Blake Shelton says he was a little shaken after that blind audition. That’s because after more than 500 cast members over his 23 seasons on “The Voice,” the country music superstar pressed his button for the last time and it was for a singer from the Michigan.
Grace West, 19, performed Pam Tillis’ “Maybe It Was Memphis” for her blind audition airing Tuesday, March 21 as part of the NBC hit song contest. Shelton and Niall Horan turned their chairs around for her.
West is from Canton in the Detroit metro area. She says she moved to Nashville about a year ago to pursue her dream career as a singer. She is also a songwriter and says she struggles to get noticed.
“It’s so hard to get away from it all in Nashville,” West said before his audition. “Everyone there does the same thing and it was hard to be taken seriously because I’m a lot younger than everyone else.”
After his performance, Shelton and Horan explained why West should choose each of them.
“Your voice is impeccable. So many soft tones,” Horan said. “You are a born storyteller. People in America are going to love you.
“I moved to Nashville when I was 17. Same thing, I worked for a publishing company there,” Shelton said. “My dream was to be on the radio one day, so I identify with that. You have this thing that I don’t feel like I have in any of the artists your age anymore. In fact, I Hear Pam Tillis in your voice. I still have a spot on my team. I’d be honored if you join the last Blake team as the last person I’ll press this button for.
West ended up choosing Shelton and will now move on to the next round which begins next Monday night.
West is the second singer from Michigan to be on a team in this season’s blind auditions. Detroit’s Chloe Abbott has earned a spot on Chance The Rapper’s team after her performance of The Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love” on March 14. Chance was the only coach to turn a chair for her. The 24-year-old is also training to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris in the 400 meters.
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