Tessanne Chin

Tessanne Amanda Chin (born September 20, 1985) is a Jamaican singer-songwriter, best known for winning Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice as part of Adam Levine’s team. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, to musician parents in the band The Carnations, Tessanne grew up surrounded by music and began performing at age six. She also trained under her mother and vocal coach Lecie Wright, and spent part of her adolescence in England, which influenced her songwriting and artistic perspective. She is the younger sister of singer Tami Chynn. Tessanne began her professional career performing with the Jamaican rock band Mile High, touring locally and internationally, including a three-year stint as a backup singer for Jimmy Cliff. In 2010, she released her independent debut album, In Between Words, featuring singles such as “Hideaway,” “Messenger,” and “Black Books,” which gained attention on Caribbean radio. She collaborated with artists like Shaggy, Protoje, Third World, and Kes, performing at major Jamaican festivals including Reggae Sumfest and the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. In 2013, Tessanne gained international recognition through The Voice USA. Her blind audition performance of Pink’s “Try” impressed all four coaches, and she chose Adam Levine as her mentor. Her semifinal performances, including “Bridge over Troubled Water” and Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” reached No. 1 on iTunes and charted on the Billboard Hot 100. She ultimately won the competition, becoming the first foreign-born contestant to win, and released her first U.S. single, “Tumbling Down,” written by Ryan Tedder. Tessanne continues to perform internationally, celebrated for her powerful vocals and fusion of reggae, pop, and soul.