The Voice has a new winner! The NBC competition series revealed its season 11 victor during the finale Tuesday, December 13, capping a star-filled episode that included performances by Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Sting, KISS and The Weeknd. (Spoilers ahead — and read Us Weekly‘s full finale recap here!)
Sundance Head prevailed in the end, winning the title over fellow finalists Billy Gilman (second place), Wé McDonald (third) and Josh Gallagher (fourth). The victory marked coach Blake Shelton‘s fifth win.
The 37-year-old Head, who hails from Houston and is known for his long beard and love of country music, tells Us Weekly that he will never be the same after his time on the show.
“The show changed me,” Head tells Us. “One thing it did teach me was how much I love and respect my wife and also my family, and how much they really mean to me. I mean, of course you love your kids, but I hadn’t been away from my children for four months before, and it was really hard, and it got really difficult up to, you know, even this week.”
“So I’m just ready for this whole process to be over … and I’m ready to go spend some time with my family,” he continues. “I took all of December off, so we can just hang out and do whatever they want to do really. I’m really looking forward to that opportunity.”
When asked by Us if he ever felt like he fit in during the season, Head quips, “I’m always trying to fit in, so no. Maybe next week!”
The singer got emotional when host Carson Daly named him the winner during the finale. Head performed his original song “Darling Don’t Go” to close the show, adorably referring to wife Misty as the champion.
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The Voice returns to NBC for season 12 in early 2017.
