While some teens find it nerve-wracking to perform on stage, some are just naturally born performers just like this young man.
On the seventh season of The Voice Australia in 2018, an incredibly talented young man with an old soul wowed everyone with his vocal prowess.
Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Richards.
When Josh Richards was just 15, he became one of the youngest contestants ever on The Voice Australia.
Despite his age, Josh impressed everyone right from the start of his audition for the prestigious competition’s seventh season.
He sang the Jackson 5 megahit “I’ll Be There”, exploding with confidence and natural talent.
Though he was young, the judges were in for a delightful surprise.
During the blind auditions on the fourth day of the season, Josh’s performance captivated everyone.
Judge Delta was visibly moved, placing her hand on her heart, and Boy George couldn’t contain his excitement, hitting the buzzer in a matter of moments.
The magic continued as, within twenty seconds, the other three judges were equally impressed, hitting their buzzers and turning their chairs to see the young prodigy behind the voice.
The expressions on their faces after turning around were priceless.
You might wonder how a high school student could have such incredible vocal talent.
Well, even though this was Josh’s first time on The Voice Australia, he was no stranger to the spotlight.
The year before auditioning, he secured the top spot in a singing competition in Melbourne for the 12- to 14-year-old category, putting him on the radar.
In a heartfelt promo for The Voice Australia, Josh shared that he’s known his dream since he was about 10 and never wanted to be anything else.
Being on The Voice and getting all four judges to turn around is a significant achievement for any singer.
Kelly Rowland, one of the judges, praised Josh after his audition, noting his impressive vocal range and vibrant personality.
Despite all four judges, Boy George, Kelly Rowland, Delta Goodrem, and Joe Jonas wanting him on their team, Josh ultimately chose to go with Joe Jonas.
Josh’s rendition of “I’ll Be There” racked up over 5.6 million views on YouTube alone.
The number speaks volumes about how people truly admired his wonderful talent at such a young age.
Josh moved into the next parts of the contest but failed to make it to the end when he lost to Trent Bell during the “Battle” rounds.
Even so, he still left a long-lasting impression on people who saw his talent and potential to be a full-time artist.
“Amazing. Actually is incredible for his age, he sings like an experienced adult but with an angel voice. So talented that I was speechless for a few moments,” one YouTube user commented on Josh’s video.
We couldn’t agree more.
Choosing a Jackson 5 classic despite his age is truly a gamble to take.
While another online viewer is actually wondering if Josh is still singing.
“I really think he could/would have won it all that year. He was phenomenal. Not only did he have a great voice, but his “presence” was off the charts. I’m hoping he is still singing and sharing the unique gifts he has with the world! Does anyone here know what he’s up to these days?”
Watch Josh’s incredible audition piece in the video below!
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