by Todd Betzold

With the encouragement of his wife and daughter, Jermaine Paul auditioned for The Voice in hopes of going from a backup singer for Alicia Keys to a headliner himself. He joined a very talented Team Blake and has since impressed the likes of Blake, his mentor Kelly Clarkson and the other three coaches. Today, he talked with RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about his time on The Voice so far, what excites him most about the upcoming live shows and much more.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you want to try out for The Voice?
A. Jermaine: Being that it's a music show and a singing show, it's attracting and after that you kind of look for the integrity of the show and see what the show stands for. My wife and my daughter were watchers of last season. They told me how it wasn't mocking the craft...they wouldn't have awkward things going on during the show to make fun of being a singer, to make fun of being a performer. I take what I do very seriously and I've been doing it for years and I've always wanted to do something that had something like this that had integrity and I think The Voice encompasses that idea.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: We got to see you as you listened to the voicemail from your daughter as you headed to the battle round. What did your daughter have to say to you after you told her you won the battle?
A. Jermaine: After she asked me to do this...she said Daddy, you should do The Voice. I kind of did my research, but she is the bottom line why I am here. Out of all four of my children, she's the one that decided to take up what Daddy does. She wants to sing, she does talent shows, she wants to do it as a career, so she has definitely been the catalyst behind this whole thing for me. She is an amazing, so smart. She reminds me so much of my wife, but she takes on what I do, as far as the talent and the music...she has that. They had voicemails from all my kids, but they only played the one from her. It felt amazing to hear all their voices.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You shocked many people when you chose Blake over Cee Lo during the blind auditions. What's it been like working with Blake so far this season?
A. Jermaine: It's been amazing. Cee Lo's a great guy...really great music and I'm a big fan of his work, but choosing Blake has been one of the best choices I've ever made. Blake challenged me and he made me feel like I would be a player on his team and he's going to look for me to show him what I can do and to do better every time I hit the stage and to work to get America behind me. It really made me feel like he was behind me and push me, like a coach should. Even up until now, he's been every bit of a coach that I need him to be. He's teaching me so much...mainly to relax and have a good time and don't let the nerves get the best of me...don't take it too seriously. Secondly, he's got a country cool about him...he's never flustered. I'm learning to take that and use it for myself.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: He brought in Kelly Clarkson to be your mentor. What was it like working with her for your battle round?
A. Jermaine: That was one of the biggest surprises ever. Walking in and seeing her, I didn't expect that especially since she was on the other show. I didn't expect her to be there, but what a pleasant surprise. The fact only she understands what I'm going through mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically she gets it...she gets the work that we're being acclimated to do and it just makes me feel there's a chance I could make it to the Top 4. She definitely makes me feel like I have the chops...it's very gratifying.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: I totally agree and think you are going to go far in the competition.
A. Jermaine: There's so much talent on my team. Our team is so crazy because we have a little bit of salt, little bit of sugar, little bit of cinnamon...it's all over...so much talent. It's all up to what America wants and what Blake wants to represent him in the end. It could go so many ways.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What are you most excited for with the live shows?
A. Jermaine: I really want to show what I can do. There's so many ways that I can do that, but I'm really excited about just being able to sing. Hopefully something they can sing in their living rooms and jump up and down. Hopefully some folks in the bars, in their homes...wherever they may be when they hear me sing, they want to sing along with me...if I can get them to feel then I've done my job.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Is there anything you want to say to your fans?
A. Jermaine: I just want to extend all the love and gratitude to them for the constant support and constant love...the tweets and the messages. I read them all...I may not be able to respond to them all, but I do read them all. A small word can go so far in something like this. We've been dealing with so much for this and pressures and getting pulled in so many ways. To read something and to feel something that somebody puts on Twitter or Facebook, it makes you feel like a million bucks and hopefully I can get their vote in these live rounds and they can stand behind me and stand with me hopefully through this competition.

The Voice airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC.

(Image courtesy of NBC)

Follow Todd @tbetzold