The Voice season 26: Who is Jake Tankersley? Age, Instagram, and more explored

The Voice season 26 premiered on NBC on September 23, 2024, with Carson Daly as the host. Snoop Dog, Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani, and Reba McEntire as the coaches. One of the contestants who captivated everyone's attention during the blind audition was The Voice contestant, Jake Tankersley.

The 31-year-old country singer from Claremore, Oklahoma, has an impressive background in music. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is still pursuing his dream of being a successful musician.

Jake impressed the coaches with his soulful voice and heartfelt performance during The Voice season 26. It is worth noting that Jake has previously appeared on American Idol season 15.

The Voice, an American singing competition television series, was first released in 2011 and has since been instrumental in discovering and honing new musical talents.

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Before joining The Voice season 26, Jake Tankersley

Jake Tankersley grew up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and had been musically inclined since he was a child. His father nurtured and supported The Voice contestant's talents by gifting him several musical instruments over the years. These included a guitar, a small sound system, microphones, and a drum kit.

Jake wrote his first original song when he was 17 years old and studying at Charles Page High School in Tulsa. In 2014, he formed a band with his brother, Colton Joe Tankersley, and friends Eric Cope and Casey Highfill. The band saw Jake as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Colton as the lead guitarist, and their friends on bass and drums.

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Rise to fame

At the beginning of his career, Jake performed live shows at several venues and found a loyal fan base. As he honed his musical skills, Jake got his big break in 2016, when he was chosen as one of the top 200 contestants on American Idol. However, he was unable to advance further in the competition.

Jake released his first full-length album, The Little Things, in 2018, making a huge milestone in his career. Since its release, Jake has continued to create and perform music, steadily building his repertoire and fan base.

Jake wrote one of his most touching songs, See You Soon, as a tribute to two of his former classmates, Hannah Christian and Cassidy Rotramel. The two girls were killed in a car accident when they were 15.

Jake wrote and recorded the song during his senior year at Charles Page High School. See You Soon became an anthem of remembrance and support, gaining traction on local radio stations and raising over $7,000 for the families of his classmates.

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Personal life and family

Jake married his high school sweetheart, Ashleigh Lauren Tankersley in 2011, and the couple has four children together. They often post pictures of their family life on social media, showing their love and affection for each other and their children.

The singer is also close to his mother, who worked as an electrician at the Ford Motor Company Glass Plant. After retirement, she started her own furniture business. The singer called his mother the "hardest worker," often inspiring him.

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The Voice audition

In The Voice season 26's premiere, Jake stunned the coaches during his blind audition with his performance of Zach Bryan’s Something in the Orange. He secured a four-chair turn, with all four judges, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire, and Michael Bublé vying for him on their teams. Ultimately, Jake chose to join Team Snoop, setting the tone for his journey on the show.

During the auditions, Snoop Dogg expressed his admiration and enthusiasm, coupled with Jake’s talent, promising an exciting journey on The Voice.

"Jake, Jake, Jake, Jake! I was first. I jumped on it like we was on Family Feud, Jake. I wasn’t playing," Snoop said.

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The Voice season 26 premiered on Monday, September 23, at 8 pm ET on NBC, and new episodes were available to stream the following day on Peacock.