Oklahoma Singer Jake Tankersley Advances On 'The Voice'

It may just be music to some people, but to Jake Tankersley, it’s a way of life.

“I’ve been writing songs since I was 17, 16 years old, but I’ve been singing and playing since I was 3, 4 years old,” he said.

That lifestyle landed him an audition for the reality singing competition, "The Voice."

“The day of, I remember stepping onto the stage; the doors opened up, and I remember just making eye contact with the microphone,” said Jake. 

The country artist made an immediate impression. Within seconds of his blind audition, judge Snoop Dogg wasted no time pushing his button. Not long after, Jake was met with a four-chair turn, which meant all the judges wanted him on their team.

“It gave me confidence, in myself and in my ability and the gift that I have, and made me believe in myself again,” said Jake, who chose Snoop Dogg as his coach.

His wife, Ashleigh, has watched him flourish since they met in high school.

“The people you love in your life, you want to see them succeed and a lot of times, people see the success, but they don’t see the grind,” she said. 

She says he’s been working so hard for so long and now the world is finally seeing what he has to offer. Jake says that feels surreal.

“You finally see some of the fruit, you’re finally experiencing some of that,” he said. 

As he prepares for the next round, now on Team Gwen, he says the experience means more than the spotlight--it's about remembering his roots.

“It means the world, I love this state, I love the people in it,” he said.

Jake Tankersley may be on the big stage now, but it’s still just him and his guitar and he’s still the same guy from Oklahoma.

“I’ll never stop being that guy, for sure, I want to continue just to be who I am, regardless,” he said. 

Jake is performing in Claremore at the Robson Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available on his website HERE.