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The Voice’s Kit Rice says Jennifer Hudson gave him a ‘new lease of life’

Sing for survival: Kit Rice on The Voice: ITV
Sing for survival: Kit Rice on The Voice: ITV

Singer-songwriter Kit Rice has praised Jennifer Hudson for giving him a “new lease of life”.

The 24-year-old was picked by Hudson on the latest series of The Voice after impressing her with his rendition of Bill Withers’ Ain't No Sunshine, but was booted off after she opted to save Jack Bruley in the battle round.

Speaking to the Standard he said: “Jennifer Hudson has always been one of my vocal idols. I’ve watched Dream Girls a couple of hundred times.

“It was amazing to sing for her, but for her to acknowledge me as a singer has given me a whole new lease of life and confidence.”

Goodbye: Kit Rice with Jennifer Hudson on The Voice
Goodbye: Kit Rice with Jennifer Hudson on The Voice

He continued: “I was completely star struck – and I don’t get star struck that often. I think I was stumbling over my words. She was lovely to me – it was a dream come true.”

Rice – who toured with Ed Sheeran and Sir Tom Jones on graduating from the BRIT School – said he has received a number of “knockbacks” in the industry but has never considered turning hbis back on music.

He said: “Every artist is filled with doubt, especially with something that is so personal and that you’ve worked on for years. I’ve been releasing music since 2010 and I’ve had my fair share of knockbacks. But it’s not in my nature to give up. Whenever I thought about giving up it spiralled me into a bigger depression because I was like ‘what? Why am I giving up?’”

Rice – who worked with former Commodores frontman Skyler Jett on his upcoming album – said he often uses song writing as a form of self-therapy.

“I’m a therapeutic writer,” he said. “I write for me. If I’m feeling a certain way I get on my piano and I play around on the keys and see what comes out. It’s like having my own therapy sessions with myself. I don’t know how I’m feeling, but then I’ll start singing and the lyrics come out of my mouth and I think ‘oh that’s why I’m feeling weird’.

“I like my fans to know what I’m going through in that moment. I don’t hide anything. I put it out there. If I have something to say I will say it. For the people who don’t want to hear it they’re always going to complain, so let them!”

The Voice is on ITV, Saturday at 8:30pm.