Caleb, Bekah and Joshua Liechty.Photo: Trae Patton/NBC
The band, which consists of siblingsCaleb, 26,Joshua, 24 andBekah, 20, collectively agree their victory feels “crazy” — and tell PEOPLE they’ve “never felt that much attention at once.”
“[It feels] surreal,” Joshua says of the moment hostCarson Dalyannounced their names. “It’s really crazy going into this whole process. We just wanted to turn a chair.”
Shortly after their victory, the bandshared a statementto their fans and supporters on Instagram explaining that they would be flying home to be with their dad “as soon as possible.” In the statement, they explained that their dad, who was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2017, was in “horrific pain” after “another surgery.”
Bekah says when they made it to the hospital, it was “really sweet” to be reunited as a family after their time spent apart.
Joshua adds, “Our parents were elated and could hardly believe that their children who were just on national television, less than 24 hours ago, winning this trophy thing, all of a sudden were back hanging out with them. It was really neat.”
The siblings also agree that though it was difficult to be away, their time on the show has served as a “welcome distraction” for their father.
“The only thing that kept us out there in California was the fact that our parents were watching every week, and it was giving them so much hope in life,” Bekah says. “And so in turn, it gave us a lot of life too in that aspect. It’s very much a roller coaster and calling home brought a lot to our emotional selves.”
She continued, “We had to focus too on the art. But we tried to hold both and not let one take over the other. I describe it as a mountaintop experience and a valley all at the same time. It shifts all the time, but we’re no stranger to that way of life. And it’s been like that for a long time. So it’s just on a grander scale now.”
Caleb adds, “I would often call back and say, ‘We should come home, right? This is ridiculous. Why are we out here? Why are we going through so much pain? Why would we keep this distance when it doesn’t have to be this way?'”
His parents’ response, he says, was always to “see this through the end” and he’s “so grateful they did.”
When it comes to their relationship withKelly Clarkson, their coach on the show, the band says she “feels like an older sister” — and they value the advice she had to offer.
Caleb, Bekah and Joshua Liechty.Trae Patton/NBC
“She’ll be the first one to tell you that this is a competition show [and] it’s giving you a lot of exposure. But it’s what happens after — that is your career,” Bekah says. “And she’s a perfect example of someone who has taken that amazing experience from the competition show,American Idol, and elevated it. Turned it into a lifelong career.”
And of course, one of the perks of winningThe Voiceis the $100,000 grand prize. Though they’ll be splitting it three ways, they each have their own ideas of how they want to spend that cash.
“I want to save for retirement,” Bekah is the first to say. Meanwhile, Caleb prefers a “trip to Hawaii” and a “group photoshoot” — and Joshua is looking to get a “sweet recording set up.”
Moving forward, Bekah says the group is “itching to get to the studio” and release that full-length album they’ve been planning since “last winter.”
The group also emphasizes that they’re grateful for all of their fans and say they hope they “stick around.”
Caleb adds, “The Voiceis a people’s choice show. So we didn’t really win it. The people won it. Our fans won it, which is really special because that means we have fans and that’s something that we don’t take for granted. So, thank you all.”
source: people.com
