More than a decade after winning Season 5 of The Voice, Jamaican songbird Tessanne Chin is set to make a triumphant return to the United States for a highly anticipated performance at the Jamaica Strong concert at UBS Arena in Queens on Friday, December 12.
Tessanne will share the stage with reggae and dancehall heavyweights, including Shaggy, Sean Paul, KES, Inner Circle, Ky-Mani Marley, Aidonia, Chronic Law, T.O.K., Gramps Morgan, Richie Stephens, Mikey Spice, Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, I-Octane, and gospel singer Kevin Downwell.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be able to use my voice for our country even though I wish the circumstances were different,” Tessanne told Caribbean National Weekly. “I feel like every Jamaican believes that it is our duty to answer our country’s call, particularly when the need is so great.”
Following her victory on The Voice in 2013, Tessanne performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She also appeared at the 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards and was a featured performer on The Voice Tour, which traveled across the United States. Her television appearances include NBC’s Today Show, Kathie Lee & Hoda, Live with Kelly & Michael, Access Hollywood, and New York Live. In 2013, she was named Caribbean Journal’s Artist of the Year and received a Luminary Award from the University of the West Indies.
Tessanne’s winning performances included an emotional rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which earned her the #1 spot on the iTunes USA Top 100 charts, and a stirring rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. She also topped the iTunes singles chart with “I Have Nothing” and her duet with Adam Levine, “Let It Be”.
“New York and the entire tri-state area are excited to welcome Tessanne to our beloved city for what promises to be an emotionally charged performance at UBS Arena that will benefit Jamaica,” said event co-producer Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Radio.
Speaking about her upcoming performance, Tessanne shared, “I get to do something I love in a place that I love (NYC).”
Kacy Rankine, CEO of Roadblock Radio in New York, added, “Having Tessanne Chin on stage in the USA, back where she was so embraced by fans during her Voice run, adds another incredible layer of excitement to the UBS Arena Jamaica Strong benefit concert. We’re uniting the best of reggae and dancehall music for what promises to be a December to remember.”
Fans have taken to social media to welcome Tessanne to New York.
“I chose her as my winner on The Voice from Day 1. See you on 12th December at UBS in my hometown,” an Instagram fan wrote. Another Facebook user said, “Absolutely amazing,” adding, “Yes yes yes… awesome, love me some Tessanne Chin.”
One fan asked whether Tessanne’s sister Tammy Chin and husband Wayne Marshall would be in New York to cheer her on. They, along with thousands of fans, will have to be inside UBS Arena on December 12 to find out.
