Ted Williams, "The Man with the Golden Voice" who captivated America with his rags-to-riches story in 2011, is back.
He was the featured guest in the Oct. 22, 2016 edition of the U.S. reality TV series "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
In a YouTube video of the show, Williams recalled how he "went from homeless to Hollywood," overcoming his drug and alcohol addiction and rising from the pits of poverty to find himself on the set of the "Today" show, attaining success and regaining some measure of dignity.
He said now, "When people see me, they see an act of God. They also see that God is alive and still working modern day miracles."
In a post on his Facebook page the day after the show was aired, Williams said he's "just an example that with the faith of a mustard seed, God can restore you from any situation that you face."
Indeed, Williams has come a long way.
With his God-given speaking talent, he was on track to having a great career in radio when drugs and alcohol derailed his life, impoverishing him and forcing him to live on the streets for 20 years, according to his own recollection.
He found himself a chance to turn his life in January 2011 when video posted on YouTube uncovered his remarkable radio voice. At that time, Williams was asking for help on the streets of Ohio, holding a sign that read "I have a God-given gift of voice. I'm an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times. Please any help will be great, fully appreciated. Thank you and God bless you."
The video went viral. Soon, Williams was offered a $375,000 book deal and many other lucrative offers for his speaking talent, according to the celebrity website Nicki Swift.
However, just a few days after he became famous, Williams returned to his alcohol addiction. Once again, he found himself "homeless, penniless and hopeless in some people's eyes."
But the grace of God came upon him once again as he received a call to guest in NBC's top-rated "Today" TV talk show.
"I went from homeless to Hollywood!" Williams gushed.
Eventually he was able to have his own apartment. He said "overwhelming would be an understatement" to describe his feelings at his sudden change of fortunes.
Now, Williams has truly turned a new leaf. He said his mission now is to give back by feeding and helping homeless people in shelters and soup kitchens.
Williams is now busy doing motivational speaking. He has also begun starring in his own weekday radio programme, "The Golden Voice Show," in Columbus, Ohio. The radio show is on WVKO-AM, which is the same radio station on which Williams began his career in the '80s.
"I'm almost like a poster child for redemption," Williams said in one of his shows, accompanied by his distinctive laugh.
