Jesse Kinch, 20, wins 'Rising Star' title

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Jesse Kinch rocked his way to the top, winning the first-ever title of "Rising Star" on Sunday. The 20-year-old East Coast native now gets a recording contract with Capitol Records.

"I am so looking forward to seeing what the future brings," he said. "I think the next few weeks are really going to say what the rest of my life is going to be like. So I'm dying to experience it, and make a record, and tour, and I can't wait."

Austin French from Georgia didn't get the "Rising Star" title, but the runner-up still feels like a winner.

"Be looking for some new stuff, hopefully I get picked up by somebody or doing something, but this isn't the end. It's going to be only the beginning," he said.

The show's celebrities saw plenty of talent in the competition, but they all recognized Kinch's gift early on.

"I thought from day one that he was one of the contenders, but I know how these shows go, and you can never be sure how someone's going to evolve through the season," said Brad Paisley.

"I think the right singer won the competition," said Ludacris. "I feel like he earned it, I definitely do, I feel that way."

"From the moment Jesse came out there, I think that everybody felt that there was something very, very special," said Josh Groban.

"He has everything," said Kesha. "He has the personality, he has the look, he has the voice, he has the artistry. I knew, I knew if he didn't win the competition, it would've been a tragedy."

As for Kinch's album, he told me it'd be whatever he feels in his soul.