Happy Monday! Ashley here, and I’m back to live blogging with the season premiere of The Voice!
Season 23 kicks off tonight with coaches old and new, and one will be turning his chair for the final time.
Joining the coaches are Niall Horan of One Direction fame and rapper Chance the Rapper. The two new coaches will sit alongside returning coach Kelly Clarkson and OG coach Blake Shelton, who will mark Season 23 as his final season on the show. All while Carson Daly returns to host as we kick off a night of Blind Auditions!
The Voice 2023: Full Season 23 Schedule
The Voice 23 Spoilers: Top 8 Semifinal Artists Playoffs Results
The Voice 23 Spoilers: Battle and Knockout Round Results
The Voice 23 Contestant List and Guide: Meet the Artists!
Season 23 begins by introducing new coaches Niall and Chance the Rapper!
Neil Salsich – 34 – St. Louis Missouri – Honky Tonk Blues by Hank Williams
Neil’s combination of falsetto and some mean growls paired with his acoustic guitar get all four judges to turn their chairs! But Blake blocks Kelly straight off the bat!
Blake wants Neil on the last Team Blake while Chance hopes to see a rapper and a country artist together! Niall asks if he’s got any Irish in him lol, and Kelly handed out the compliments despite being blocked. Neil chooses Team Blake.
Sorelle (Sibling Trio: Madi – 21 Ana – 20 Bella – 16) – Lexington OH – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen
All three girls have a slightly different tone to their voice, yet all three flow beautifully together, getting Blake and Chance to both turn their chairs.
Blake tells this group the same exact thing as the last auditioner (jokingly) while Kelly calls what they did hard but well done. Niall says there’s nothing he could have brought to the table for them, and Chance says he was hesitant about their sound but says it had a show tunes feel, and asks the girls to try a different three part harmony for him. Sorella choose Team Chance.
Holly Brand – 22 – Meridian MS – Mississippi Girl by Faith Hill
Kelly turns her chair immediately at Holly’s first note, and the only person who does not turn is Blake despite Holly’s Team Blake-esque sound.
Niall believes they could do great things together, while Kelly says she can win with her. Holly then shows Blake a photo of when she got to open for him when she was 10. Despite Niall hoping for a chance with her on his team, Holly chooses Team Kelly.
Tasha Jessen – 20 – Colorado Springs CO (Originally from Pakistan) – River by Leon Bridges
Tasha has a unique and unexpected voice that leaves the coaches taking their time turning, but by the middle of the song Blake and Niall turn at the same time. Chance turns by the very end of the song.
Kelly says she would have hit her button if no one else did. Blake says it’s good to meet her while Niall says it’s better to meet her (lol). Chance believes she’ll have huge success on the show, and could win if she chooses him, but in the end Tasha chooses… and commercial! Tasha chooses Team Blake.
Star Martin – 34 – St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands – No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley
Star has a few flat notes in between some good ones, but no one turns their chairs. Chance tells her there was some shakiness and Niall says he thinks there’s more in there. Star promises she’ll be back next time.
Ross Clayton – 33 – McLoud OK – Blue Ain’t Your Color by Keith Urban
Ross has a very specific tone to his twang that gets all four chairs to turn before the song ends with a gorgeous high note.
Chance compliments his unique tone and Kelly tells him to pick songs that showcase him emotionally. Niall gets up and tells them he wants privacy to pitch to Ross, so he presses each one of their buttons and turns their chairs around and asks him to please choose him. Ross chooses Team Niall!
Michael B. – 29 – Los Angeles CA – Save Your Tears by The Weeknd
Michael puts a theatrical voice to this pop ballad, getting Niall to turn his chair almost immediately while the other three do not turn.
Niall asks Michael if he writes songs and compliments his control, then says they’re going to do magical things together. Michael joins Team Niall.
D. Smooth – 25 – Birmingham AL – Perfect by Ed Sheeran
D. Smooth adds some cool runs to this beautiful song that makes a swooning Kelly turn her chair. Niall turns his chair at the very last second, while the other two do not.
Kelly reminds him he needs to be A game every time and Niall says he’s a super singer who will go far in this competition. D. Smooth chooses Team Kelly.
Emily Ryne – 22 – Ada OK – The First Cut is the Deepest by Cat Stevens
Emily has your typical country voice but seems to be majorly struggling by the chorus of this classic. No one turned their chairs.
Emily gives Blake some presents, saying he knows her grandfather and then plays a studio recording Blake did with her grandfather when he was 13. Blake says afterward that if he could go back in time, it would be to hit his button for Emily.
Alex Whalen – 43 – Indian Rocks Beach FL (Originally London) – Help Me Make it Through the Night by Sammi Smith
Alex is another country artist with a unique tone of voice, adding some raspiness here and there that compliment his performance. Blake turns his chair, and Chance turns at the last second.
Kelly calls his voice gorgeous and Niall says Blake is Alex’s man. Blake says he’s never had the chance to work with a country singer from London while Chance compliments both his tone and his swag. Alex chooses Team Blake.
NOIVAS (Savion Wright) – 30 – Hutto TX – A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke
NOIVAS says he wants to honor those who came before him before he breaks out into song along with his acoustic guitar. All four judges turn their chairs by the second line of the song, but Chance blocks Blake.
Niall asks his name and what planet he’s from (lol) while Chance says he’s a voice of this generation. Chance gets up and tells NOIVAS that he’s only got one option and taps each of their names on the floor and they turn to Chance. NOIVAS chooses Team Chance.
