Jake Hoot grew up as the son of missionary parents, and still clings to his faith now as an adult. The Season 17 winner of The Voice continues to rely on his Christian beliefs today, which is why he made the decision to always end his shows with the simple song, “God Is So Good.”

“I started it last year,” Hoot tells Everything Nash. “It started when I played at a church in Alabama. It wasn’t actually a Christian set. We played our normal set, but it was held in a church. And before we took the stage, the pastor prayed. He just said, ‘Hey God, whoever comes to this, whoever’s watching online, help them to leave feeling something. Some kind of happiness in whatever they’re going through. Help them to feel something.’

“I just felt like it was the right time,” he continues. “And so, at the end of that show and every show since, I’ve started singing the old song, ‘God Is So Good,’ I posted it, I don’t know how many months back, and people went nuts over it. And I started getting all these messages, like ‘I really needed that,’ or ‘It brought back memories of when I was a kid,’ and stuff like that. And we sang it on the bus route. We sang it for devotion. We sang it at church.”

Hoot continues to sing “God Is So Good” now, especially when so many people are struggling because of the pandemic.

“It’s just such a profound message, but it’s a simple message,” Hoot says. “No matter what’s going on — you could look at anything and get depressed about it. You could look at anything and look at it half-empty. As long as we just keep perspective and we go, ‘You know what? Things suck. Certain things, we wish they could be better. But no matter what, God is still good. God is still in control. And no matter what happens, if we’re doing what we’re called to do, then it will be okay.'”

Hoot admits he isn’t immune to struggles either, but has found solace in his deep Christian faith.

“I just continue to live in that place,” Hoot says. “And I’m not saying I’m perfect about it. There are some days I’m just like, ‘What in the world? God, what’s going on? I don’t know what to do.’ But it’s just such a profound message to always remember that God is good, and just live your life that way,”

Hoot just released his debut EP, Love Out of Time. The record includes a duet, “I Would’ve Loved You,” with Kelly Clarkson. Purchase the EP at JakeHoot.com.