The Voice eliminee Nick Hagelin has opened up about what it's like to compete on a reality show as a serious vocalist when so much emphasis is placed on his personal life and compelling backstory.

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"I mean, I don't care why people are voting. I'm just so grateful to be expressing and presenting myself authentically in my music career now," Nick told Reality TV World in a Wednesday interview, referencing how he was unable to be authentic when previously signed with a record label.

"So, whatever it is about me that's appealing to people, that's a wonderful blessing -- to make that connection. Because whatever that connection is, it can be translated to a lifetime relationship with new fans and new people who are connected."

Nick, a 28-year-old former ballet dancer from Teaneck, NJ, was eliminated during The Voice's live results show on Tuesday night instead of Paxton Ingram, who survived the "Instant Save" by less than 100 tweets.

Nick had quite the story this season. The singer and his beautiful wife have a five-year-old son named Bash, who has the bone and joint disability called arthrogryposis. Nick came across as a very humble and charming family man all the while fighting for a place in the competition with his smooth Michael Jackson-like vibe.

Nick started The Voice on Pharrell Williams' team but was eliminated during the Knockout Round. He later returned as Christina Aguilera's only "Comeback Artist" of the season. Nick then went on to survive several more weeks of competition.

Naturally with a show like The Voice, an endearing backstory can help a contestant earn votes and ultimately excel. However, Nick really isn't concerned with why home viewers voted for him.

"If maybe they were compelled to latch onto my story, then it's up to me to deliver better music and better vocals as my career goes on and make them fans of that also. Or vice versa, maybe they like my voice and then my story brings them some sort of inspiration or light," Nick explained to Reality TV World.

"So I was just so grateful for this platform that provides me the opportunity to share both, and people seemed to latch onto both things. I definitely, you know, at one point, [Clyde Lieberman] -- who is the head of the music department -- as we were picking songs and stuff, he said a nice comment that perhaps I had outgrown my story on the show."

Nick continued, "We weren't leaning so heavily on that every week, and whether that was true or not, that was a nice approach at least to make sure we were picking songs that were appropriate and powerful for me as a musician and not focusing on what was good for my story or how it tied in anymore and stuff. It was really cool to have such a long run and get to that point."

Also during his interview, Nick talked to reporters about how much his journey on The Voice has meant to his son.

"Bash is doing great... He ran into Christina Aguilera backstage last night and he popped his little leg up -- which he broke a few weeks ago -- and said, 'Will you sign my cast?!' She was sweet enough to sign that. It was just a really nice parting moment... that probably wouldn't have happened next week if I got eliminated along with three other contestants, so that was really cool," Nick said.

"And now he has like hundreds of followers. The coolest thing -- and I still mean this, even after making it so much further than the Blind Auditions -- about [The Voice] was when Bash walked out on that stage. The outreach from all of these families with various special needs... [They] were so inspired by him coming out on primetime TV and walking up on that stage after doctors said that he might never walk."

Bash proudly took a bow in that moment, and Pharrell had everyone in the audience get up on their feet and cheer.

"When [Bash] was born, it was kind of hard to find those stories of hope and recovery for his condition, and I remember Googling and just trying to find any sort of ray of hope. I would find pictures and just latch onto them, you know, seeing kids doing well," Nick told reporters.

"And so, that sort of refocused me from the beginning about pursuing this career and sort of selfishly wanting to promote myself, because instantly, when I get on this huge platform, it's his story and his hard work that he's done and everything he's overcome in his five short years. He shines so brightly."

Nick gushed about how Bash was recognized out in public during the early rounds of the show.

"We'd be out in Atlanta as a family and people would come up to Bash and say, 'You're on The Voice!' They wouldn't say anything to me because, you know, he was the real star of it all," Nick explained.

"So, he was just further motivation for me to continue to share his story and everything our family has been through in the hopes of bringing inspiration to families... [Bash] has really accomplished more than anyone every thought [he could]. So I always want to make him proud and show him what daddy can do as well."

About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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