Jake Hoot Wins

Listen to "Jake Hoot The Winner Of NBC's The Voice" on Spreaker.Listen to "Jake Hoot The Winner Of NBC's The Voice" on Spreaker. The Voice Crowns Jake Hoot Season 17 Champion, Giving Coach Kelly Clarkson Her Third Victory! The star-studded finale featured performances by Jennifer Hudson, the Black Eyed Peas, Luke Combs, Lady Antebellum and Dua Lipa Congratulations Jake Hoot! The 31-year-old Cookeville, Tennessee, resident - who has become known for his country sound - was crowned the winner of season 17 of The Voice on Tuesday night. The win came as a complete shock to Hoot, who didn't see it coming. "It means the world," he said of his victory. "I think I went out of breath. I lost all my breath when they announced my name." "Having Kelly believe in me from the get-go and being here tonight is just an incredible thing," he added. Hoot told reporters backstage that he "didn't think it was real" as he continued to return to the show week after week. "From the get-go, for a little bit, I didn't think it was real. Every step of the way, I'm like, 'Alright honey, I'll be home next week' or 'I'll be home after battles' or 'I'll be home after knockouts.' I continued to doubt myself and Kelly continued to encourage me," Hoot said. "If I can say anything, it's stop doubting yourself. Get out of your comfort zone. Get out there and take a chance and there's no telling what you can do." Hoot's win marks the third victory for coach Kelly Clarkson, who first won season 14 with contestant Brynn Cartelli and then went on to win season 15 with contestant Chevel Shepherd. "I just sat there and encouraged him. I'm a pretty good cheerleader because I love humans. I literally am a glorified cheerleader y'all, I did nothing. He did everything," Clarkson told reporters of Hoot. Hoot beat out team Gwen Stefani's Rose Short, team John Legend's Katie Kadan and team Blake Shelton's Ricky Duran. As for how Hoot is ringing in his victory, he explained "I'm going to be celebrating with my girls." "This has been an incredible experience and I will say the hardest part is just being gone from them. So any time I get to spend with them tonight, I'm looking forward to. Snuggles all the time," Hoot said.