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The same day Jake Worthington delivered his second performance at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, he also received an unexpected announcement. The Voice alum and his wife are expecting Baby No. 1.
âWe got us a little one on the way. Weâre praying for a healthy mama and a healthy baby, and ready to see life through that lens,â Worthington said as he caught up with iHeartCountry on the 2024 CMT Music Awards red carpet on Sunday (April 7) in Austin, Texas, his home state. He shared that the pregnancy announcement was ânothing we planned, but itâs the biggest blessing.â Worthington hailed his wife âa beautiful womanâ and said growing their family is âthe greatest honor I have to this day.â
Worhtington and his wife, Sophie, tied the knot in 2022. He announced at that time: âThe greatest gift Iâll ever receive and have to hold is your heart, Mrs. Worthington. We done went and did the damn thing!â
The Texas Country Music Association's reigning Male Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year winner made a strong impression on the coaches of The Voice during his blind audition with âDonât Close Your Eyesâ by Keith Whitley in 2014. Worthington ultimately chose country star Blake Sheltonâs team, and finished runner-up that season. Now, the country artist is gearing up for a year filled with tour dates with some of the genres biggest artists (and fellow Texans), including Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert.Â
âCountry music is one of the only things I never had to question. I feel like I was raised by it a little bit. (Iâm) grateful to somehow be a part of it,â said Worthington, who teased more music heâs recording. The La Porte, Texas-born country star grew up with his grandfatherâs porch performances of Ray Price, Merle Haggard and George Jones, per his bio. Heâs since grown up to perform shows with Johnson, Riley Green, Pat Green, Hank Williams Jr., ERNEST, and others, and collaborate with other artiste on their music. Most recently, he appeared on HARDY's latest HIXTAPE installment, DIFFTAPE, honoring the late Joe Diffie. He collaborated with Reba McEntire on âIs It Cold In Here.â
âI think the ability to talk about things that most canât figure out how to say, you know, I think country musicâs always been there for me, and I know I canât be the only one that feels that way. âŚIâve never been more inspired in country music as of today.â