Arts & Entertainment

Jacquie Lee Finishes Second on The Voice

Jacquie Lee of Colts Neck has finished second in NBC's The Voice, losing out to Tessanne.

But spirits were high until the very end, and chants of "Jacquie, Jacquie, Jacquie," filled the room of Iplay America just before they announced the winers.

iPlay America in Freehold was one of a few places Tuesday night holding a viewing party for the season finale of The Voice, where Colts Neck teen Jacquie Lee was competing for a record contract.

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“Every time we hear someone from Jersey is on, we tune in. Jersey pride,” said Grace Brennan, who has been watching The Voice since it began.

The viewing party was co-sponsored by CentraState Healthcare System and was spearheaded by Kenneth Tomkovich, MD, who has been a fan of Jacquie’s for some time, and shares some of the same friends. He said he made it a mission of his to get Jacquie as many votes as possible and after weeks of spreading the word through friends, acquaintances and local sport clubs, he decided to up the ante for the finale by organizing viewing parties on Monday and Tuesday.

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“Win or lose, she’s a winner,” said Tomkovich during the party.

Lee is a Ranney School student in Tinton Falls and entered the singing competition by joining Christina Aguilera's team. Locally, Lee won Freehold Idol this year in Downtown Freehold.

The 16-year-old is the youngest member of "The Voice" cast and has been meeting with a tutor during the days to keep up with her schoolwork.

Before Tuesday’s finale, A. Richard Gatto, CEO of Downtown Freehold, told Patch that he was blown away the first time he heard Jacquie. It was during a Freehold Idol competition.

“In 2012 Jacquie was one of our last contestant to compete and made the finals the last week of competition and went on to win the finals the following week singing, ironically, last night’s song, ‘Back to Black’ by Amy Winehouse,” he said. “She was the first contestant to perform in our Finale and she totally ‘killed it’ just like she did last night on the Voice. She was then, as she is now, a charming, delightful and extremely talented young lady with a voice that far exceeds her age.”


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