Cassadee Pope was crowned the winner of Season Three of The Voice on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The hit NBC TV show is a singing competition that awards the winner with $100,000 and a recording contract.
Pope, 23, is a Florida-based singer attempting to start a solo career after founding the punk band, Hey Monday. She edged out Scottish rock singer, Terry McDermott, and Minnesota’s Nicholas David, who came in second and third place respectively in the voting.
“I’m still caught up in the moment. I still feel like this is just not real. I feel like I’m dreaming, but I am so happy right now,” Pope said.
Pope has had several number one hits on iTunes throughout her stint on the show including a heartfelt song called “Over You,” co-written by her coach on The Voice, Blake Shelton. “Over You” trumped “Gangnam Style” after PSY’s mega-hit song spent months sitting at the top spot on the chart. Pope’s rendition of “Cry” by Faith Hill on the show’s finale on Monday night also managed to reach the top spot on the iTunes chart overnight and stole the hearts of the judges as well.
“You accomplished everything that I was really hoping you would accomplish. I am so proud of you. You did an amazing job,” said Adam Levine .
Pope will be remembered as the top selling artist on the first three seasons of the show after seeing her last seven solo songs she performed place in the top ten of the iTunes chart. She also made headlines for publicly defending The Roxy after Levine bashed the Los Angeles music venue for a dressing room snub .
Season four of The Voice begins on March 25, 2013 where Usher and Shakira will replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green as judges on the show. Levine and Shelton are slated to stay with the show through next season.