diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
index bb9dced..6bf7e4f 100644
--- a/.env.template
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ MAX_COMMENT_LENGTH="500"
 OPACITY="1"
 
 # see TTSwrapper.py for all valid options
-VOICE="" # e.g. en_us_002
+VOICE="Matthew" # e.g. en_us_002
 TTsChoice="polly" # todo add docs
 
 # IN-PROGRESS - not yet implemented
diff --git a/TTS/POLLY.py b/TTS/POLLY.py
index 79a6f91..360f98f 100644
--- a/TTS/POLLY.py
+++ b/TTS/POLLY.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class POLLY:
         else:
             if not os.getenv('VOICE'):
                 return ValueError('Please set the environment variable VOICE to a valid voice. options are: {}'.format(voices))
-            voice = (os.getenv("VOICE"))
+            voice = str(os.getenv("VOICE")).capitalize()
         body = {'voice': voice, 'text': req_text}
         response = requests.post(self.url, data=body)
         try: