Meet Todd Tilghman | Husband. Dad. Songwriter. Recording Artist. Winner of Season 18 on NBC’s The Voice.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Todd Tilghman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Todd, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
Intentional humility.

As a younger dad, I think I subscribed a lot more to the common ideology that mom and dad are right and that’s it. Now I have grown kids who’ve moved out and started lives of their own. I also have younger kids, elementary age. Through the years, I’ve learned one of the most important things I can do as a dad is say I was wrong, and I’m sorry. And then try to do better.

Intentional kindness.

I’m a man of strong faith. But I didn’t want to model the “rule-driven God” mentality people of faith can fall into. It’s always been important for me to try and show my kids people deserve our respect because they’re people. We speak kind words to the people we meet, or we just smile. Offer help when we can. Respect people automatically, upon meeting them. Trust is surely earned, but kindness and respect are free.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This is such a layered question.

My art, professionally at least, is my music. It’s tough for me to say what sets me apart. I’ve always sort of thought that’s a question for the listeners.

I am a bit unique in that my vision is to share my faith in songs maybe anyone can relate to in some way, especially families. So I don’t really fall neatly into any specific genre. Some of the music is clearly, overtly faith-filled. Much of it, though, are stories of all the beautiful gifts God has given me: my wife, kids, extended family, mountains, sunsets, etc.

I’m most proud of my family. I’m proud of Brooke, and I’m proud of the kids. And, I guess like any artist, I’m most excited professionally about the next release: Holy Place. It’s on radio now but doesn’t release to streaming until later in March. I’m excited about my oldest son getting married this summer. He’s the first of all the kids, and he’s marrying an exceptional woman. There’s nothing really like witnessing your child truly love, and truly be loved.

My introduction to the music world, professionally, was unconventional. I attended an open call audition for The Voice, basically at the insistence of my wife. I didn’t expect them to put me on the show at all, so I certainly didn’t expect to win.

That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of challenges from different directions. First off, I didn’t enter the. Industry professionally until I was 42 years old. No one likes to admit it, but the music industry, for an artist, is tough to break into when you’re not young. Then there are the challenges I’d say are more common. Lots of closed doors. Lots of big promises followed by unanswered calls. Plenty of people to tell you whether the songs are any good or not.

There’s a circle a lot of artists like me have probably walked around a hundred times…like I have. The industry professional says they’re looking for something different. You bring something different. Then they say it’s not really like what they do. And you’re back at the start of the circle.

An unexpected challenge comes from the people who actually love what I do. They’re all really amazing to me. Only, when you win a national TV singing competition, people kind of start thinking that’s it. You made it. So it’s harder to keep the base mobilized when you’re releasing new music, etc. a lot of really great people see you on TV, or they see you releasing music, or they see you on the Grand Ole Opry, and it doesn’t automatically occur to them that you’re out here working as hard as you can, and praying it works out.

The best way I can say I’ve overcome any challenges (not that I don’t have plenty on the wait list) is having faith enough to keep going. Show up and do what you know to do. When a rejection is certain, accept it and take the time to feel how you feel about it. Then keep moving. Apply constructive advice, and try (it’s pretty difficult, actually) not to let the critics take up residence in your head. Certainly not in your heart.

I’ve learned the world is, indeed, filled with self-serving, dishonest people who want to use your gifts for their own gain. But I’ve learned, even more, that there are amazing people out there. There are people you can build relationships with that will last a lifetime. And those relationships, though often professional, aren’t contingent on what either party can do for the other. I’ve learned there are wonderful human beings, ones I may never meet, who are completely invested in every song I release, and all the other stuff I do. I’ve learned to never, ever be the smartest person in the room. That one’s pretty easy to abide by.

I want people to know I’m not a brand. If I am, then the brand is me. It’s who I am. These songs are what I’ve lived. And if there’s anything I want them to take away from my story, it’s that they shouldn’t be ashamed to live their own story. Fully. When I was on The Voice, there was lots of chatter about me being married for all these years, having eight kids, going through two adoptions… But I always tried to remind people I didn’t wake up one day like that. We worked hard, and we trusted God. There were a lot of tears and sleepless nights, and disagreements, and uncertainty.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came for a week and we could do whatever we wanted, we’d probably start by sitting at the fire pit in the yard, talking and listening to music.

I live near Nashville, so there’s plenty of fun to be had. Plenty of bands to be heard. Sometimes I do those things.

But we’d probably make a week out of hiking, and maybe camping. Cooking. Talking and laughing.

I imagine I’d probably make sure we took a trip to Jiffy Burger in Manchester (near where I live), though I’d have to go no-ketchup/no-bun (keto). And to the Mountain Goat in Monteagle for a Philly Cheese (at least that’s what I’d get).

I’m kind of a homebody and a bit of an introvert, believe it or not. I’m a simple man.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife, Brooke.

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Image Credits
Madison Day Media
Opry Entertainment