During part one of The Voice season 18 finale on May 18, 2020, the five finalists performed two solos and a duet with their coach. If viewer response is any indication of who will take home the Voice title Tuesday night, Team Blake’s Todd Tilghman has this season in the bag.
Tilghman, a pastor from Meridian, Mississippi, earned a four-chair turn during his Blind Audition with an energetic and soulful cover of Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight.” He ultimately chose to be a part of Team Blake, a decision that took him all the way to the finals. ‘
In the weeks since his audition, Todd has covered country songs from Lee Brice (“Rumor”), Collin Raye (“Love, Me”) and Shenandoah (“Ghost In This House”), and has won over many new fans in the process. But, it was perhaps his performance of Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine” Monday night that proved once and for all that Tillghman has what it takes to win The Voice.
From the stage of the church he pastors in Mississippi, Tilghman delivered a heartfelt rendition of the Christian hit song, and brought coach Kelly Clarkson to tears. In fact, Todd’s own coach Blake Shelton threatened to cry after the performance.
“You are so moving,” Kelly Clarkson told Todd as she fought back tears. “It’s because you have such a bigger belief inside of you than just yourself. I would love to come to your church just to hear you speak….you’re very special.”
Blake Shelton agreed with Clarkson’s sentiment, saying: “My gosh. I’m gonna cry seeing Kelly cry. You know Todd, what’s she’s saying is true, though. That’s the connection that you just have with people. I mean, your talent speaks for itself….you sing with so much passion, so much precision. You’re just a special dude, man.”
Watch Todd Tilghman’s performance of “I Can Only Imagine” below!