Twelve Years Ago Tessanne Chin Became the First and Only Foreign-Born Winner of The Voice

Twelve years ago, music history was made when Tessanne Chin, a powerhouse vocalist from Jamaica, became the first and still the only foreign-born contestant to win The Voice USA. Her Season 5 victory in 2013 was more than a talent-show win; it was a breakthrough moment that reshaped the global reach of the competition.

In September 2013, Tessanne was announced as a contestant on Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice after reggae and dancehall icon Shaggy encouraged her to see the show as a gateway to the international career she had long been working toward. From the moment she stepped onto the stage, it was clear her journey would be different. “Why not,” she said at the time. “The way I see it, I really have nothing to lose. It is an amazing show and I can only broaden my horizons if I am successful. I see it as a kind of reinvention of myself… I can only benefit.”

During the Blind Auditions on September 24, 2013, Tessanne delivered a soaring performance of Pink’s “Try.” The result was immediate and unanimous—all four coaches (Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton) turned their chairs. She ultimately chose Team Adam, a decision that would prove pivotal.

Week after week, Tessanne demonstrated unmatched versatility, seamlessly blending pop, soul, gospel, and reggae influences. Her performances resonated deeply with audiences, particularly her renditions of Jimmy Cliff’s “Many Rivers to Cross,” Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” and Emeli Sandé’s “My Kind of Love.” Public votes repeatedly saved her, signaling strong viewer connection across the United States and beyond.

The turning point of the season came during the Semifinals on December 10, 2013, when Tessanne performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The performance soared to No. 1 on the iTunes chart, making her the first contestant that season to top the chart during a voting window. It also marked her first U.S. chart appearance, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100, Digital Songs, Heatseekers Songs, and the Canadian Hot 100—a rare feat for a competition contestant.

She followed that success one week later with a stunning rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” once again reaching No. 1 on iTunes, becoming the first contestant of the season to achieve the feat twice. Her duet with Adam Levine on The Beatles’ “Let It Be” also charted, further cementing her dominance across platforms.

On December 17, 2013, Tessanne Chin was crowned the winner of The Voice Season 5, reportedly earning the highest number of votes in the show’s history at the time. She finished ahead of Jacquie Lee (runner-up) and Will Champlin (third place). With that win, she officially became the first and only foreign-born artist to ever win The Voice USA.

Immediately following her victory, Tessanne debuted her first U.S. single, “Tumbling Down,” written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. A compilation album featuring studio versions of her The Voice performances titled The Complete Season 5 Collection (The Voice Performance) was also released, charting No. 4 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and confirming her commercial impact beyond the show.