Twenty year old Avery Roberson’s simple and heartfelt rendition of Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This,” gets the coaches attention.
John Legend turns first, followed by Kelly Clarkson and then Blake Shelton. Nick Jonas finally hits his button before the song is through. It’s a four chair turn!
Kelly notes how the coaches turned despite the lack of bells and whistles in his presentation. “You kept it you,” she says, “And it sounded so beautiful and intimate. Kelly is sure Avery will pick Blake, so she reminds him that she won the show with a male country singer (Jake Hoot, season 17).
Blake reminds everybody that Kelly may have grown up in country music, but she walked away from it to sing pop. He notes that he’s celebrating his 10th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Blake adds, “I am the only person on the panel who knows the person whose song you just sang.” And then he begs, “I have to be your coach, Avery!”
Nick wonders what kind of music Avery wants to sing. Interestingly, Avery reveals that he started off singing pop when he was young, “because my voice was too high.” But, his dad and grandad both did country music. “That’s just where I’m at now,” he says.
Kelly thinks that maybe a coach that’s lived in both pop and country (her!) might be a good coach for him. Nick mentions that despite being pop, he has worked with Thomas Rhett, Dan + Shay and Shania Twain. “Maybe we’ll be able to write together someday,” Nick teases.
John says he turned first because Avery has a “beautiful, beautiful voice,” and loves coaching great vocalists on the show. Flattery!
Blake promises that he has no ulterior motives. He will fight for Avery! Will the young singer choose Blake? Or will he do the unexpected and choose another coach. Fans will have to wait until Monday to find out.
The Voice airs on NBC March 8 at 8 pm ET/PT.
