Up close and personal with Jake Hoot, Season 17 Winner of “The Voice”

Jake Hoot is bringing his amazing country sounds to The Woodlands again on August 25. He kick-started his career as winner of season 17 of the popular TV singing competition, “The Voice,” with Kelly Clarkson as his voice coach and has been entertaining the world ever since. We sat down with Jake to ask him a few questions about his background and his August 25 concert at Dosey Doe Big Barn. 

Click here to purchase tickets to the August 25, Dosey Doe, Jake Hoot concert.  



Question:

Jake, can you tell us a little about your early background and your auditioning for the TV show, “The Voice?”

Answer:

'I'm the second oldest of nine kids. My parents were missionaries, so we grew up overseas in the Dominican Republic for most of my childhood. I moved back to Tennessee to play college football. I knew I wanted to play, I just didn't know where. I fell in love with Middle Tennessee, Cookeville. I ended up playing at Tennessee Tech University and played music here and there. Then I started playing almost every weekend. Then The Voice opportunity came. 

I was working in radio at the time. I was a sales rep and creative guy. I also wrote a ton of commercials and did a lot of voiceover work. Then The Voice opportunity came along and I ended up going and trying out.  I thought “why not,” what's the worst that could happen? I think I lacked self confidence from the get go because I was shocked every time they told me that I passed on to the next round.  I kept my backpack the entire competition because I was just like, “I’m going home this week.” Somehow I just stayed in it and so it was an incredible experience. I think playing all those weekend shows at college bars, wineries and breweries really helped me fine tune who I was as an artist. Then The Voice just kind of took that and kind of blew it up a little bit. And so, it was an incredible experience.'



Question: 

Jake, can you tell us about your post “The Voice” work

Answer:

'We won The Voice at the end of 2019 and we had a bunch of touring setup for about a year and a half afterwards. But as everybody knows, the beginning of 2020 COVID hit so we kind of got grounded almost immediately after the show. And that was tough. We lost a lot of momentum. But you know, we found other ways to stay busy and other ways to kind of reinvent the wheel as everybody did. I feel like at that time we played a lot of online shows and a lot of Facebook shows. Then we started hitting the road again once COVID started lifting, and we played a ton of different shows during COVID. With a couple writers in Nashville, I wrote a song called “I Would Love You” and pitched it to Kelly and Kelly actually sang on it. We went to LA and filmed a music video with her. But the opportunities have been huge. I have met so many incredible people. We played Grand Ole Opry 13 times and got to open for the band Alabama four or five times.  We're actually opening for Alabama this weekend. There's just a ton of different incredible opportunities, but one of the biggest ones is just writers. I've been able to get in the room with some big hit songwriters to try and get that side of my craft that much better as well.'

Question:

What musical artists influenced you growing up?

Answer:

Well, honestly, before I went back to the States, I hadn't listened to a ton of country. I listened to everything like John Denver and James Taylor. But my favorite band of all time is the Eagles and so I took a lot of inspiration from the Eagles. And then I moved back and fell in love with Alan Jackson and George Strait and so absolutely love that style of music.

Question:

So you had mentioned trying to develop your writing side, is that kind of where you're wanting to move to - more writing? or do you like performing as well?

Answer:

Oh, I love performing. I really do. I think for me, as an artist, a lot of artists don't write their own stuff and I am totally open to singing other people's songs that other people have written. But for me, I would love to be able to do that at the same time. So be able to perform and write songs for myself and other artists as well. Just because I love to create and write songs, whether they're for you or for somebody else is one of the most incredible ways to create. And so yeah, so I think I would still love to be performing but have that writing thing going on at the center.

Question:

What can people expect to hear at your August 25 concert? Will your performance be a mixture of covers and original songs?

Answer:

Mostly originals. I do play a couple covers from when I was on The Voice. I play a couple covers of some songs that I just absolutely love. And of course we like to do one or two sing-along songs and get everybody going. But you know, we I love I think as time has gone on, I've written more songs. I love putting my stuff out there and just seeing how people react and how people connect to my music. And so majority of its going to be originals, but we do we do sprinkle some of those covers in

Click here to purchase tickets to the August 25, Dosey Doe, Jake Hoot concert. 

About Dosey Doe Big Barn

This 165 year old historical structure has been saved for its current purpose. Originally built as a tobacco barn in Kentucky, the 300-600 year old growth oak and birch massive beams are the foundation not only for a beautiful room for also for great acoustics. It is a place where memories are made. No need to run from restaurant to music hall, as here you have it all.

Our entrees are 'cooked from scratch' based on the season, special offerings of purveyors with the type of music of the night in mind. Our task is to offer a meal that would be the reason in and of itself to visit Dosey Doe. The presentation is note worthy and the creations are featured in several Cook Books from Canada to Texas. 

Nationally recognized artists from around the world no dominate the calendar here: from Jerry Jeff Walker to The Rippingtons, Dave Mason to Lee Roy Parnell, Clint Black to Bela Fleck, Leon Russell to Spyro Gyra, Steve Wariner to Hayes Carll, Roger Creager to Mel Tillis, Manhattan Transfer to Gallagher... up very close and personal. Most artists will stay to have photos taken and give autographs after the show. Many very rarely do it anywhere but here and almost everyone says it is one of their favorite rooms to play.

'I have played them all, big and small, but I have never played a place that sounds as good as Dosey Doe!' - Gary P Nunn

'I will gladly tell anyone that Carnegie Hall cannot compete with Dosey Doe,' - Michael Martin Murphy

'One of my all time top 5 places to have played,' - Marcia Ball

Come early and enjoy the room. Filled with Americana artifacts from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, there is plenty to see. Your hands touching the hand-hewn 2000lb barn beams, your eyes filled with art, artifacts, signage from a simpler time, your taste buds excited from salad to dessert, and music so pure - up close and personal... all designed to 'Take You Away' and create a memory you will keep. 

The BIG BARN is home to great causes such as RETT and SWING FOR A CURE; benefits where proceeds go to help children's illnesses. The BIG BARN is available for large wedding receptions, corporate functions, birthdays and anniversary parties.