If you were watching NBC on a Tuesday night in May 2014, you probably remember the tension. It was the Season 6 finale of The Voice. The air was thick with that specific kind of reality TV drama that makes your palms sweat. When Carson Daly finally opened that envelope, he didn't say the name of a teenage pop prodigy or a country singer with a massive Nashville backing. He said Josh Kaufman.
Honestly, it was a massive moment for the show. Kaufman wasn't just a winner; he was a 38-year-old SAT tutor from Indianapolis who had been gigging at Potbelly Sandwich Shops to support his wife and three kids. He was the "oldest" winner at the time, a guy who proved that the "one last shot" narrative actually works sometimes. But winning a trophy and a record deal is just the start of the story. If you’ve ever wondered why he isn't topping the Billboard Hot 100 every week despite that incredible soul-drenched voice, the answer is a lot more interesting than "he just disappeared."
The Steal That Changed Everything
Most people forget that Josh Kaufman didn't even start on the team he won with. He originally landed a four-chair turn with George Michael’s "One More Try" and picked Team Adam. He seemed like a lock for Levine. But during the Battle Rounds, Adam made what many still call one of the biggest strategic blunders in the show's history: he let Josh go.
Usher, seeing the opening, hit his button for a steal. It was the first time a stolen contestant went on to win the whole thing.
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The chemistry between Usher and Kaufman was weirdly perfect. Usher pushed him out of his shell, moving him from behind the piano and forcing him to own the stage. By the time he hit those high notes in Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" during the Live Top 12, the momentum was unstoppable. He became the first artist that season to hit the iTunes Top 10, which, back in 2014, was the ultimate "litmus test" for who was actually going to win.
That Weird iTunes Glitch
There was a moment where it almost went sideways. During the finale, a technical glitch on iTunes meant that Josh's performance of Adele’s "Set Fire to the Rain" wasn't counting toward his vote totals correctly. Fans were panicking. Social media was a mess. NBC eventually had to release a statement saying they’d removed the iTunes votes for everyone in the finale to keep things fair. Even with that handicap, Josh's raw voting power from the viewers at home carried him to the finish line.
Life After the Confetti: Broadway and Beyond
Winning The Voice usually leads to a standard path: record an album, go on a radio tour, hope for a hit. Josh did things differently. Within months of his win, he wasn't just in a recording studio; he was on Broadway.
He took over the lead role in the revival of Pippin. It was a bold move. Most reality winners stay firmly in the "pop star" lane, but Josh leaned into his theatricality. He played the role from November 2014 until the show closed in early 2015. Reviews were actually quite good—people were surprised that a "TV singer" could handle the physical and vocal demands of a Fosse-style musical.
But what about the music?
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Kaufman eventually released a self-titled EP in 2016. It was soulful, gritty, and felt much more like "him" than the over-produced tracks usually handed to reality winners. He’s always been open about the fact that the post-show contract with Republic Records can be a bit of a "creative bottleneck."
- He played the Indiana State Fair to massive crowds.
- He joined the Indy Jazz Fest.
- He kept his local roots in Indianapolis strong, often performing with his band, The New Etiquette.
Why Josh Kaufman Still Matters
In a world where 20-somethings dominate the charts, Josh Kaufman remains a symbol of the "blue-collar" musician. He didn't have a TikTok following or a gimmick. He had a hat, a pair of glasses, and a voice that sounded like it had lived a few lives.
Kaufman’s victory was the first time a coach other than Adam Levine or Blake Shelton won the show. It broke the "Big Two" monopoly and paved the way for more diverse coaching wins in later seasons. He also showed that The Voice audience isn't just looking for the next Justin Bieber; they actually value technical skill and soul.
Today, Josh is still very much active. He’s a father of four now, and while he’s not dodging paparazzi in LA, he’s consistently working. He’s a "musician’s musician." You can find him on YouTube doing soul covers or playing intimate shows where the focus is 100% on the craft, not the celebrity.
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What you can do next
If you're a fan of that Season 6 sound, the best way to support Josh's legacy is to skip the old TV clips and head straight to his 2016 EP or his more recent singles like "All My Love." Supporting independent releases ensures that artists like him can keep making music on their own terms, free from the constraints of major label "reality TV" contracts. You might also want to check out the work of other Season 6 alumni like the late Christina Grimmie or Jake Worthington to see how that specific class of talent changed the landscape of the show.