GLENDALE, CA – Caleb Sasser is a living example to young people in his hometown of Goldsboro, that if you learn to use adversity right, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn’t have gone any other way.

Sasser, 27, has turned his fair share of adversity into following his dreams as a contestant on the current season of NBC’s “The Voice.”

Sasser grew up singing at Word of Truth Christian Fellowship, formerly known as Eastern Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

“I grew up singing in church,” Sasser said. “I think I started singing at the age of four. My very first solo was “O How I Love Jesus.” I remember that moment very clearly. The congregation was standing and they were really receiving that song very well. From that moment I knew that I wanted to sing and have a career in music.”

Growing up in Wayne County, Sasser honed his musical talents at Rosewood Middle School and Wayne School of Engineering. He performed in the talent show at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, as well as with the honor choir during his time at Rosewood Middle School.

During his adolescence, Sasser began auditioning for singing competition television shows such as “The Voice,” “American Idol,” and “The X Factor.” While those auditions did not initially result in the opportunity Sasser had been hoping for, the adversity granted him the gift of perspective.

“I’ve been auditioning for “The Voice,” since my sophomore year of high school, in 2012 or 2013,” Sasser said. “The very first time I auditioned, me and my dad drove to Tennessee from Goldsboro. It was about a 12 or 13-hour drive. I didn’t make it far, and it was very discouraging. I was kind of falling into a loop, and I was wondering if I can do this and if I can sing.”

Sasser later attended UNC Pembroke where he received a degree in music business. During his time in college Sasser met his now girlfriend, Deandrea. After college, Sasser taught music at Dillard Middle School for three years, before he and Deandrea moved to Los Angeles to pursue music in 2021.

“The process of moving, it was definitely different,” Sasser said. “I’ve never done anything like this before in my life. Even saving (money), and taking trips out here to see if this is even what we wanted to do, once we actually got to LA, it felt like home. For a month or two, we felt like strangers because we didn’t really know anybody. It was hard to really get ourselves out there. We did a lot of open mics, and auditions and stuff like that.”

Undeterred by his unsuccessful auditions for “The Voice,” Sasser was ready when a video he had posted on Instagram, ultimately led to another opportunity.

“I put a video out on Instagram, it was a “Joyful, Joyful” challenge,” Sasser said. “A producer for “The Voice,” saw the video, and they asked me to participate. And I was like, ‘why not?,’ because it’s “The Voice.” I got through the process and then I got cut. At the time I said I was done, I wasn’t going to audition anymore. They came back a year later and asked me to audition, and I did, and I got through, and I got to meet a lot of amazing people.”

During his audition for the current season of “The Voice,” Sasser sang Toni Braxton’s “Another Sad Love Song.” Sasser got all four judges to turn around, and he ultimately chose artist John Legend as his coach.

During his time in LA, Sasser has gotten to perform with Ye’s – previously known as Kanye West’s Sunday Service at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. He has also performed with Alicia Keys’ choir at Greek Theater and Sofar Sounds.

Sasser also teaches voice and keyboard at Isana Academies.

“Sunday Service was an amazing experience,” Sasser said. “When I walked in the room there were so many amazing singers that I watched on my phone all the time. It was a little intimidating. We did a lot of really cool performances. We also did the Kanye West “Donda 2,” album release party, and we sang with Drake at the Free Larry Hoover concert. That’s also how I met my connections for the Alicia Keys gig as well.”

As young people in Wayne County watch “The Voice,” or follow Sasser’s story, he hopes his perseverance, inspires them to never stop pursuing their dreams.

“For the kids in Wayne County who are looking for that motivation, I would just say to never give up” Sasser said. “You never know how close you are to hitting the goal. It definitely gets discouraging. But, that’s what builds your character. That’s what the fight is about. So, definitely never give up. Keep striving for that dream and make that dream a reality.”

“The Voice,” airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.