California native Bodie Kuljian, 29, who goes by his first name, gave a moving performance on the season finale of “The Voice” this week when he performed the worship song, “Gratitude,” by Brandon Lake. Even though Bodie placed second in the competition, before the finale aired he said he felt he had already won because he was submitted to God’s will.
“I’m here because I felt like God told me to do this, and I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t feel that way,” Bodie told Parade. “And so, I’ve been asked this question so many times, ‘Do you want to win?’ ‘How do you feel?’ ‘Do you think you’re going to win?’ And I’m just so fully submitted to God’s plan, so I already won to me.”
Bodie’s Rendition of ‘Gratitude’ Evokes Tears
Bodie is a husband and father of three who teaches songwriting and helps coach a church music group at Vanguard University in Orange County. He wowed judges from the start, securing a four-chair turn after his blind audition. During the two-part finale’s first episode, which aired Monday, Bodie performed “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake, a worship pastor who is affiliated with Maverick City Music and Bethel Music.
The lyrics to the chorus of the song are:
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a king
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
When asked to give feedback after Bodie’s performance was over, an emotional Gwen Stefani said, “Choking on my tears over here. You have like a superpower behind you, it’s a truth, and I think it really comes from your pure faith that you have.” Blake Shelton, Bodie’s coach on the show, said it was “one of the most moving performances I’ve seen in a long time.”
