Quick Facts
Biography
Todd Tilghman (born January 3, 1978) is an American pastor singer. He is the winner of season 18 of American talent competition The Voice. At the age of 42, he became the oldest winner in the series history, a record previously held by Josh Kaufman.
Personal life
Tilghman has been singing in church since he was eight years old. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Brooke, and is the father of eight children. Since 2011, he has been the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Meridian. Tilghman's eldest son, Eagan Tilghman, was a contestant on NBC's Making It.
The Voice (2020)
Tilghman auditioned to The Voice in its 18th season with the song "We've Got Tonight". It was broadcast on February 24, 2020 turning all four chairs of judges Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas and John Legend. He became part of Team Blake.
He has the distinction of being the first artist to be aired that season and the first artist to be aired as being unanimously selected by the judges (however, this is not necessarily the case as the auditions are aired out of order). He competed on the team coached by Blake Shelton, giving him his seventh win as a coach on the show proving to do the expected. His voice took him straight to the winners circle.
The performances of Tilghman were:
| Stage | Date | Song | Original Artist | Order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Auditions | Feb. 24, 2020 | "We've Got Tonight" | Bob Seger | 1.1 | All four chairs turned; Joined Team Blake |
| Battles (Top 40) | April 6, 2020 | "Ghost in This House" (vs. Jon Mullins) | Shenandoah | 8.3 | Saved by Blake |
| Knockouts (Top 28) | April 13, 2020 | "Anymore" (vs. Cam Spinks) | Travis Tritt | 9.5 | |
| Live Playoffs (Top 17) | May 4, 2020 | "Glory of Love" | Peter Cetera | 12.17 | Saved by the Public |
| Live Semi-finals (Top 9) | May 11, 2020 | "Love, Me" | Collin Raye | 14.3 | |
| Live Finale (Final 5) | May 18, 2020 | "I Can Only Imagine" | MercyMe | 16.2 | Winner |
| "Long Way Home" (original song) | Todd Tilghman | 16.6 | |||
| May 19, 2020 | "Authority Song" (with Blake Shelton) | John Mellencamp | 18.11 |
Awards and recognition
On May 23, 2020 an entire advertising section of the Meridian Star was devoted to him. It includes tributes by various local businesses, colleges and individuals including Meridian native Sela Ward.
A drive-through parade honoring Tilghman was scheduled for Thursday evening, May 28, 2020. The parade began at the Meridian Police Department on 22nd Avenue where participants driving vehicles with decorations honoring his win on "The Voice" drove toward Dumont Plaza, where Tilghman and his family were stationed. The event was hosted by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation; Visit Meridian; and the City of Meridian.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 2020 | "Long Way Home" [1] | – | Non-album releases by The Voice |
| "Authority Song" with Blake Shelton | – |