Australia was far from surprised to find out the incredibly gifted Bella Taylor Smith had won The Voice 2021.
Her stunning rendition of The Greatest Showman’s Never Enough and her emotional duet of Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer with her mentor Guy Sebastian were both show-stopping moments.
From her very first blind audition, the 23-year-old had been wowing audiences and moving judges to tears with her powerful voice.
The Voice‘s finale was recorded months before its Sunday night airdate, and four different versions of the night were filmed, so it was a unique experience for Bella, who sat in her own home to discover she had achieved her dream.
The Sydneysider has opened up to WHO about experiencing the moment her life changed forever from her couch.
“I was sitting on my couch not really sure what to think of it all, and all of a sudden, my name was called, and I was so filled with joy,” she says.
Inspired by the humility fans of the show have come to know Bella for the church singer insists she was completely shocked to discover she won.
“I just think you don’t know these kinds of things until you know, and all of the top four were so so deserving like I really mean it, they’re incredibly talented in their own rights,” says Bella.
“So, I could never bring myself to assume or to think it would probably be me.”
Watching Bella’s relationship with her mentor Guy deepen throughout their time working together was a treat for audiences, and their union came to a beautiful new beginning as their time on the reality show concluded.
Clearly, besotted with her talents in a thrilling moment last night, Guy asked Bella to support him on his tour.
After their beautiful performance, Guy asked, “It would be an honour for me to have you. You don’t have to answer now.”
Bella was overwhelmed with joy when she replied, “I can answer now that would be incredible, thank you.”
It was a tender moment, and it was apparent Guy genuinely caught Bella off guard.
“It was definitely a huge surprise, and the funniest part of it all was when he said, ‘no pressure’ and ‘like you don’t have to answer now’,” she recounts.
WATCH The Voice Grand Finale: Bella Taylor Smith and Guy Sebastian sing The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli. Story continues below.
As Bella recounts the exchange, she can’t help but burst into laughter when she remembers thinking, “As if, of course, I would.”
“It’s like the biggest honour, and when you really stop and think about musicians, and how they build their whole lives and careers to do things like tour and release albums and for him to entrust me coming with him, that is an incredible honour and privilege.”
Guy and Bella haven’t just bonded over their passion for music but also their deep connection to their faith.
For, Bella it was incredibly valuable to have that shared experience with her mentor because it helped her to feel seen.
“I think, you know, faith is a really important part of my life, and not to speak for Guy, but I know it’s something that is really important for him as well.
“And those values and kind of life lessons that come along with that is something that can be really defining for an individual, so I felt like he really understood where I was coming from and could understand what I was passionate about,” she says.
Throughout her journey on the show, Bella has been brave and honest as she’s publicly discussed her father’s addiction and his 2020 arrest.
Of course, the young singing teacher didn’t have to be so candid, but she insists it was important to her to help others with her story.
“I think it is important to recognise that everyone has their stuff and for me, it’s been really defining in my character and the ways I am who I am, you know, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the things I have been through, just like everyone else,” says Bella.
“So, for me sharing those things, I had hoped it was an encouragement, and also to shed some light on why what I do is so important to me, and why I sing the way that I do, and why I perform the way that I perform, and where that all comes from.”
Bella’s dad is currently in a rehabilitation facility where he is awaiting his trial. So, it was a sweet moment for the family when he could Zoom with his daughter to celebrate her win.
“He was Zoomed last night, which is so funny… it was pretty funny; actually, he was with all the other guys [in the facility],” Bella says with a sweet laugh.
The Voice winner receives a $100,000 cash prize and a lucrative recording contract with Universal Music Australia.
Of course, that is a life-changing gift for any performer, but for Bella, it has genuinely transformed her life.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, like many artists around Australia, Bella found herself out of work, struggling to pay bills all while going through deep family issues.
As a result of her win, she now has invaluable financial security.
“Honestly, this whole process has been so funny because of Covid I haven’t been working and with family stuff it has been challenging, so even paying my rent is not something that I have had the luxury of being able to do,” she says.
“Really, it’s been really tough, so just the idea of getting out of some debt and being ahead and just being financially stable is the biggest burden, and weight lifted off my shoulders ever, so that is huge for me.”
Fans of Bella can be excited to hear she has been writing and recording music on her own, which she is excited to share with the world eventually.
For a snippet into the future, when asked about how she would describe her music, she muses on the words, “Warm, emotive, and safe.”
This article originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.
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