Matt Snook only made one brief appearance in the first five episodes of NBC’s hit show “The Voice,” but what role he plays on the reality show remains to be determined. In the interim, the Edgerton, Mo. native and North Platte High School graduate has used the time to up his profile in the area, making appearances and booking gigs to hype up his appearance. He was one of 48 semifinalists picked to move into the battle rounds – already a huge accomplishment for the 41-year-old aspiring star.
As recently as this summer, Snook headlined the acts to play inside The Dirty Shame during the annual Platte County Fair.
Now, he’s plying his trade on one of the most popular reality television singing competitions in search of a Universal Music Group recording contract and $100,000 prize. Of course the show has already been recorded, but Snook can’t tip his hand on what’s going to happen.
During episode three last week, Snook was briefly mentioned as being chosen by Blake Shelton for “Team Blake” during blind auditions, advancing Snook to the next round. Shelton is a multi-platinum country artist and was the only one of the four celebrity judges, which also include Pharrell, Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera, to turn around while hearing Snook’s rendition of Brooks and Dunn’s “Red Dirt Road.”
Raised on a small hog farm in Edgerton, Snook won his first talent contest at North Platte High School at the age of six. He performed in plays and special events as early as his elementary school years but didn’t start playing guitar until he was 13 years old, and shortly after, he began writing music.
Snook put his music ambitions on hold and played basketball at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. before graduating there in 1995.
While working full-time jobs, Snook continued to play with various bands before ultimately deciding to chase his dreams. He took a voluntary separation package from Sprint in 2008 to pursue music full time.
Snook received requests in the early-going to support headlining acts like Joe Diffie, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chesnutt, John Michael Montgomery, Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin and Sammy Kershaw while also gigging in the Kansas City area. According to his website, a candid conversation with his family around the dinner table with his wife and two sons led them to move to Nashville in August of 2010.
Once there, Snook produced a trio of extended play recordings.
“I just feel really blessed about having my family support that journey,” he said in an interview for “The Voice” posted to YouTube after last week’s episode. “We only had us to depend on, and it worked out really well.”
Now back living in Camden Point, Mo., “The Voice” has offered his first true brush with stardom. Episodes air on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check local listings for details.