‘The Voice’s’ Dexter Roberts Says A ‘Bad Taste’ After ‘Idol’ Left Him Waiting For ‘A Sign’ To Sing Again

“The Voice” helped Dexter Roberts see his career in a whole new light.

The 27-year-old took third place on Tuesday’s Season 16 finale, five years after placing seventh on “American Idol.” Dexter spoke with Access alongside fellow “Voice” runners-up Gyth Ridgon and Andrew Sevener on Wednesday morning, and reflected on how he found the motivation to return to another reality competition after being unsure he wanted to continue pursuing music at all.

“I really didn’t know if I was ever going to get back to singing again,” Dexter said of his post-“Idol” mentality. “I had a lot of bad taste in my mouth about … going into it again.”

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Despite his hesitation, the Alabama native decided to remain open-minded about what the future could hold.

“I just prayed to God, you know, if it was going to be the right time to do it to just give me a sign,” he said.

Dexter got what he was looking for when an unexpected phone call alerting him to Los Angeles auditions for “The Voice” ultimately offered the push he needed to take the national stage one more time.

“I was like, ‘There’s my sign right there,'” he smiled.

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The rest, of course, is history. Dexter went on to get a four-chair turn at his blind audition for “The Voice” and find success on coach Blake Shelton’s team. But the fulfillment he found was just as much about the process as it was the results.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” he said, crediting not only the “Voice” coaches and crew with making him feel welcome, but also his teammates with whom he’s forged a strong bond.

“The whole time, working with all the coaches and getting to meet all these guys and hang out  with ’em,” he said, nodding to Gyth and Andrew. “From the band to all the people behind the scenes you don’t even get to see, man, it’s just been a great experience.”

— Erin Biglow

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