The Voice season 21 Blind Auditions CONCLUDE TONIGHT with returning coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend. Pop star Ariana Grande joins the panel. Carson Daly returns as host. We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances as the coaches fill their teams.
The Voice airs on Mondays and Tuesdays this season. The teams are back at 12 artists each. A top 48 will emerge by the end of the round.
The Voice 21 Contestants Spoilers – Meet the Artists! (Photos, Videos)
The Voice 21 Audition: 4-Chair Turn Aaron Hines Sings with John Legend (Video)
The Voice 21 Spoiler: Knockout Round Mega-Mentor Is THIS Chart Topper
The Voice 21 Battle Round Advisors Revealed (No More Teasing)
REMINDER: NO SPOILERS IN COMMENTS. Keep spoiler talk under spoiler posts above, thank you.
Aaron Hines – 28 – San Antonio TX
Heartbreak Anniversary by Giveon – NBC dropped Aaron’s audition earlier today. John Legend has played an instrumental part of his musical career. He’s covered his songs many times, including “All of Me” at weddings. He studied musical performance at college. Then, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. He cries talking about going through her recovery alongside her. She’s currently in remission. Aaron has a silky, soulful voice. It’s very romantic. It takes a minute for the coaches to turn. John and Kelly go first followed by Ariana and then Blake.
Aaron confesses to John that he sings “All of Me” at weddings. They sing a bit of it together. Kelly compliments his intimacy and ability to sing big notes. She mentions her experience on singing shows. Blake reminds everybody that he won with a soul singer last season (Cam Anthony). Then he disses each of the coaches. It’s what he does when he has nothing. And shockingly, Aaron picks Kelly! “I feel like she got me artistically,” he explains. The clue Aaron wouldn’t pick John was all the time the editors spent hyping him up in the cut.
4-chair turn, Aaron picks Team Kelly
KCK3 (Kyla 19, Chelsea 26, Kaitlyn 17) – Brandon MS
No Tears Left to Cry by Ariana Grande – The trio begins a’capella with impeccable harmonies. Their solo voices aren’t as good as their harmonies, however. There are a few pitch problems. Ariana not only turns for her song, but she’s up dancing. And she’s the only turn. The three are a sister act, which is evident from their tight harmonies. Their father and grandfather sang in groups with their siblings as well.
The trio is the last act to land on Team Ariana. She sings “my team is full” and drops her mic in Blake’s face. Kelly says she already has a group (she has two, actually). Blake also has a trio. There. Are. So. Many. Groups. This. Season. Things like that are never a coincidence.
Only Ariana turned. Her team is full
Tommy Edwards – 27 – Bigfork MT
Drops of Jupiter by Train – Tommy is an outdoors kind of guy. He’s a fly fisherman, and a family man. He and his wife have two kids. His dad was a banker by day, but played music on the weekends. They played together for years. He sings a very familiar 90s song with a raspy, unique tone. It’s so late in the game, will he get a turn for his unusual voice? It takes a minute, and Blake turns. John hits his button just to mess with Blake.
Kelly didn’t turn. She was waiting to hear more range in his voice. Blake compared Tommy to the Black Crowes, and reminds him that he’s had success coaching rock artists. And unsurprisingly, Tommy picks Blake.
John and Blake turn, Tommy picks Team Blake. His team is full
Shadele – 29 – Douglasville GA
That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars – She sang in church, school and musical theater. After school, she travelled all over the world with a group called Gospel People. While touring, she got pregnant. She went home and became a single mom. Now, she does weddings, corporate gigs and part time delivery. When Shadele begins singing, the look on Ariana’s face says “WHY DID I TURN FOR THAT TRIO!” Kelly turns immediately, and then John. It’s a battle. Shadele is a prize. She has a strong, confident vibe with tons of stage presence and RANGE FOR DAYS. She’s good. she finishes the song with a spin. Wow.
“You came up here and put on a show!” says John. Indeed. He thinks she could make the finale. Kelly calls her a cross between Beyonce and Bruno Mars. And in the end, Shadele picks John. He sings his little welcome ditty to announce his team is full. Kelly joins him!
Kelly and John turn, Shadele picks Team Legend. John’s team is full
Fifteen minutes of the episode remains. Only Kelly has a spot open. TIME FOR AT LEAST ONE DUD.
Joe McGinnis – 43 – Atlanta Georgia
Midnight Rider by Allman Brothers – Joe’s video package begins in stop-motion animation style, the thing he does as a day job. We see him in his house, working with a camera and a green screen. He plays a ton of instruments, mostly strings and horns. His grandfather played Scottish harmonica. His dad played guitar. His wife is very supportive. He’s a decent singer, but not good enough to take the last spot on a team. And of course, he finishes without a turn.
The coaches wanted more dynamics from him. “You were on 11 the whole time,” says Kelly.
No Turns
Parker McKay – 29 – Nashville TN
Slow Hands by Niall Horan – Her whole life has been centered on music, including songwriting and musical theater. She’s an only child. At 23, she moved to Nashville and figured she should do country music. Eventually Parker settled in the pop genre, but learned a lot from country music songwriters. But then, five years ago, her mom developed dementia, which they didn’t know for a long time. One thing her mom responds to, is Parker’s singing. She passed away right before Parker left for her The Voice audition. She considers herself a pop singer, but actually, Parker’s voice is very bluesy. Her sound is very Americana, similar to Bonnie Raitt. She’s right in Kelly’s wheelhouse. Of course she turns.
John found her performance compelling. “Welcome to the obvious team for you!” says Kelly.
Only Kelly turned – Her team is FULL
Next Monday THE BATTLES BEGIN.
