Jermaine Paul is officially a solo artist.
The former background singer was crowned winner of "The Voice" on Tuesday night's season finale, which secured him with a $100,000 prize and recording contract that could springboard the New Yorker to superstardom.
"It feels so good," he told NBC 4 New York after the finale. He thanked his supporters, pinpointing "everyone in Monroe, Spring Valley, Rockland, Orange, Westchester, upstate New York, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, all of New York."
His family and friends, watching at a viewing party at a local church in Harriman, N.Y., jumped up and whooped with excitement when Paul's name was announced as the winner.
Six of his 10 siblings were with NBC 4 New York at the gathering.
"I was just overjoyed," said his sister Wendy. "We've always supported each other. He watched my kids when I was in college. He's just an extraordinary man. I'm excited for him, ecstatic for him."
Paul edged out Juliet Simms, who took second place in an incredibly close race. Just one quarter of a percentage point separated third-place Tony Lucca from Chris Mann, who came in fourth place.
Paul's emotions poured out ahead of the the highly-anticipated announcement. When asked by host Carson Daly what a win would mean to him, he struggled to get the words out.
"Winning would just mean," he said, before stopping to swallow back tears. The audience roared and he quickly finished his thought. "It would mean the world."
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