'The Voice' eliminee Mark Hood interview: I didn't think I was going home

The Voice eliminated Mark Hood and determined the ninth season's Top 11 artists during Tuesday night's broadcast on NBC.


The Voice host Carson Daly revealed the results of the home viewer votes cast following Monday night's live performance show -- which had featured the season's Top 12 artists taking the stage -- and Mark Hood from Pharrell Williams' team was in the bottom two with Korin Bukowski from Gwen Stefani's team.

Both individuals were afforded the chance to sing again, and Mark belted out "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." America then voted via the show's "Instant Save" format on Twitter, and home viewers opted to keep Korin in the competition.

Mark talked to Reality TV World during a Wednesday press conference call. To read what he had to say, click here. Below is another portion of his interview. Check back with us soon for the rest of it.

Did you have a feeling last night that it was possibly your time to go?


Mark Hood: You know, I thought I would have to do my second save song, but I thought that I had a chance to stay. I didn't think I was going home. I did not think I would be sitting in an airport right now.

But I had the feeling that I would have to sing my second save song. I was practicing with the vocal coach all day like we were going over lyrics, you know, because I just thought I would have to. But, you know, everything happens for a reason.

So do you have a favorite memory from your journey that you can share with us, like anything that happened yesterday or maybe from the previous shows?

Mark Hood: Well one of my favorite memories that America has seen is meeting Rihanna and working with her. It was so cool. Like No. 1, she's so beautiful besides, you know, taking the back door -- oh my gosh, Rihanna, and then she is so knowledgeable.

I just didn't know that she would kind of come in the way she did. She came out kind of cracking the whip on us like, "No, sing it like this! No do this!" And I just loved every minute of being with her and Pharrell because we just vibed so well and I just laughed the whole time.


Most of the time on the show, intentionally and unintentionally I was making people laugh. I don't even understand why, but it was just happening. So doing that to Rihanna and her telling me that she loved me was awesome, so that was a really great memory.

Now looking back, do you think you would want to stay with Pharrell if you had a choice or would you like to choose one of the other coaches?

Mark Hood: Pharrell Williams 100%. I made the best decision. Every day I was thinking to myself -- I said every round, "I'm so glad I chose Pharrell. Like this man knows what he's doing with me."

He believed in me because, you know, he called my name several times -- the Battle, the Knockout, The Voice Playoffs. He just believes in me so much and I just know I chose the right person. It's not to [put down] everybody else... No, I was going to say if I had to choose to be on anybody else's team it would be Gwen Stefani because I love her and she loves me and she -- that's a great coach for her team.

You said that you were not a one-trick pony. I wanted to know what you were planning on showing America if you stayed for the next few rounds.


Mark Hood: Yes, next week I was thinking a country song. I can say it now, you know, it was already picked out. So, I was going to show America a completely different side of me. And I was excited to do that but, you know, that day did not come.

What country song was it?

Mark Hood: I don't know if I can say because then somebody else might sing it. But it was a real one and I was really excited about singing it. You know, it would have showed a very different side of me and I feel like America kind of needed to see that. But, you know, it is [what it is].

What advice would you give to somebody who is going to audition for the show? You've gone through the process, so what would you tell them in terms of where to start or even just how to get in the door for an audition?

Mark Hood: Most importantly, it's singing with your heart. My heart got me through this competition and they were making me [show that] all the time. Like, I just have a love for this, a hunger for this, a passion for this and that read, you know, to them in my performances.


And it's not -- The Voice is [also] about singing. Of course you have to be able to sing but you can't just rest on that, you know? You've got to have something to go with that. So I always say, "Sing with your heart. What comes from the heart reaches the heart," and that's very important. I live by that. So if nothing else, sing from your heart and everything else will be fine.

Did you automatically know you were going to audition or did it take you a couple of times when you decided to go audition? Only because I had people ask me, "It's coming to Houston...should I go audition?" I said, "Go for it. You never know what's going to happen."

Mark Hood: Yes I went a couple of years ago and didn't make it and was kind of over it. And an opportunity came up this year and I was like, "Oh I might as well go," you know, "I don't have anything else to do. I'm not busy, why not?" [And I made it to] Top 12, this is such an accomplishment.

You did a great job and contestants on the show have to go one way or the other at some point.

Mark Hood: Thanks. I know, this is what we signed up for. It hurts, I mean, it even hurts worse today. But, you know, it is, well, it just is what it is.


I think everybody loves you and can see bigger things in the future for you.

Mark Hood: Oh it's going down man, you just wait!

To read what Mark told Reality TV World in his press interview, click here. Check back with us soon for more.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski