A new season of The Voice has started, and Blake Shelton is in search of his next champion.
Shelton has served as a coach on The Voice since its inception in 2011. He has coached eight contestants to victory, with his most recent winner being Season 20’s Cam Anthony.
View this post on Instagram
Since Shelton has been on the show for so long, he knows a good voice when he hears one. That’s why he wasted no time turning his chair for country singer Lana Scott during the blind auditions for Season 21.
Scott covered Kelsea Ballerini‘s 2020 single “hole in the bottle.” The song reached the second spot on the Country Airplay Chart and claimed the sixth position on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Ballerini later remixed “hole in the bottle” with Shania Twain. This remix added to the song’s already immense popularity.
When Scott covered the song on The Voice, she delivered her performance with some serious country twang. It was a sound Shelton loved, and he turned his chair for her before she even reached the chorus.
Kelly Clarkson eventually turned around as well. So she and Shelton were left to compete for Scott’s attention.
“That is country!” Shelton said of Scott’s performance. He went on to say, “I can’t put a value on your tone. You have that whiny country thing that we just don’t hear anymore…my God, thank you for coming to this show.”
Clarkson also complimented the sound of Scott’s voice. She said it reminded her of The Chicks‘ Natalie Maines as well as Pam Tillis. “…you have that really cool, stylized country sound, which I love.”
After Shelton and Clarkson bickered back and forth for a while, it was time for Scott to choose her coach. And she chose…Shelton!
Check out the video below to see Scott’s outstanding audition. Then you’ll be able to understand why Clarkson and Shelton were both desperate to be her coach!