Radio Host Ted Williams Became Homeless & Slept in the Bushes until Journalist Saw Him on the Street

• Ted Williams made a career in the radio industry as a program host.
• At one point in his life, he lost all his hard-earned money and ended up living on the streets.
• While Williams was on the streets begging, a journalist came across him and uploaded his video. What came after would take Williams on a rollercoaster journey toward sobriety and financial stability.

Ted Williams has a tremendous golden voice that's perfect for the radio. Unfortunately for him, his poor decisions led him to the streets, begging for spare change in Columbus, Ohio.

He wrote on cardboard that he had a "God-given gift of voice." He said that for a dollar, he'd be happy to share his talent.

A journalist named Doral Chenoweth stopped at the red light and asked Williams to showcase his voice. He was stunned to discover that Williams had a voice perfect for radio.

"He sounded, you know, better than the NPR News announcers," Chenoweth admitted. When he uploaded the video of Williams on social media, he didn't expect it to go viral.

People caught news of Williams' sad state, and media outlets began interviewing him. It was then that the former radio host revealed he suffered from substance abuse and also had a run-in with the law for theft.

His family had given up on him, and he had to take his few belongings to the streets. He was hopeful for a miracle, consoled by the fact that God didn't take away his voice.

Williams was determined for a second shot, thinking he could narrate books or enter the ministry. While these are some of the ideas he had in mind, he had job offers from several organizations after his video went viral.

Williams Had Countless Job Offers After Going Viral

ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and MTV were some of those who invited him to work with them. In 2011, he landed a $300,000 book deal for "A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work, and Humility Brought Me from the Streets to Salvation."

Apart from the book deal, he also became the voice of Kraft Mac And Cheese, a Pepsi Super Bowl ad, and several other voice-over opportunities. Whenever he wasn't working on voice-overs, he'd be invited to do inspirational speeches in different organizations, schools, and ministries through the years.

However, Williams relapsed and landed on the streets yet again by 2014.

Through it all, Williams had one wish: to see his mother again after ten long years. That finally came through, and they had an emotional reunion after years of estrangement.

He got a new home, financial stability, and stable sources of income. What made everything better was that he repaired his relationships with the people he loved most, including his mother.

However, Williams relapsed and landed on the streets yet again by 2014. He struggled financially, lost the home people helped him get, and relied on a few voice-over contracts he still had to get him by.

He revealed being unprepared for the outflow of job opportunities was a reason for his downfall. He trusted several different people without realizing they all had their own intentions. He worked with several agents and lawyers, and when they all got their cuts from Williams' pay, he was unable to manage what was left.

He created his own YouTube channel to earn money, titled "The Golden Voice Show." There, he spoke on several topics and shared bits and pieces of his life.

Williams Relapsed and Lost Everything Again

In 2021, the radio host revealed he no longer had his own home. He lived with a good friend, while his girlfriend of 30 years lived in a nursing home.

He remained grateful for the people who stayed and hopeful that, once again, he'd be able to turn his life back around.

That same year, he announced his bid to run for governor, saying he wanted to focus on veteran services and education. He later retracted his decision.

Williams relied on his "The Golden Voice Show" for years. He's invited several guests, including his grandson, whom he believes will be the next "Golden Voice."

The video with his grandson was Williams' final post on Instagram, which got people wondering where he went. Finally, they received an update when Dr. Phil invited him and his family to his show in May 2023.

It was there that his daughters aired their deep issues against their father. There was nothing left unsaid, and it made Williams realize he needed to change once and for all.

The face-to-face episode led to Williams willingly entering rehab. Dr. Phil got an update from the radio host over the phone, and he revealed he was feeling good about himself and his situation.

He had been in the rehab center for only a few days when Dr. Phil asked him for an update, but he was already feeling optimistic about how it'd change his life.

Going to rehab has changed the lives of many famous celebrities, from sports stars like Tiger Woods to reality TV stars like Kelly Osbourne. Fans are hopeful that Williams' stint in rehab will give him the help he needs, so he can finally stay sober and turn his life around for good.