House Concurrent Resolution 74

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE OUTSTANDING MUSICAL TALENT OF PASTOR TODD TILGHMAN AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON WINNING THE 18TH SEASON OF NBC'S THE VOICE.

WHEREAS, praised for his passionate and invigorating performances, as well as for his "holy hop," Pastor Todd Tilghman was named the winner of NBC's 18th season of The Voice, a truly momentous accomplishment that presents renowned national acclaim upon both Pastor Tilghman and the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, contestants on The Voice, a televised singing competition, are chosen during "blind" auditions by showcasing only their raw vocal talent, and not by their appearance or slick production; and

WHEREAS, during his audition on February 24, 2020, Pastor Tilghman turned all four of the celebrity judges' chairs, a rarity for the show, in his debut performance of Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight," and in the weeks that followed, his personal story, enormous enthusiasm and neighborly personality won over fans as much as the powerful voice that came from within; and

WHEREAS, a resident of Meridian, Mississippi, Pastor Tilghman has been pastor of Cornerstone Church, a ministry that his father, Clarence Tilghman, held before him, since 2011; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Tilghman married his high school sweetheart, Brooke, and they have eight children, and it was only at Brooke's persistence that he gave himself a shot at the opportunity to compete on The Voice; and

WHEREAS, coached by Blake Shelton, who has coached seven musicians to the championship title, Pastor Tilghman's jubilance, family-man aura and simplicity built a following across America, and week after week, the nation learned what people in Meridian already knew - that Pastor Tilghman is a genuine, down-to-earth individual and a family man with an overflowing compassion to match his enthusiasm; and

WHEREAS, during the final performances from the Top 5, Pastor Tilghman took fans back to his roots by singing a rendition of "I Can Only Imagine" by the Christian rock band MercyMe, and for his original song he performed "Long Way Home"; and

WHEREAS, the other outstanding performers had their own wonderful talents and amazing stories to tell, but it was apparent that Pastor Todd Tilghman, of Meridian, Mississippi, was the man for the moment; and

WHEREAS, after the final performances, Pastor Tilghman and his family gathered at Cornerstone Church, while fans attended a watch party at the historic Temple Theatre in downtown Meridian, anxiously awaiting the results, and as Carson Daly announced Pastor Tilghman as the winner, a tremendous amount of "holy hopping" was happening, along with shouts and tears of joy; and

WHEREAS, the phenomenal outpouring of love and support from Pastor Tilghman's community has been astounding, and he stated that he gives immense credit to his family, especially his wife, Brooke, who has been invaluable during this time; and

WHEREAS, the day Pastor Tilghman was announced as The Voice champion, his song "Long Way Home" was ranked No. 1 on the iTunes Top 100 songs chart, and was holding at No. 2 later that week, while his "Authority Song" duet with Blake Shelton was at No. 9; and

WHEREAS, as winner of The Voice, Pastor Tilghman received $100,000.00 and a recording contract, and Blake Shelton will continue to help him throughout his future career in music; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend exceptional Mississippians, especially those such as Pastor Tilghman, whose outstanding musical talent, exceptional service to his community and extraordinary devotion to his family have brought honor to Cornerstone Church, the Meridian community and the Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the outstanding musical talent of Pastor Todd Tilghman, congratulate him upon winning the 18th season of NBC's The Voice and extend best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Pastor Todd Tilghman and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.