Christopher Michael Mann (born May 5, 1982)[1] is an American singer-songwriter and actor from Wichita, Kansas.[2]
He came in fourth on the second season of NBC's television singing competition The Voice in 2012. Mann came in first on Team Christina Aguilera and represented her in the final round. His album, Constellation, was released on May 6, 2016.
After graduation, Mann was cast in an Italian opera in Europe.[4] After moving to Los Angeles, he obtained numerous studio and group singing gigs, including Dalton Academy "Warbler #6" on an episode of Glee,[5] the Sundance Film Festival, and the AFI Life Achievement Award 2010.[6]
He advanced to the live shows by defeating Monique Benabou in a duet of "The Power of Love". In his first live show, he performed "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel, which earned him a pass to the next round by public vote. During the quarter-finals, he covered "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay, and was again selected for advancement to the semi-finals by public vote. He advanced to the finals, edging out Lindsey Pavao, after singing "Ave Maria".
For the finale, he soloed "You Raise Me Up", sang "The Prayer" in a duet with Aguilera, and covered Aguilera's "The Voice Within". During the final results show, Mann performed "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve for his final performance with previously eliminated semi-finalists Pavao and Katrina Parker.[11] Mann consistently received praise from the other coaches; Cee Lo Green called Mann's voice "incomparable",[12] while Blake Shelton called Mann a "powerhouse" and a "really strong singer".[13]
Mann was planning on releasing a Christmas EP before releasing his full-length studio album.[14] The EP was released three weeks before the October 30, 2012, release of his debut studio album, Roads.[15] While the EP was a Walmart exclusive, the album's songs were later released as singles in iTunes.
Chris Mann performs in Rexburg, Idaho, U.S., in 2013
PBS specials
Shortly after the release of his album and Christmas EP, Mann recorded a PBS concert special titled "Chris Mann in Concert: A Mann for all Seasons". The special premiered on WTVS on December 14 and became available for purchase on DVD and CD shortly after that.[16] The special aired nationwide in March 2013.[17]
While preparing for the second leg of the tour to promote Roads, Mann announced he had also recorded a Christmas special for PBS. The special, titled Home for Christmas: The Chris Mann Christmas Special, premiered on WTVS on August 17, 2013.[18]
The Phantom of the Opera
Mann toured for two years with the North American tour of The Phantom of the Opera, in which he played the lead role of the Phantom.[19] The 2015/2016 tour kicked off on May 27, 2015, at the ASU Gammage Theatre in Tempe, Arizona, US.[20]
In 2020, Mann produced several COVID-19-themed musical parodies on YouTube. Several went viral, including parodies of "Hello", originally by Adele, and "Old Town Road".[23]
In May 2017, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, a son named Hugo, who was born later that year.[25][26]
In October 2020, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child, due in January 2021. On January 11, 2021, Mann and his wife welcomed their second child together, a boy named Rocky.[27]