The Voice Season 27 is off to a strong start, as the coaching panel has already rounded up plenty of talent for their teams. The season premiere, which aired on Monday (Feb. 3) on NBC, featured two hours of vocal talent and marked the return of veteran coach Adam Levine, who had been off the show since 2019.
Levine was unable to exchange banter with Blake Shelton, who left the show in May of 2023. Still, plenty of laughs were had as the other coaches made time to throw in a few jokes at the Maroon 5 hitmakers’ expense. Kelsea Ballerini has signed on as the newest coach to represent the country music genre, following Reba McEntire’s exit. She was seated next to fellow coaches John Legend — who sat out during Season 26 but has since returned — and Michael Bublé — who coached last season.
11 hopefuls took centerstage during the blind audition process, but two went home while two received a highly sought-after four-chair-turn. Those who got the coveted quadruple turn included Grace Miller Moody and Ethan Eckenroad. At the top of the telecast, viewers were treated by an unexpected performance of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” by all four coaches. During the entertaining episode, Coach Levine received a “Block” from Legend, and Ballerini became the first judge to use her “Coach Replay,” button.
Some familiar faces came to play — with contestant Iris Herrara making a comeback after previously auditioning for Season 26, where she performed a rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy.” This time around, she dazzled with a unique performance of “You Are My Sunshine,” which grabbed the attention of three coaches. Meanwhile, Jayden Cree Olesen chose to audition after her father Bryan Oleson placed third competing on Team Legend during Season 25. Oleson, who received turns with her cover of Paramore’s “Still Into You,” will now compete on Team Bublé.
At this point, Levine and Ballerini have three contestants representing their respective teams while Bublé has two and Legend has one. It’s still early on, so artists can still wind up on a different team as they try to make it to the finale and win the grand prize. Check out the new talent and whose team they ended up on below!
Team Adam Levine:
Name: Grace Miller Moody (Four Chair Turn)
Age: 20
From: Florence, South Carolina
Song Choice: Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “The potential for you is limitless….You can absolutely go all the way and win this thing.”
Ballerini: “You’re cool and your voice is great.”
Legend: “It was so good!”
Bublé: “Tell me what to say so I can be your coach and you can be a worldwide superstar!”
Name: Darius J
Age: 35
From: Pahokee, Florida
Song Choice: Usher‘s “Caught Up”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “There’s an amazing electricity to what [Cee Lo Green] does and I felt that from you. The way you perform, clearly you’re fearless.”
Ballerini: “You are the best entertainer that I have seen on this stage. Hearing your voice is one thing. It’s electric and it’s magnetic. Seeing you use your voice is a whole different level.”
Legend: “For you to flip this song the way that you did was so cool and unexpected.”
Bublé: “I can’t make you a better singer. You are the better singer.”
Name: Ethan Eckenroad (Four Chair Turn)
Age: 26
From: Roaring Springs, Pennsylvania
Song Choice: Noah Kahan’s “Northern Attitude”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “You have an effortless thing that you do that is so soulful and so simple. You have my favorite voice I’ve heard so far this entire blind audition.”
Ballerini: “This is the first time I felt like I was turning for an artist like I’m at your show.”
Legend: “I’m so impressed by your poise and the soul-fullness of your voice.”
Bublé: “I’d love to have you on my team. I think we know good music, and you’re good music.”
Team John Legend:
Name: RENZO
Age: 33
From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Song Choice: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “I think if you want to be the disruptive artist you want to be, you have to make disruptive choices.”
Ballerini: “You deserved a four-chair turn.”
Legend: “I can hear the R&B influence, but you did a song that was unexpected for somebody that has that background. I would love to coach you.”
Bublé: “I can help guide you. I want you to be a global megastar, dude.”
Team Michael Bublé:
Name: Jadyn Cree Olesen
Age: 24
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Song Choice: Paramore’s “Still Into You”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “There was something about your voice that reminded me of a ‘90s pop voice that I love so much.”
Ballerini: “Your voice is really pure.”
Legend: “That was such a cool vocal. I mean, your voice stands out. It pierces through in a way that grabs people’s attention.”
Bublé: “Jayden. I think you’re a star. You have so much light pouring out of you.”
Name: Carlos Santiago
Age: 36
From: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Song Choice: Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “I just want someone that can deliver a powerful vocal, and you’re the one.”
Ballerini: “Really cool voice!”
Legend: “What I loved about your performance was your vibrato and that richness of your higher register.”
Bublé: “When I’m your coach, it’s a full-time job for me. It’s a friendship. My job is to get the best out of you.”
Team Kelsea Ballerini:
Name: Iris Herrera
Age: 19
From: Newaygo, Michigan
Song Choice: “You Are My Sunshine”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “I love your voice. You obviously belong here, and I’m really happy for you.”
Ballerini: “With your voice, it made me want to know you. That’s what people are looking for in artists.”
Legend: “I felt like that was a four-chair-turn performance.”
Bublé: “Look at what you did. I’m so happy.”
Name: Angie Rey
Age: 25
From: Seminole, Florida
Song Choice: Kelsea Ballerini’s “Penthouse”
What did the coaches say?
Levine: “It was just meant to be, and I loved watching it.”
Ballerini: “This is scary for me because you’re hitting notes that I don’t hit in that song.”
Name: Dan Kiernan (“Coaches Replay” contestant)
Age: 33
From: Long Island, New York
Song Choice: Panic! At The Disco‘s “High Hopes”
What did the coaches say?
Ballerini: “You’re amazing and you have such an aura about you. I didn’t turn my chair…I’m going to try to challenge the other coaches. This is my first season and I made a mistake. I think you’re fantastic. I’d like to put my name in the running here.”
Legend: “That was so exciting and fun. On the higher parts of the song, you sounded so powerful and energetic.”
Bublé: “How much fun is it to watch you?”
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