Q&A: ‘Tis the Season to Catch Up With ‘Voice’ Winner Jordan Smith
Exactly a year ago, Jordan Smith was spending the holiday season on the set of The Voice and celebrating in more ways than one: He won Season 9, and went on to become one the show’s most successful alumni. Now Smith is back on TV with his own holiday special, ‘Tis the Season (go to jordansmithofficial.com for local listings), accompanied by a holiday album that hit the No. 1 spot on both the iTunes Holiday Album and Amazon Digital Album charts.
Smith has been busy performing on various other television Christmas specials and touring with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, but as he gets ready to head home to Kentucky to spend the holidays with his new wife Kristen, he took the time to answer Yahoo Music’s Reality Rocks’ questions about his favorite time of year.
YAHOO MUSIC: If you could sing a Christmas duet with any other famous singer — past or present, dead or alive — who would it be, and why? And what song would you do?
JORDAN SMITH: I would sing “Do You Hear What I Hear” with Julie Andrews, because that’s my favorite Christmas song and she is my number one celebrity crush!
What is your favorite holiday album — besides your own, of course! — and why?
The Carpenters’ Christmas Portrait. It’s such a classic, and the song “Merry Christmas, Darling” gets me every time.
What’s your all-time favorite holiday movie?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey is my favorite movie of all time. Period. I think it’s absolutely hilarious, and it’s been a staple in our house for years. I can quote it word for word.
What’s your all-time favorite classic holiday TV special, and why?
My favorite Christmas special is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It just isn’t Christmas without it.
What can we expect from your own holiday special?
‘Tis the Season invites viewers into the studio to experience the classic sound of the album in a live, intimate setting. It’s simply about the songs that so beautifully capture the feelings of the holidays and the stories that inspired them.
Your Voice season coincided with the holiday season of 2015. What are your favorite memories of celebrating the holidays on the Voice set?
The Voice quickly became my home away from home, so spending part of the holidays there wasn’t so bad. On my favorite performances of the season was during the finale when I sang “Mary, Did You Know” Faith is an integral part of my life as well as my family, so performing a song that speaks to the heart of the holidays was a definite highlight of the season. I also enjoyed getting to hear what Christmas meant to the other contestants and their renditions of their favorite holiday tunes.
What are the Smith family’s holiday traditions that you recall from childhood?
The Smiths definitely know how to do Christmas. While it may not be as important to us to repeat certain traditions every year –our family is constantly growing, and things change rapidly! — we are always sure to spend time together at home. We cook a large meal, we open gifts, and we read the Christmas story from the Bible. It’s an amazing time of reflecting on what the season is truly about and spending much needed time with the people who are most important in our lives.
What do you want for Christmas this year?
I am just happy to be home with my new wife for the holidays. We are looking forward to learning what a holiday in our new home will be like and enjoying some much needed time together.
What’s your favorite holiday food? Do you cook?
My wife’s pineapple casserole! Maybe not a “traditional” Christmas dish, but definitely the most delicious! I like to cook but I’m not very good, so I just leave it to her.
What are you most thankful for this year?
This year I am thankful for life before The Voice. I’m so blessed with amazing family and friends that have remained true through this entire rollercoaster, and I’m happy that I can still escape the spotlight for the holidays and go back to Kentucky to celebrate and reflect on what an amazing year it has been.
What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2017?
In 2017, I am hoping to learn more. I always think there is room for improvement and I will never have enough knowledge, so I would like to learn as much as possible. Maybe a new skill. Maybe another language. Maybe I will learn more about music. Whatever it is, I want to keep getting better and expanding my horizons, however possible.
