Jerome Godwin III gives a 'POV' performance to smile about on 'The Voice'

When two chairs spun around for Montgomery resident Jerome Godwin III on NBC’s “The Voice,” he couldn’t help but notice the big toothy grin on celebrity coach Niall Horan’s face.

“People call me the singing dentist,” Godwin said.

Yes, teeth are important to Godwin — others’ and his own.

“Your smile is like the greatest smile ever,” said coach Kelly Clarkson to Godwin. She joined Horan in turning for Godwin’s rendition of Ariana Grande’s “POV.”

Godwin said he liked song’s message about seeing yourself from someone else’s point of view.

“I had never performed it live before,” Godwin said. “So it was definitely a new challenge for me. I like to be challenged.”

That’s pretty obvious, since he’s a pre-dentistry student at Auburn University Montgomery, who also works at a dental practice and is making plans for a career in teeth.

“Right now, I want to be a general dentist, but I may end up specializing,” Godwin said.

So it’s understandable that he appreciates the dental work with braces that former One Direction boy band member Horan had a decade ago.

“I’m definitely going to say that my coach Niall has the best smile,” Godwin said. “I know he’s had his own dental journey, which is cool. I’ve also had one, so I feel like we have a connection right there.”

His teeth weren’t chattering, but Godwin was understandably nervous when he stepped onto “The Voice” stage to sing.

“I had auditioned before, and I didn’t get the outcome that I wanted,” he said. “I was like, this time I’ve got to deliver… I just had to zone in and remain calm, so my voice wouldn’t be uncalm.”

Godwin’s favorite genres to perform are gospel, pop, soul and R&B.

“I kind of mesh them into one sometimes,” he said. “If I’m singing a pop song or a R&B song, I’m always staying true to my soulful and gospel roots in delivering it.”

Godwin’s mom had a big grin as well as she and his aunt watched off stage, chanting for Horhan to be his coach. Picking Team Niall was about more than a pretty smile, though. Season 23 of “The Voice” is a first for Horhan and Chance the Rapper as celebrity coaches.

“The introduction of the new coaches piqued our attention,” Godwin said. “They’re the underdog, so they have something to prove.”

Along with singing to the world as an artist, is Godwin going to sing to his dental patients? It seems likely.

“Music’s going to have a part somewhere in my journey,” Godwin said.

"The Voice" airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

“I hope that they can see my heart and passion for music throughout each performance that I do on the show,” Godwin said. “I want them to see the real me and what kind of artist I want to be.”

Student and church life in Montgomery

Godwin traveled Alabama before landing in Montgomery. Born and raised in Ashford, he also went to school in Dothan and Chipley, Fla., where his dad is an educator.

“Most of my family lives in Florida,” Godwin said. “My mom and my dad were both raised in Florida.”

College brought him to Montgomery, where he’s a biology major at AUM.

“My sister also graduated from AUM, which was a big factor in choosing it to further my education,” Godwin said.

Godwin also serves as a praise and worship leader at Northview Christian Church in Montgomery and Dothan. He’s been a part of praise and worship music since he was 2 — when he directed his first children’s choir. By 11, Godwin was singing on an adult praise and worship team.  He’s been composing music and teaching singers since 16.

He’s been called a “brainiac” before. Godwin said he loves information.

“I’m always researching and trying to learn a lot,” Godwin said.

Along with his brain, he also enjoys putting his sparkling teeth to work by being good in the kitchen.

“I love making turkey meatballs,” he said. “The kind that you see at baby showers or some sort of party. I think that’s one of my specialties, barbecue meatballs.”

And then there were four

Godwin said he was surprised at the number of people with Montgomery connections on “The Voice” this season. Montgomery native Ryley Tate Wilson, 15, is also on Team Niall. Montgomery resident D.Smooth, a native of Mulga (a small town just north of Birmingham), is on Team Kelly.

“It definitely excited me, because I felt like I instantly had some friends and people to hang out with when I come back,” Godwin said.

Godwin said they’ve had dinners at Ryley Tate’s home.

“We went out and sang at different places,” Godwin said. “It’s very cool to have them in the experience with me.”

That list of Montgomery connections is still growing as blind auditions continue. Nashville artist and Montgomery native JB Somers is the latest, performing Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.”

Last year, Somers spoke to the Advertiser about his debut single "There For Me."

READ MORE: Montgomery native, Nashville pop artist JB Somers finds new music, new life after coming out

"The meaning for me is like, now that you've seen the entirety of me, and you know all about me, will you still be there for me?" said Somers, a pop/alternative artist who said his song is a personal anthem after coming out as a member of the LGBTQ community. "When I'm down. When I'm low. When I'm at my best. Will you be there for me regardless?"

With Somers' addition to Team Kelly, that splits this season’s Montgomery singers evenly between Clarkson and Horan.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Jerome Godwin III gives a 'POV' to smile about on 'The Voice'