The Voice Season 24 Blind Auditions continued apace Monday, and one of the standout singers was so spectacular, and came from such a legendary musical family, that it’s actually a surprising shame it took going on The Voice to earn her some national attention. But this felt like the “35 years young” diva’s moment. “Now it’s time for JaRae Womack!” she proclaimed.
JaRae Womack is the granddaughter of Cecil Womack, a member of the Sam Cooke-championed Valentinos and the co-writer of Teddy Pendergrass’s “Love T.K.O.,” and the niece of late, great Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Womack. So, JaRae practically literally born to do this. She was really selling the drama on her torchy, showed-down, show-stopping interpretation of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black”, delivering a performance that was sexy and edgy, but also classic. She made Uncle Bobby and Grandpa Cecil proud tonight.
“You completely made [the song] your own. So believable!” gasped Niall Horan, dropping to his knees and begging JaRae to join his team. John Legend told JaRae, “You owned the song, you lived in the song, and you were speaking through the music. … I was feeling the energy you were emitting from the stage.” Reba McEntire even declared, “I am so honored to be in your presence and hear you sing.”
And please note, JaRae did not bring up her lineage, and none of the coaches asked if she was one of the Womacks. So, she’s no “nepo baby” — she earned the coaches’ respect through her talents alone.
All four coaches were keen (side note: Season 24 seems to have featured the most four-chair turns of any Voice season), but JaRae ultimately joined Team Legend, unsurprisingly. Reba might have had a shot if she hadn’t pulled a Blake Shelton and confessed that — bafflingly — she was unfamiliar with the iconic Winehouse ballad.
As another side note, I must mention that much-hyped new coach Reba isn’t fighting for contestants nearly as hard as her more seasoned and cutthroat co-stars, because that’s apparently not her style, so six of her 12 team members so far, including three that auditioned Monday, have been recruited by default (as in, no one else turned for them). Reba seems to be not only be the queen of country, but the queen of one-chair turns. But Niall assured viewers that she has a “superpower” that allows her to be “very in tune with some very great artists” that are going to surprise us down the line, for sure.”
Here are the other successful singers, ranging from one to four chairs, from Monday’s Blind Auditions:
Lila Forde, 24: “Can’t Find My Way Home”
A Seattle hippie raised by spiritual, musical parents who met on a meditation retreat, this smoky-voiced, old-souled piano woman reminded me of Linda Ronstadt. Niall actually said her gorgeous performance was “like listening to full-on Joni Mitchell stuff. … That reminded me of everything I love about music.” Gwen Stefani kicked off her shoes, jumped to her bare feet, and gushed, “This is what the world needs: a singer songwriter with a true point of view! … You’re my dream Voice girl to work with.” But piano man John seemed to connect with Lila the most, saying he “heard wisdom” in her voice and could hear that she was musician accompanying herself even before he spun around and saw her alone onstage.
Who turned? All four coaches. Gwen and John hit their buttons within seconds of the song starting.
Result: Team Legend. “I’m so sad!” lamented a snubbed Gwen. “I’m so happy!” cried out John.
Angelina Nazarian, 17: “The Trouble With Love Is”
This poised, Michigan-born teen, who has lived in six countries due to her dad’s job and currently resides in Dubai, had such a rich, full, confident voice for someone so young (and someone who’d never played a professional gig in her life). She was like a baby Mariah Carey. Her vocals on the ambitious throwback ballad were not perfect or totally at a Mariah level, but she just needs to master vocal control and learn how to choose her big moments. “There’s a lot of power in there, and you can do so much with it,” Niall assured her.
Who turned? Niall and Reba. Gwen was later in “full regret mode for not pushing my button,” once she checked out Angelina’s fashion sense. (The culottes were a hit.)
Result: Team Reba. After Angelina belted a Kelly Clarkson song, Reba namedropped her pal Kelly, and that seemed to do the trick. I’m sure Angelina would have been Team Kelly material on a different season.
Tanner Massey, 19: “Before You Go”
A child prodigy whose “Shallow” cover with Acapop! Kids went viral a view years ago, Tanner’s voice was shaky on this Lewis Capaldi weeper, but he had a lot of potential and looked like a teen heartthrob in the making. Gwen called Tanner a “diamond in the rough” and told him, “The dream is just so alive in you.” Former One Direction/X Factor star Niall told Tanner, “I feel like I’m talking to a young version of myself.”
Who turned? Reba, followed by Gwen and Niall — but they all took their sweet time.
Result: Team Niall — the obvious best fit, and not just because of Tanner’s boy-band vibes. “I could sense a lot of nerves; I’m good with working with nerves,” explained Niall, citing his victory last season with shy girl Gina Miles.
Brandon Montel, “Hard Place”
A background singer for Snoh Allegra and the artist formerly known as Kanye West, and a member of the underground ballroom dancing scene, Brandon was clearly ready for his closeup. His golden-throated H.E.R. cover had Reba calling him “so special” and Gwen calling him “gorgeous, beautiful, and very original.”
Who turned? All four coaches… but the “ruthless” and “cold-blooded” Reba, the one coach with a Block left in play, took John out of the running. “I’m no dummy!” she said.
Result: Team Gwen, because Brandon thought Gwen could boost his performance skills and get him out of his shell. So, Reba wasted her Block, and her one attempt at “playing dirty” backfired. “I don’t know if I would have gotten Brandon if Reba hadn’t blocked John,” Gwen admitted, while John vowed he’d be “first in line” if Brandon is ever available to steal.
Al Boogie, 37: “Pickup Man”
This bar-band country-rocker got no turns last season and was so crushed by the public rejection that he turned to his “crutch,” food, to self-medicate. But now, after starting a new health regimen and dropping more than 50 pounds, he returned to the show in fighting shape, “feeling better mentally and physically” and noting that the weight loss has helped hit high notes he used to miss before. “We’re gonna have a different ending this time,” the glowed-up singer declared with newfound confidence.
Who turned? Only Reba, but obviously the self-described “representation for country music” on the panel was the best match for Al. She may have even turned for him last season if she’d been around. “I’m a big fan already,” she said. “We’re gonna have a blast.”
Result: Team Reba. Voice viewers loves a comeback story, so watch this space.
CORii, 32: “Scared to be Lonely”
This singer got a lot more screentime when she was on NBC’s sadly canceled Songland in 2020. Maybe she’s a better songwriter than singer; it was hard to tell from her barely five-second snippet that aired on The Voice this week. But Reba said she was “thrilled” to recruit CORii, so we shall see.
Who turned? Just Reba.
Result: Team Reba.
Crystal Nicole, 39: “Only Girl (In the World)”
This diva had a “very strong, powerful voice,” according to Reba, but Reba was surprisingly the only taker. Maybe Crystal’s Rihanna cover sounded different in the room.
Who turned? Just Reba.
Result: Team Reba.
Elizabeth Evans, 22: “All I Wanted”
This cutie in a cupcake-pink party dress looked sweet and innocent, but she unleashed the onstage beast during her unhinged Paramore cover. It was not a flawless, Hayley Williams-level vocal, but Elizabeth did have a certain superstar sparkle. With the right coaching and song choices, she could develop into a Season 24 force to be reckoned with.
Who turned? John and Reba. Gwen surely would have turned if she knew what Elizabeth looked like in that fluffy super-kawaii frock.
Result: Team Legend.
Nina Iris, 27: “I See Red”
At age 16, Nina competed on the version of The Voice in her home country, Georgia; she turned two chairs, but was cut after the Battle Rounds. I have feeling she’ll do better this time on the American Voice. In fact, she’s already doing better, as a four-chair contestant. “That was the best vocal of the day, without a doubt. The proper rock singer in you really came to fruition. … The whole room was with you,” Niall raved, after the “commanding” “readymade superstar” “took the roof off the place” during what Gwen also called a “Grammy performance.”
Who turned? The entire panel.
Result: Team Niall. “I think we’re looking at a potential winner here,” Nina’s new coach predicted. Nina moved to the U.S. to pursue her musical dreams and really struggled when she first landed in New York City, even being homeless for a while, but now it seems her risk is paying off.
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