Jamaicans everywhere were in ecstasy when reggae singer Tessanne Chin on Tuesday night was declared the winner of the fifth season of NBC TV’s “The Voice”.
“The winner of ‘The Voice’ is Tessanne Chin,” said host Carson Daly to millions of television viewers around the world. “Jamaica is celebrating with the United States tonight.”
Reports indicate that scores of Jamaicans converged on capital city Kingston on Tuesday night to celebrate Tessanne’s win, similar to when they converged at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration.
“A better coach for me I could not find,” Tessanne told her coach, Adam Levine, just before the winner was announced. “I thank you every day for choosing me.”
Tessanne, 28, a back-up singer for the legendary reggae star Jimmy Cliff, stunned the global audience on Monday night, the final night of competition, with an emotional rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I have Nothing.”
On Tuesday night, she performed with Celine Dion, rendering the legendary singer’s “Love Can Move Mountains.”
AP Photo/NBC, Tyler Golden
“For weeks, we have watched our darling Tessanne deliver one flawless performance after another on ‘The Voice,’” said Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, at a fundraiser at the Woodland Restaurant on Flatbush Avenue.
“As people of Jamaican and Caribbean ancestry and heritage, we feel a special infusion of pride when any one of us excel in our chosen paths, and we are compelled to revel in that success,” she added.
During Tessanne’s audition, Levine said: “It would have been the mistake of a lifetime to not turn around for you. You have something crazy special, and I want it bad.”
Jacqui Lee, from Team Christina, and Will Champlin, from Team Adam, placed second and third, respectively.
For her win, Tessanne takes home a US$100,000.00 cash prize and a Universal recording contract.
AP Photo/NBC, Tyler Golden
