NEWCASTLE singer Finnian Johnson credited his older sister for rediscovering his love of music, in the aftermath of family tragedy, as he was selected for season 11 of The Voice on Tuesday night.
The Maryland-based 19-year-old performed July by Noah Cyrus and turned the judges chairs of Rita Ora and Jessica Mauboy. Johnson joined Mauboy's team but was limited to tutorials over Zoom due to catching COVID during filming of the TV show last year.
Johnson - who grew up in Cessnock - was a regular performer around the Hunter, supporting the likes of Kirsty Lee Akers, before his mother Michelle Page-Johnson died suddenly in 2018.
The then 16-year-old went to live with his older sister Erin, who helped guide him through the final years of high school at St Joseph's College Lochinvar and into university.
"It was hard as both Erin and her partner were still at uni," Johnson said. "I'm really grateful because they really sacrificed a lot for me."
Last year Johnson returned to gigging and hopes The Voice experience will open new doors for his career.
