Classic crooner. Hayden Grove of ‘The Voice’ and Michael Bublé fame coming to Massillon

Hayden Grove was admittedly riddled with nerves when he took the stage on “The Voice” television show earlier this year.

Sure, the Northeast Ohio singer with a love for Frank Sinatra-era crooning had performed in front of audiences before. But the sports-journalist-turned-musical-artist had never stood before vocal superstars such as Adam Levine, John Legend and Michael Bublé.

Millions also were watching his audition live on the NBC singing competition as he sang a velvety smooth rendition of “Mack the Knife.”

“It was definitely the biggest stage I’ve ever performed on,” said Grove, 32. “Just the stakes were the highest they’ve ever been for me … but it doesn’t matter if it’s the four legends who were in front of me or it was at my middle school talent show.

“When you’re in front of people who mean something to you, the adrenaline gets pumping and the nerves get going … and then you get up there and your heart’s pumping, but I think once the music starts, your natural instinct to perform takes over.”

Hayden Grove and Lucia Flores-Wiseman sing “Funny Valentine” on “The Voice,” a televised singing competition. Grove, of Westlake, will be performing Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum.

Grove made it past the on-air audition stage and then was eliminated from the TV show following the “Voice Battle” round, where he joined fellow contestant Lucia Flores-Wiseman to sing, “Funny Valentine.” Flores-Wiseman advanced to the final five of the competition.

But the rave reviews Grove received from Legend, Levine, Bublé and Kelsea Ballerini, all singing coaches on Season 27 of “The Voice,” affirmed his decision to pursue music full-time.

Dropping his day job as a sports journalist and social media producer for cleveland.com, Grove has been gigging non-stop this summer, boosted by his exposure on “The Voice.”

Grove has sung the national anthem at a Cleveland Guardians game. Performances also include the Marble Room in downtown Cleveland and in 2024 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show Luncheon.

“I’ve never worked a day in my life, which is a big blessing because I have loved sports for my entire life,” said the Westlake resident. “It was always sports and music back and forth. It still continues to be that way … and I still continue to love what I do, and I think music has been my purest passion, but sports and music are neck and neck.”

Westlake resident Hayden Grove appeared on “The Voice,” a televised singing competition, earlier this year. He’ll perform on Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum.

He’ll bring his modern spin on throwback singing Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum as part of the Rhythms Concert Series. For more details and to purchase tickets, go to massillonmuseum.org or eventbrite.com.

“The museum is excited to host Hayden for his musical talents and regional connection,” said Alexandra Nicholis Coon, executive director of the Massillon Museum. “It’s a bonus that he’s also a skilled journalist who (covered) the Cleveland Browns and will perform at MassMu, home to the Paul Brown Museum.

“But in addition to our celebration of his local flavor, his style represents a truly classic, American brand of music. We can’t wait to set the stage for his debut in Massillon.”

Hayden Grove, a Northeast Ohio-based singer who performed on “The Voice” television show, will be in concert Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum.

During a recent phone interview, Grove chatted about his penchant for the singing of yore, his musical influences, what fans can expect at the Massillon concert, and what it’s like to have Bublé championing his singing.

‘The music chose me.’

Grove was a musically curious youth who explored his parents’ CD collection. Standards from The Great American Songbook appealed to him most.

“I say it all the time,” he said. “I didn’t choose this music, the music chose me. That’s how I really feel. This isn’t a choice by me to be some crooner and some guy who loves this old music. The music just touched me so deeply … and it feels divine. God orchestrated it, and put my voice in a range that works with (that style of music).”

Hayden Grove, a Northeast Ohio singer and former cleveland.com sports journalist, performs on “The Voice,” a televised singing competition. Grove will be in concert Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum.

Although singers like Sinatra oozed machismo, their lyrics were emotionally revealing, Grove noted.

“He wasn’t afraid to sing songs about love and loss, and the way he felt,” he said. “And I think we’ve lost this; I think we’ve lost the vulnerability. These men were giants … but they also weren’t afraid to be vulnerable and show who they were.”

Bublé is a big fan of Grove

Grove has a genuine fan in the chart-topping Bublé, acclaimed for his fusion of jazz, swing and pop.

Bublé took notice of Grove on social media, and at a Pittsburgh concert he encouarged fans to check out the young talent. That expanded Grove’s reach, which now totals 73,000 followers on TikTok.

Although he wasn’t Grove’s coach on “The Voice,” Bublé still befriended and tutored him during his time on the show, a process that spanned roughly three months.

Northeast Ohio-based singer Hayden Grove appeared on season 27 of “The Voice.” Grove will perform Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum.

During a TV broadcast, Bublé described Grove’s emotive, old style singing as “really beautiful.”

“Michael is just an incredible human being,” said Grove, who has released multiple albums, featuring assorted cover songs by Sinatra, Elvis, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and others.

Growing up, Bublé was among his foremost heroes.

“I loved this music that was old and different,” he said. “And Michael made it seem okay. Michael made it seem like I wasn’t alone in that. It was OK to be different, it was OK to love this music and to want to bring it to a different generation.”

Grove has performed with Cleveland’s ‘Piano Man’

Locally, Grove has been influenced by longtime pianist Mike Petrone, who is known as “Cleveland’s Piano Man.”

Their work together began long before Grove appeared on “The Voice.” Petrone has provided guidance while introducing him to professionals in the Cleveland music scene.

“Since I met him (in 2016), he has spared no amount of energy or time pursuing and polishing his musical skills,” Petrone said of Grove. “He has shown that drive to learn what he needs to know to take it further, and he does whatever it takes to improve. Many people in the business just want to be famous. Hayden always just wants to get better.”

Petrone said Grove has a unique singing ability.

“He can take liberties with words and phrases but never lose the rhythm of the piece,” he said. “He’s very advanced in that regard. It’s rare, and completely due to his practice habits.”

‘Music is God’s universal language of love.’

Grove said he’s a fan of all styles of music, however. From Laura Branigan to Maroon 5 to Michael McDonald, his tastes run the gamut.

‘I love all kinds of music,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s rap, rock … and hip-hop. I love all music because I think music is God’s universal language of love, and it brings us all together and connects us.”

“I grew up listening to everything,” Grove said. “My mom was a huge Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan fan. My dad loves classical music and composers.”

Hayden Grove, a former Northeast Ohio sports journalist, is pursuing music full-time following an appearance on “The Voice” television show. Grove will perform Sept. 18 at the Massillon Museum.

‘Swinging and intimate’

Grove will perform in Massillon with a bassist and keyboardist.

“I’ll tell a story about music and my life and go through a bunch of different songs from different artists,” he said. “It will be both swinging and intimate.”

“We’ll do ‘Come Fly With Me’ and ‘Georgia On My Mind’ and ‘Home’ by Michael Bublé,” Grove said. “We might even get into some Johnny Cash.”

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and [email protected]. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint

Hayden Grove of Northeast Ohio has made the transition from sports journalist for cleveland.com to full-time musician. Grove, who appeared on “The Voice,” will perform in Massillon on Sept. 18.

Q & A with Hayden Grove

Favorite Northeast Ohio food: Slyman’s Restaurant in Cleveland. “I think you have to try to the corned beef sandwich. It’s a go-to.”

Favorite celebrity: “I have a particular affinity for Kevin Love given his mental health journey, and all he’s done (on the subject). He inspired a lot of my advocacy (for mental health).”

Will the Browns win a Super Bowl in your lifetime? “God willing. I pray. … It really does seem so far off. Baker (Mayfield) was a franchise quarterback … but we need somebody like Bernie (Kosar) who can take us there.”

Do you take song requests? “Yes. Everything from Engelbert Humperdinck to Glen Campbell to John Cougar Mellencamp. I did get a rap request one time. It was an Eminem song called, ‘Rap God.’ I think that’s the wildest request I ever got.”

Favorite social media influencers: “There’s a gentleman out there, and he’s become very, very popular. He’s going to be a huge star, and he already has millions of followers − (impressionist) Matt Friend. The other one is a girl named Tinx … (and) she’s just got this aura about her that I love.”

Favorite summer movie: “‘Superman’ was a lot of fun. I loved watching Cleveland on the big screen … but ‘The Naked Gun’ was by far my favorite. I thought it paid homage to the originals very well. ‘F1’ also was very, very good.”

If you go

Who: Hayden Grove

What: Grove will sing standards from The Great American Songbook and jazz-pop classics, including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

When: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18

Where: Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E in downtown Massillon.

Admission: Tickets can be purchased at https://www.massillonmuseum.org or https://eventbrite.com. Tickets cost $12.51 for Massillon Museum members and $14.64 for non-members, including fees.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hayden Grove of ‘The Voice’ and Michael Bublé fandom has Massillon gig