Canada’s Got Talent Season 4 winner Jacob Lewis (Citytv)

After getting music icon Shania Twain’s Golden Buzzer, Jacob Lewis from Butlerville, in Newfoundland and Labrador was crowned the Canada’s Got Talent Season 4 winner. The singer received $1 million from Rogers, the biggest cash prize in Canadian television history.

“It’s been a bit of a wild ride trying to navigate through. It has been amazing because there’s been so much support,” Lewis told Yahoo Canada the day after his big win. “There were motorcades last night around home.”

“To see how caring people have been towards my family and myself, it’s something that I’ll never forget. It’s been amazing and I really can’t thank anyone enough who’s tuned in, watched the show, who’s voted. And to be the lucky recipient of that million dollars from Rogers, it’s really changed our lives.”

Lewis, who previously worked in the oil and gas industry, was quickly identified as a strong competitor, getting praise from Twain in particular, really proving the greatness of his talent.

“Shania Twain was talking to me and you’re trying to grab on to any little thing she’s willing to give you,” he said. “And I take the criticism just as much as I take the compliments, and she was being so kind and she was being so supportive.”

“I remember when we were coming up, my wife was sitting with me on the plane, and she’s like, ‘Shania’s going to hit the Golden Buzzer for you,’ … and she was right. … You paint these pictures of these people and she is no words other than awesome. … She [kept] saying to me that you’re so humble, and she was exactly that to myself.”

Sharing health complications for his sons

While Lewis was praised for his impressive voice, he also opened up on the show about the health complications his four-year-old twin boys, Luke and Levi, have had. They were born at just 29 weeks, six days old. Luke had multiple brain bleeds and developed cerebral palsy, and Levi was on oxygen for a long time, and now is particularly prone to respiratory illness.

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“It’s difficult to go back and reflect, … and really open that chapter,” Lewis said. “But I do really see the value in opening up and chatting with folks, so I do that quite often. Whenever someone’s willing to listen and we’re sharing stories.”

“I do think it takes a village to help everyone and anytime that someone’s willing to share a story with me, if they’re willing to listen to my story, or if they’re looking for some inspiration. … I know when I was going through our difficult times, I was really reaching out and leaning into all these articles that I could see people going through their stories, and seeing how those turned out, and trying to grab onto any piece of positive that I could, and it really helped me.”

But Lewis is also thinking about the fact that being on Canada’s Got Talent gives him an interesting piece of family archives to share with his sons.

“They’re going to get to see themselves as they get older, running across the stage,” he highlighted. “They were going up and down escalators yesterday, and people were cheering for them. Stuff like that has been absolutely amazing.”

‘I’m ready now. I’ve put in the work’

At the time when Lewis join the show, his family was “struggling financially” and the $1 million prize was a big draw to entice him to go from singing in his car to singing on the Canada’s Got Talent stage.

Of course, family is a top priority for Lewis, with his initial plans for the prize money including a family trip when the school year ends for his kids, while also saving money for their futures.

“Let them create their memories that they won’t ever forget, and really set up an nice little fund for them,” Lewis said. “But on the other side of things, I really want to give a career push in music. I think the opportunity is now. I need to capitalize on that. … I’m ready now. I’ve put in the work. If you get an opportunity to come see me in concert I will put on a show for you.”

Lewis hasn’t entirely narrowed down the type of music he wants to make, but whatever he sings is going to be “powerful.”

“I want to be a performer. I want you to walk in and I want you to come to a venue. I want you to see me hit the stage and I want to put on a show for you,” he said. “I love going to a concert and when you leave, you feel excited. You’re built up from the energy. That’s what I want to do.”