The same day Jake Worthington delivered his second performance at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, he also received an unexpected announcement. The Voice alum and his wife are expecting Baby No. 1.
“We got us a little one on the way. We’re praying for a healthy mama and a healthy baby, and ready to see life through that lens,” Worthington said as he caught up with iHeartCountry on the 2024 CMT Music Awards red carpet on Sunday (April 7) in Austin, Texas, his home state. He shared that the pregnancy announcement was “nothing we planned, but it’s the biggest blessing.” Worthington hailed his wife “a beautiful woman” and said growing their family is “the greatest honor I have to this day.”
Worhtington and his wife, Sophie, tied the knot in 2022. He announced at that time: “The greatest gift I’ll ever receive and have to hold is your heart, Mrs. Worthington. We done went and did the damn thing!”
The Texas Country Music Association's reigning Male Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year winner made a strong impression on the coaches of The Voice during his blind audition with “Don’t Close Your Eyes” by Keith Whitley in 2014. Worthington ultimately chose country star Blake Shelton’s team, and finished runner-up that season. Now, the country artist is gearing up for a year filled with tour dates with some of the genres biggest artists (and fellow Texans), including Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert.
“Country music is one of the only things I never had to question. I feel like I was raised by it a little bit. (I’m) grateful to somehow be a part of it,” said Worthington, who teased more music he’s recording. The La Porte, Texas-born country star grew up with his grandfather’s porch performances of Ray Price, Merle Haggard and George Jones, per his bio. He’s since grown up to perform shows with Johnson, Riley Green, Pat Green, Hank Williams Jr., ERNEST, and others, and collaborate with other artiste on their music. Most recently, he appeared on HARDY's latest HIXTAPE installment, DIFFTAPE, honoring the late Joe Diffie. He collaborated with Reba McEntire on “Is It Cold In Here.”
“I think the ability to talk about things that most can’t figure out how to say, you know, I think country music’s always been there for me, and I know I can’t be the only one that feels that way. …I’ve never been more inspired in country music as of today.”