During the top 17 round of “The Voice,” Blake Shelton made a bold declaration regarding 19-year-old Cam Anthony: “You could be the first superstar that we launch off this show.”
While there have been success stories like Cassadee Pope since “The Voice” premiered 10 years ago, many of the winners don’t end up gaining momentum in the music industry, the Deseret News reported.
And compared to “American Idol,” which has generated stars like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, “The Voice” has yet to produce a household name in the music industry.
But this season, Shelton — who has been a coach on “The Voice” for all 20 seasons — has stated his belief that Anthony could change the trajectory of the show.
On Tuesday night, Anthony took a big step toward making Shelton’s prediction come true. The young singer from Philadelphia is the Season 20 winner of “The Voice,” earning the most votes from viewers across the nation.
Country singer Kenzie Wheeler and Jordan Matthew Young, a blues singer from Utah, rounded out the top three of “The Voice.”
Anthony was a favorite from the start. During his blind audition — which has been viewed 2 million times on YouTube — the singer had three “Voice” coaches vying for him to join their teams.
Nick Jonas was so intent on coaching Anthony that he used his one and only block of the round to prevent John Legend from snagging the singer. But it was Shelton’s pitch that resonated with Anthony the most.
During the audition, Shelton made a unique promise: If Anthony chose to join him, he would refrain from adding similar artists to his team. Since the second and third round of “The Voice” pits team members against each other, this would help Anthony stand out and improve his chances of making it far in the competition.
And sure enough, Anthony delivered week after week, rising through the ranks and reaching the finale. During his finale performances Monday night, he received high praise from all of the coaches for his big run in the competition.
“You are just so ready for this stage. You’re ready for any stage you want to be on,” Legend said, saying that at 19, Anthony already has the artistry and professionalism that it takes to be a superstar. “It’s just amazing to watch you do what you’re supposed to be doing in this world. It’s a blessing for all of us.”
Anthony’s victory marks Shelton’s eighth win on the show.
Anthony — whose performing history includes “The Ellen Show” and singing at the 2014 White House Easter Egg Roll — recently said his success on “The Voice” has given him further validation as an artist.
“To be able to know that I can be myself onstage and I can be received in this way has been such an amazing and validating experience,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m grateful.”
“I would love to be performing on even bigger stages,” he continued. ”Maybe the Grammys. We’re working towards some amazing things. I’m hoping to release an album, trying to work on some really amazing things.”
Watch all of Anthony’s performances on “The Voice” below. The next season of “The Voice” is expected to air in the fall.