VOICE CHAMP SMITH TAKES OVER iTUNES CHARTS, FANS' HEARTS

That was quick. Jordan Smith, who won season 9 of The Voice Tuesday night, has three of the Top 5 singles at iTunes, with the seasonal “Mary Did You Know” topping the chart, while The Complete Season 9 Collection, comprising 11 of his performances on the show, is presently #5. He’s an uncommonly skillful and powerful vocalist, but that’s just part of the story.

No previous Voice contestant has elicited a stronger reaction than Smith, and the basis of his appeal clearly has to do with the fact that he’s not your garden-variety star in waiting. The 21-year-old Kentuckian isn’t handsome, svelte, chic or macho; indeed, he goes against type on virtually every level, and through the season, the coaches continually praised him for overcoming great odds, or words to that effect.

“I haven’t always been the coolest person,” Smith admitted in an interview before the season began, explaining that singing in church is where his roots are and what he loves. Because of his high voice, he said he’s invariably addressed as “ma’am” on the phone and at drive-throughs. “Through that, I had to learn that being different is what made me special,” he noted. “It’s my gift. This is just an amazing share that it’s OK to be different and it’s OK to be yourself because you were made that way, and that’s what God intended you to be.”

It’ll be interesting to see how Smith fares in the majors; winning the show automatically earns him a record deal with Republic.