Country singer excited to sing at Emerge Signature Event
Former local foster kid, musician from ‘American Idol’ and ‘The Voice,’ slated to perform at Emerge fundraiser October 19.
XENIA — An up-and-coming country music singer who has recently made several national television appearances will be performing at the signature fundraising event at Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative on Saturday, October19.
A former local foster child who was adopted in the Dayton area at a young age, Jackson Snelling said the mission at Emerge resonates with him deeply. He said he is honored to be invited to perform at this year’s third annual fundraiser, which will take place at the 2960 W. Enon Road facility.
Snelling is a lifelong country musician who was recently featured on programs like “American Idol” and “The Voice.” Recently, he returned to his birthplace to reflect on a journey that started with Montgomery County foster care and adoption caseworkers.
And, after being invited to perform at the Greene County Fairgrounds for The Stronger Together Concert on May 31, he was connected to Elaine Bonner, director of philanthropy at Emerge.
“I’ve been doing the music scene since I was 16 years old,” Snelling said. “I’ve been singing since I was 16 and I was on ‘American Idol’ in 2021. Then, I was on ‘The Voice’ last season. On American Idol, my audition got aired which gave me national exposure. I also made it to the second round on ‘The Voice.’ I am very grateful for my time on those shows. Being able to do music for a living is a huge blessing. I’ve been traveling a lot and I get homesick occasionally.”
Although Snelling currently lives in Indiana, he said he was adopted from the Dayton area when I was one or two years old. Because of this, the mission at Emerge to support former foster youth who may be struggling with mental health or substance use disorders resonates with him on a deep level.
He explained how life brought him back to the Miami Valley Ohio area during a recent phone interview with Emerge.
“After my time on ‘The Voice,’ a music promotor reached out to me and asked me to open for John Michael Montgomery and Eddie Montgomery from Montgomery Gentry at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia. I performed there and opened for them May 31, and it went well.”
Snelling said the event was a huge success and it opened more doors for him in the area.
“It was a blast,” he said. “While I was there, I was reunited with some of my birth family. The United Way also got in touch with me. I was able to come a week early and speak to the foster youth. We spoke to three different groups of kids, and one of them was at the same facility I was adopted from 20 years ago.”
Snelling explained that he just turned 22 in April. He was also honored to speak and perform for a group of kids at Emerge.
“Emerge provided a great concert venue and I was able to use my voice to encourage these young people to follow their dreams,” he said. “It was here I met Elaine. She’s the sweetest lady. What a blessing that I can be a part of their mission.”
Snelling said he was honored then when Elaine asked him to return October19.
“I am super excited to come back and to give back to the community where I am from – it’s awesome,” he said. “For the event, I plan to sing a variety of original songs and covers – several of my originals will debut there.
Among his most popular cover songs, is the song he sung on ‘The Voice,” which is titled “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” by Justin Moore.
“That sound brings the crowd to tears,” he said. “I get that a lot and I joke that I am trying to go for a Kleenex sponsorship – tissues. “
Snelling also explained how he has autism and how music has helped him with that while also helping him cope with the loss of his adoptive father at a young age.
“As a songwriter, I used music as a way to cope with a lot of things in my life and after the loss of my dad, that was another outlet for me,” he said. “Music is a global language that connects everyone and it’s very therapeutic.”
Asked about his connections to those who suffer with substance use disorders and how music helps to rebuild lives, Snelling explained how his issues with autism stemmed from a substance use disorder.
“My birth mother was addicted to a few things when she was pregnant with me and my brother, that’s why we both fell on the spectrum,” he said. “I kind of have an idea about what it’s like and I think music is one of the more powerful things that you can do.”
Asked what about the Emerge mission resonates most with him, Snelling explained it’s the mission with the former foster youth he likes the most.
“I resonate a lot with the foster youth,” he said. “Knowing where I came from and how I ended up, I am extremely blessed. Some kids don’t get so lucky. They age out of the system and have trouble moving forward with their lives. Homelessness and substance use can follow if they lack resources. It is good to know Emerge can be a place of hope. I want to show these kids they have a future and can be anything they want to be if they stay consistent and pursue what they want out of life.”
For more information, to donate or get involved contact Elaine Bonner, Director of Philanthropy at Emerge at 937.974.6120 or visit https://www.emergerecoverytrade.com/
Additional links:
https://www.wdtn.com/as-seen-on-2-news/star-of-the-voice-attends-meet-and-greet-in-dayton/
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/former-local-foster-kid-musician-featured-on-american-idol-the-voice-returns/TPGSCZ4SXRG3ZO6GIEUMHO3VFQ/
https://youtu.be/hMsoP_QoJos?feature=shared