The Voice season 18 Blind Auditions continue with returning coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend. New coach Nick Jonas joins the panel. Carson Daly returns as host. We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances right here.
The Voice Season 18 Contestant List Spoilers: Blinds, Battles, Knockouts
We’re still introducing Nick! Everybody loves Nick. Blake is a little jealous.
Arei Moon – Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson – 28 – Boston MA – Arai is a first generation Cape Verdean from Boston. The islands off the coast of West Africa are beautiful, but the opportunities in America are so much better. Her dad is a biochemical engineer. At 12 she opened for LL Cool J. So she’s been singing for awhile. She feels the pull of age. Uh oh. She’s covering a song by one of the coaches. That’s usually a bad idea. Nick hits his button right away…and blocks Kelly. I imagine Arei is REALLY happy about that. Hm. I don’t love this version. Apparently it’s Kelly’s live version. It picks up some on the chorus. Ha ha. It takes Kelly a minute to notice the block. SHE MAD. Arei plays off the block as a flattering thing.
Nick and Kelly turn, but Nick blocks Kelly
Levi Watkins – Hey Soul Sister by Train – 14 – This is an audition that starts without even the viewers seeing the vocalist. So there’s some kinda twist here. When Blake hits his button we see, The singer is a very young boy who sounds like a girl. He’s playing a mandolin too. Seriously, he looks about 10 years old. Blake is the only turn. The rest of the coaches are shocked. Blake is thrilled that he has Levi all to himself and says keeping a poker face throughout his performance was HARD. I’d have to check, but I think Levi is the first 14 year old male on the show? I was thinking recently, how the youngest contestants are ALWAYS girls, and it’s probably because boys voices at that age are so unpredictable. The Voice. RISKING A PETER BRADY MOMENT. Levi’s family members are all very musical. He plays many instruments and built a guitar with his uncle.
Only Blake Turns
Cassidy Lee – Gold Dust Woman by Stevie Nicks – 23 – Jacksonville FL – She’s been a full time musician for five years. She sings and writes songs. When her parents figured out her talent, they encouraged her to perform. In 2017 her dad passed away suddenly from stage 4 cancer. She has an interesting tone, but needs to work on control. The pitchy stuff is probably because she’s nervous. No turns. Cassidy loves the Jonas Brothers. Aw. Her favorite song is “Please be Mine.” Nick thinks she should have picked more of a “storytelling” song. He gave her a big hug though!
No Turns
Zach Day – Weak by SWV – 25 – Stearns KY – John hits his button pretty quickly for Zach, who sings in a smooth, pleasant falsetto. He reminds me a little of American Idol season 5 alum Ace Young–even his look! It’s the hair. When he hits a high note, Kelly hits her button. She’s shocked: “You’re white!” Really? Hm. He grew up on “a little farm.” Getting a McDonalds in town was a big deal. Zach’s small town peers mocked him for being gay. But his parents have been very supportive. His friends tease him–calling him Gaylor Swift and Gaylee Musgraves. HARDEE HAR HAR. He says he thinks it’s funny. Kelly and John are having an adjective-off. In the end, Zach goes for the coach with the biggest vocabulary–John.
Kelly and John turn. Zach picks Team Legend.
Chelle – idontwanttobeyouanymore by Billie Eilish – 18 – Bargersville IN – She likes to collect rocks. For real. She’s very very shy. She’d be happy to stay home day after day. Blake hits his button within a few seconds. It’s not surprising. Chelle has a striking tone that really stands out. Beautiful, natural phrasing as well. It takes a minute, but Nick hits his button too. And then Kelly goes at the very last minute, much to Blake’s chagrin. Nick says her tone made him feel emotional. “You’re the kind of singer I would die to write songs for.” Another good pitch from Nick. He says Kelly turned down some of his songs! Oops. He also adds that he experienced success AND failure by the time he was Chelle’s age. He can help her! Kelly heard beautiful potential, but feels Chelle is trying too hard to be perfect. Ah. Kelly is going the “constructive criticism” route. Blake brags that he won the show 6 times. The back and forth about Blake being a “creepy uncle” is so hilarious. NOT. In the end, Chelle picks Kelly. And Chelle brings ROCKS FOR EVERYONE. Fools gold for Blake!
Nick, Blake and Kelly turn. Chelle picks Team Kelly
Toneisha Harris – I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner – 44 – Roswell GA – She and her family were a travelling gospel band. At 24, she put out her first demo. She released a song that did well in the gospel world, but then her son was diagnosed with Leukemia. She put everything on hold, including an opportunity, 8 years ago, to audition on The Voice. He survived and is currently a college student. When her son was sick, he begged her to do The Voice. But Toneisha refused. She sings with a beautiful, soulful alto. John is the first to turn. Nick is next, followed by Blake and then finally Kelly. We previewed this performance earlier today. Toneisha picks Blake! His pitch about experience paid off! He thinks she’ll make it to the finale.
4 Chair Turn. Toneisha Picks Team Blake
