For the second time in the show’s history, the winner of “The Voice” is a singer from upstate New York.

Sofronio Vasquez of Utica, NY, was crowned the Season 26 winner on Tuesday night’s finale of “The Voice.” The Philippines native is the first Asian and Filipino contestant to win the US singing competition and also gave coach Michael Bublé a win in his first season on the NBC TV show.

“You are the voice of so many people,” Bublé said. “Not just in the Philippines. Asians around the world are really looking at you tonight and are so proud… it’s been an incredible journey being here with you.”

Vasquez’s Team Bublé teammate Shye placed second in the final voting. The remaining five finalists were Sydney Sterlace (Team Gwen) in third place, Danny Joseph (Team Reba) in fourth place and Jeremy Beloate (Team Snoop) in fifth place.

Vasquez was the first singer to receive a four-way seat from celebrity “The Voice” judges Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire during the Season 26 premiere in September. Memorable performances included soulful renditions of “Unstoppable” (Sia), “If I Can Dream” (Elvis Presley), “Crying” (Roy Orbison), “The Power of Love” (Celine Dion) and his blind audition with Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down” (originally sung by Rose Royce), and last week he sang “Every Breath You Take” by The Police with Sting and The Miracles. “Who’s Lovin’ You” with Bublé in the finale on Tuesday.

Vasquez, 31, said he grew up poor in the Philippines and saw music as a chance to lift his family out of poverty. He previously participated in a Filipino singing competition while working as a dentist, but when his father died of kidney failure in 2018, he quickly had to focus on supporting the family. He now lives in Utica, where he worked as a dental assistant.

“I just feel blessed to be here and I’m so excited that I was able to represent Utica and of course the Mohawk Valley and my country, the Philippines, in the finals for the first time,” Vasquez told WKTV before Tuesday’s episode . “It’s such a blessing and I can’t wait to just be home and hopefully take home the trophy and tell everyone we did it.”

As the winner, Vasquez will receive $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group.

Vasquez is the second singer from upstate New York to win “The Voice,” joining Sawyer Fredericks in season eight in 2015. The Americana singer-songwriter from Fultonville, N.Y., 100 miles east of Syracuse, was just 16 at the time alt The show’s youngest winner ever at the time led Team Pharrell with folk-soul renditions of songs by Gavin DeGraw, Goo Goo Dolls, John Lennon, Christina Perri, Neil Young and Buffalo Springfield.

Other standouts on “The Voice” include Tom Nitti, another Mohawk Valley resident who was on Team Reba during Season 24 of “The Voice” last year. The New Hartford singer, who was commissioned as a New York State Trooper after being awarded the Purple Heart for his military service in Afghanistan, left the show to focus on his family and continues to perform today, among other things at the New York State Fair last summer.

“The Voice” returns for Season 27 on February 23, 2025 at 8 p.m. on NBC. Bublé will be joined by Adam Levine, John Legend and new coach Kelsea Ballerini.