Chris Mann Releases Albums, Performs At Rockefeller

Classically-trained musician Chris Mann, 30, who rose to fame as Christina Aguilera's team lead on NBC's The Voice, is releasing two albums just in time for the holidays: Roads, featuring an appearance by his coach Aguilera, and Home For Christmas, a Christmas album available exclusively at Walmart. But that's not all: the Wichita, Kans., native will also perform at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting in New York later this month and record a concert with special guests for a PBS special that will air nationwide in 2013. “I’m running around with my head cut off,” Mann said from his new hometown, Los Angeles, as he was gearing to perform for Barry Manilow at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Gala. “There are just so many wonderful things happening.”

And it's about time. The classical pop singer has been working towards his big break since graduating from high school. In the past decade, Mann recorded his first singles "Beautiful Life" and "Pretty Girl"; performed on soundtracks for hit projects like Glee, Sex and the City 2 and Avatar; and toured with India Arie and Idina Menzel (Wicked). But it wasn't until his debut on The Voice that Mann was offered a recording deal with Faircraft/Universal Republic, which culminated in his 10-track album Roads, released last week and already in the top 10 on iTunes' Pop Album Chart. The collection features renditions of Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter," Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" and Willie Nelson's "Always On My Mind." “It’s basically a year after I auditioned for The Voice, and I can’t even believe all the things I have had happen,” Mann said. “It really is a dream come true – everything I always wanted and hoped I would be doing but had no idea how to get there. None of this would be possible if everyone at home hadn’t been so supportive of me.”

Catch Mann's performance at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting on NBC on Nov. 28.

Check out a behind the scenes video of Chris' album photo shoot for Roads:

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