Lovin’ You” with Bublé in the course of the finale.
The highest eight finalists opened the present singing “Defying Gravity” from Common Footage’ blockbuster movie “Wicked.”
“dreams really do come true,” Vasquez wrote Tuesday on Instagram, sharing a photograph of himself holding his trophy and embracing his coach. Vasquez fell to his knees with tears in his eyes when host Carson Daly introduced him because the Season 26 champ in the course of the finale.
Shye, who was 18 when she joined the present, additionally congratulated her co-star on social media, writing on her Instagram story that she didn’t thoughts putting second: “I am so f happy right now you don’t even understand.”
Vasquez, who moved to the US to pursue a singing profession, caught the ear of all 4 coaches when he sang Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down” throughout his blind audition. Bublé, Snoop, McEntire and Stefani fought over him once they every turned their iconic pink chairs to say him for his or her groups.
All through the season, he sang a model of Céline Dion’s “The Power of Love” in a battle along with his teammate Aliyah Khaylyn and delivered his renditions of Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” and Roy Orbison’s “Crying.” Vasquez carried out his up to date tackle Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” in the course of the season’s first dwell present, incomes a spot within the finals. He additionally sang the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” with fellow contestant Beloate and Sting, who performed bass guitar.
Vasquez beforehand competed on the Filipino actuality TV contest “It’s Showtime” however solely reached the semifinals, in response to the PhilStar International. The singer gave a shout-out to his homeland when he was introduced among the many Prime 5 finalists.
Moments earlier than the winner was introduced, Vasquez referred to as Bublé’s mentorship a blessing to him, his household “and all the dreamers out there.”
“You opened the doors for everyone, thank you so much,” Vasquez stated. Shye additionally advised Bublé that he had been each a instructor and a pal to her, praising his humor, expertise and training skill. In an Instagram story posted after they carried out collectively, Bublé referred to as them his heroes.
Bublé, now the reigning champ, will return for Season 27 of “The Voice” when it premieres on NBC on Feb. 3. He will likely be joined by returning coaches Kelsea Ballerini, John Legend and Adam Levine. Asher HaVon, the present’s first brazenly LGBTQ+ winner who gained Season 25 in Could with McEntire, additionally took the stage throughout this week’s finale.
