‘The Voice’ Finalist Moves Judges, Audience to Tears with Worship Song ‘Gratitude’
No one really expects Hollywood to produce a “moment” where God is glorified in front of a national audience, but when it happens, we should take notice.
One such moment happened on December 12 during the finale of NBC’s The Voice, a reality competition television show where unsigned singers from all walks of life vie for the ultimate prize of $100,000 and a recording contract.
A talented artist named Bodie Kuljian chose to perform the worship song “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake during the finale, and accompanied by a worship choir and band, unabashedly praised the Lord.
Here’s the video of Bodie’s performance.
The chorus of “Gratitude,” perhaps familiar to many Christians, says:
So come on my soul
Oh, don’t you get shy on me
Lift up your song
‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord
Following Bode’s rendition, one of judges, singer Gwen Stefani, was almost at a loss for words.
“I’m choking on my tears over here,” Stefani said. “You have a superpower behind you, it’s a truth. I think it comes from your pure faith that you have…I can’t even speak right now, that was so beautiful.”
Bodie’s first song in the competition, during what are called the “the blind auditions” was The Fray’s angsty “You Found Me,” which earned him a “four-chair turn” where all four judges, who are listening to the performance but can’t see the artist, turn their chairs toward the artist and then vie among themselves to become the artist’s “coach” for the rest of the competition.
Bodie chose country star Blake Shelton as his coach. The three other judges included John Legend, Gwen Stefani and Camila Cabello.
Bodie recalled first trying out for The Voice in 2016 or 17, but nothing panned out until he received an email in 2021 asking him to come to the blind auditions. Why did he persevere?
“I’m here because I felt like God told me to do this, and I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t feel that way,” the artist told Parade.
“And so, I’ve been asked this question so many times, ‘Do you want to win?’ ‘How do you feel?’ ‘Do you think you’re going to win?’ And I’m just so fully submitted to God’s plan, so I already won to me.”
Bodie ultimately came in second out of the 56 artists in the competition, losing to another of Blake Shelton’s team members, country singer Bryce Leatherwood. But not before Bodie had attracted a new fan: Brandon Lake, the singer/songwriter who wrote “Gratitude.” Lake took to Instagram to post his reaction to Bodie’s performance:
“Last night watching @bodie bring it on @nbcthevoice!! Good luck to all the contestants, but you know I’m cheering for my boy @bodie!! Tune in tonight to see the results.”
Kudos to Bodie for using his national platform on The Voice to glorify his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It not only took talent, but courage as well, to perform a song like that. No doubt someone watching at that moment needed to hear the message in that song.
The 29-year-old Bodie and his wife, Royale, have been married for seven years and have three children.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bruce Hausknecht, J.D., is an attorney who serves as Focus on the Family’s judicial analyst. He is responsible for research and analysis of legal and judicial issues related to Christians and the institution of the family, including First Amendment freedom of religion and free speech issues, judicial activism, marriage, homosexuality and pro-life matters. He also tracks legislation and laws affecting these issues. Prior to joining Focus in 2004, Hausknecht practiced law for 17 years in construction litigation and as an associate general counsel for a large ministry in Virginia. He was also an associate pastor at a church in Colorado Springs for seven years, primarily in worship music ministry. Hausknecht has provided legal analysis and commentary for top media outlets including CNN, ABC News, NBC News, CBS Radio, The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and BBC radio. He’s also a regular contributor to The Daily Citizen. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Hausknecht has been married since 1981 and has three adult children, as well as three adorable grandkids. In his free time, Hausknecht loves getting creative with his camera and capturing stunning photographs of his adopted state of Colorado.
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