Blake Shelton might be known for singing songs about parties and drinking, but there’s another side of him that not as many people know about, at least according to recent winner of The Voice, Todd Tilghman. The father of eight won Season 18 of the reality TV talent show, while on Blake’s team, and says he got to see an aspect of the country music superstar’s personality that few people get to see.

“Blake has always had always, always, always come across to me as a nice guy,” Todd told Country Now. “Let me just say that I never thought that he wasn’t a nice guy, but to me, being a nice and a good guy and being a really kind person are kind of different. And he turned out to just be really kind Like as well as being a fun, nice guy. He just has like a real, almost like a soft side to him. He’s just super kind. That was great.”

Blake previously hinted that he was interested in working with Todd in the future, but the Mississippi pastor says those plans have yet to be formed.

“Those conversations are coming, but not yet,” Todd noted. “Actually, I’m not a hundred percent sure what’s going on with Blake, but myself, my heels have not cooled yet. But, we had some conversations about getting together as soon as the world allows us to get together.”

Regardless of whether or not Todd works with Blake in the future, he will always credit the Grand Ole Opry member with setting him on the right career path.

“I’ve always loved country music,” Todd reflected. “I love ’90s country music, but I just never felt like I could pull off country music with my voice because my voice is different. Blake has that really, very identifiable country voice, him and people like him, and I just don’t have that. But, on the show, he taught me that it’s something that I can do. He allowed me to do a few songs that I really love that are clearly in the country vein.

“So that’s one thing that he taught me, is that that’s a lane that I could go in and I could be successful at it,” he continued. “I joke around and say, maybe I’ll start a new genre, unless soul country is already a genre. Maybe I’m going to kick off soul country.”