It’s not often a teenager can be described as simultaneously down-to-Earth and a jetsetter, but both certainly have been appropriate descriptors of Marietta native Zach Seabaugh since his appearance on the hit NBC show The VOICE. He took the nation by storm last year when he joined Team Blake and skyrocketed to the Top 9 with his silky vocals, youthful charm and easy Southern air, but his story wasn’t even close to over when he narrowly was inched out in the semifinals of the world’s hottest singing competition.

“I was just a normal high schooler before, so the game has changed a bit,” Seabaugh said. “The show introduced me to fans with popular music that I could sing and get votes, but now as I write [my own songs] I’m trying to figure out my style and who I am. I’m only 17. Every new song [I write] is different.”

Although Seabaugh said he loves classic country like George Strait and wants to “head in that direction,” it’s easy to see how this self aware young crooner may be exploring his own musical style. He’s still just a high school junior, and it wasn’t all that very long ago he gave up the athlete’s life to focus on performing— a passion he found through school plays and his church choir.

“Coming home and seeing all the support not only here locally but throughout the country was pretty cool and the biggest surprise,” Seabaugh said. “I’m working on new music now. I’ve got 100,000 fans on social media, and they’re hungry for music, so I’m trying to get that out to them.”

Seabaugh recently signed with Wilhelmina Models talent management agency as a celebrity male model and is under contract with NBC for scripted T.V. and film work but is, perhaps rightfully, most focused on catching that shooting star and launching himself professionally as a singer-songwriter. He’s recently signed with Open Roads Highway Entertainment to manage his music career and gotten a band together to hit the recording studio with some new songs and embark on a six-month, 11-venue tour. Seabaugh’s February show at Marietta’s Earl Smith Strand Theatre was the kick-off date for the mostly southeastern tour schedule.

In between stops on the tour and working toward his high school diploma, Seabaugh is collaborating with industry icons and Georgia boys Kurt Thomas and Bruce Burch. Thomas is a Dahlonega native who has opened for Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, LeeAnn Rimes and more, while Burch is a producer and songwriter who, among many other accomplishments, penned two award-winning #1 songs for country music super star Reba McEntire.

“The VOICE was a fun show and music boot camp,” Seabaugh said. “Being mentored [by the coaches] and now to mentor others while still being mentored by others…I learn something new every new song I write. I don’t know how people write by themselves…it’s cool to get the juices flowing with multiple people, but it’s a lot of long hours and a lot of hard work.”

The music industry may be a lot of hard work, but Seabaugh wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s like being on cloud nine. It’s just a feeling you get I can’t even comprehend. I just want to thank my fans for their support and ask what they’d say to me. They always just ask for a picture and disappear,” he said with a slow grin spreading across his face. “I love talking [to fans].”

A young troubadour with a heart (and voice) of pure spun gold, Seabaugh is an approachable talent on the move. We’re lucky enough to have a front row seat right here in Cobb County, so don’t be afraid to say “hi” when you see him out and about.

Keep up with Zach at www.zachseabaugh.com.

*Originally published in the April 2016 issue of Cobb Life magazine.