The Voice 26 Recap: Blind Auditions 5 Live Blog with Videos
The Voice season 26 Blind Auditions continue to episode 5 with new coaches Michael Buble and Snoop Dogg alongside returning vets Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani. Carson Daly returns as host. We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances right here.
For the Blinds: Each team winds up with 14 artists. Each coach gets a block, and new TWIST called “The Coaches Replay” which allows a coach to hit their button after an artist is done singing (typically, coaches must turn during the performance).
The Voice 2024: Full Season 26 Schedule (New Twist!) (UPDATED)
The Voice 26 Contestant Preview (15 Singers to Watch!)
Cameron Wright – 34 – The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand
NBC previewed the entire audition. Watch it HERE. The singer’s mother signed a major record deal with a Gospel label. Cameron toured with her at 11 as a background singer. Cameron also duetted with Stevie Wonder. The singer came out of the closet at 17. Cameron identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. It took time for mom to accept it. However, Cameron’s grandmother always accepted them. Their performance is dedicated to her.
Cameron got the coaches to turn their chairs within the first two lines of the performance! The singer’s rendition of the classic is soulful and dramatic, but they over do the runs, especially toward the end of the song. But Cameron succeeded to churchify that Streisand song.
Reba observed correctly that Cameron has been singing a long time. They started at 5 in church. Gwen called the performance “perfect” and “inspiring.” Michael said what Cameron’s talent can’t be bottled or bought. He predicts Cameron will go to the finals. Snoop thinks he can help Cameron refine their act. Cameron picks Michael – 4-chair turn, Cameron picks Team Buble
Eliza Pryor – 17 – Linger by The Cranberries
Eliza, from Dallas, lives in Los Angeles. At 10 she began to act and was casted in a movie and TV show. Now she lives with her father, while the rest of her family is back in Texas. Eliza is trying to have normal high school experiences, like going to prom and singing in the school a’cappella group.
She needs some work on breath control. She keeps gulping for air. Also, her phrasing is flat. She gets no turns until Snoop hits his button at the last possible moment. He heard something that he liked. He can’t believe nobody else turned (Hm. I can). Michael couldn’t assess her range. Gwen agrees. She didn’t hear strength until the very end. Michael, though, says “It’s going to be so much fun to steal you.” – Only Team Snoop turned.
Kay Sibal – 24 – From the Start by Laufy
Kay shares that she hasn’t sung much solo work, as she’s usually a part of a production or ensemble. She grew up in a family of five in Los Angeles. Her parents are Filipino immigrants. At first they hesitated when she wanted to pursue music. Sadly father passed after a cancer diagnosis three years ago. Her audition date coincides with his death anniversary.
Michael perks up during Kay’s jazzy performance. He hits his button first, followed by Gwen and Reba. She scats a little after Snoop turns. It’s not a perfect performance. She’s probably nervous! But her tone is pretty, and her approach technically ambitious.
“I love the jazziness of that song and how you controlled your voice,” says Snoop. Reba claims she didn’t turn after everyone else did. She believes that she “didn’t have a chance.” Gwen senses that her “heart is really open” and thinks she would be the perfect coach for her. “I know exactly what to do.” Michael thinks he can team with her and work on songs across genres. He knows the original artist, Laufy! Snoop advocates for Gwen. “I have to get out the way.” And then Reba takes Michael’s side. After the break, Kay picks Gwen – Michael, Gwen and Snoop turn, Kay picks Team Gwen. Michael would have been a better pick!
Drake Hyde – 21 – Little Rock by Collin Raye
Drake lives on a farm in Oklahoma and works as a vet tech at the local veterinary. He’s the only musical member of his family. So far, he hasn’t played in front of many people.
His tone is solid, but he needs to work dynamics and phrasing into his performance. Unsurprisingly, he gets no turns. Snoop calls his voice “mature.” Michael notes pitchy moments. He advises him to not give up. Gwen thought his voice sounded nasally, and needs to “warm it up.” Reba promises to turn if he comes back. – No Turns
Mary McAvoy – 35 – Say You Love Me
Michael and Snoop turn pretty fast for Mary’s beautiful tone. She’s got some pitch problems here and there, but her sound is gorgeous.
Gwen doesn’t think she sounds the way she looks. She didn’t turn because of the tuning issues. Reba thinks the people who turned are good choices for Mary, but promises to steal her later. Snoop is ready to gamble on Mary. “I’ll coach and I’ll listen.” Michael noticed the pitch things, but he believes he can help her. Snoop and Michael proceed to do the hokey things to get her. But in the end, she picks the first person who turned, Snoop. Ha ha. He calls his blue towels his “terrible towels.” (He’s a Steelers fan). – Snoop and Michael turn, Mary picks Team Snoop
Lauren-Michael Sellers – 35 – Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United
By day, Lauren-Michael is a special education teacher. Her mother had severe mental health issues and lost custody of 13 year old singer. She went to live with her father whom she didn’t know very well. Her loneliness led her to singing and songwriting.
Michael and Gwen turn right away, followed by Reba. Lauren’s voice is strong and powerful. She picked a song popular on the Contemporary Christian world, and she sings it with passion. Snoop hit his button at the very last minute.
Michael calls her a beautiful, unique breath of fresh air. Gwen calls the performance “crazy.” She shared how after discovering the song she listened to it thousands of times. Lauren mentions that she tends to sing country music. Reba calls her “magical” and notes her emotion. Snoop turned after seeing how happy Gwen looked. Ultimately Lauren picks Reba. The coach becomes emotional! – 4-chair turn, Lauren-Michael picked Team Reba
Mark Shiiba – 29 – Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright by Bob Dylan
At 18, Mark from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, joined the Navy and was stationed on an aircraft carrier. Now, he’s living in San Diego. His father, who is Japanese, has a beautiful voice, Mark says. The singer began singing in middle school and wrote songs on the carrier.
OK, I was not expecting a mouth-harp playing folk singer! He does his Bob Dylan thing acoustically with no band backup. His voice harkens back to young Dylan, but he has his own sound. Maybe a little off-putting to the coaches because they don’t turn. Gwen was on the fence the entire time. “Your voice is so extreme.” She tells him not to be discouraged. Michael appreciates good and unique singers. OK HE’S WINDING UP! He’s using his coach replay. It’s the last one of the season. Yeah, Mark deserves a spot. Michael thinks he could be a star. He talks about hooking him up with some Hank Williams. – No Turns, Team Buble uses their Coach Replay
Beya – 24 – Our Day Will Come by Ruby and the Romantics
The singer lives in Hawaii on one of the small islands. Her family inspired her music. At 16 she got a guitar. Her parents separated when she was young. Her dad’s side is from El Salvador, so she learned Spanish. Currently she is a full time musician and sings Latin songs sometimes.
This song was a big hit in the early 60s. People under 50 probably don’t know it. Beya sings a jazz-inspired version of the song. Her tone and phrasing are solid. But Michael isn’t turning. Gwen turned pretty fast though. Well, she got Gwen at least. Michael calls himself an “Idiot.” While she performed, Michael questioned if she was versatile. He predicts that the singer will prove him wrong. Gwen compliments the “foundation” of her voice – Only Gwen turned
Tsola – On My Mama by Victoria Monet
The first montaged performance of the season. Her soulful voice got Only Team Reba to turn.
Deon Jones – Little Ghetto Boy by Donny Hathaway
The second montage is another soulful voice that also got only Team Reba to turn. The other coaches speculate that Reba is hearing something special the others are missing.
Brad Sample – 38 – The Letter by the Box Tops
Brad is the father of a two year old girl and is from Nashville. He plays guitar for Colbie Caillat on the road. He’s thinking that in his late 30’s, The Voice is his last shot at a music career. His wife signed him up for the show.
He performs the song in the style of the Joe Cocker cover. He’s got the raspiness in his voice that makes it work. He sings softly, however, like he has a cold. His vocal could use more heft. It doesn’t cut through until the end. Maybe he does have a cold. Reba turned first. Snoop turned later.
Reba thinks the two would have fun working together. His daughter is Team Reba. Gwen compares his phrasing to Fiona Apple. She found his look shocking. Michael calls him his “biggest surprise.” He didn’t turn because his rhythmic choices confounded him. Brad gave the arrangement a “double time” feel to bring Nashville bluegrass sounds into the mix. Snoop makes a bunch of pot jokes, riffing off of “bluegrass.” Michael advocates for Snoop. And despite his daughter’s wishes, he goes with Snoop! Reba and Snoop turn, Brad picks Team Snoop
Dahlia Jones – 28 – You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse
The Minneapolis, Minnesota native is mother to a four year old daughter who is back home with family as she auditions in Los Angeles. It’s the longest they’ve been separated. Her day job is motivating students to be kind to each other.
She sounds nervous. There are pitch problems and control issues on the top notes. Her last note is strong. If she could have kept it together, she might have gotten a turn. Gwen notes that teams are filling up and calls her an “amazing” singer. Michael knew Amy Winehouse personally, and had a hard time not comparing. He urges her to keep at it. She’s upset and crying. “You are very good,” says Snoop encouragingly. “Keep your spirits up high.” Reba begs her to try again for another season. – No Turns
Camryn Brooks – 24 (No chair returnee) – Light On
Camryn is a no turn from season 21. She admits she was nervous. She calls the experience “gut wrenching.” Coach Ariana Grande suggested she come back. After that, she had health problems. She developed Myocarditis, a heart condition. (Oh boy the conspiracy theorists are going crazy as we speak.) She’s worked to recover, and three years later, she feels good. She also helps take care of a brother who became paralyzed after an accident. She’s excited to face an entirely different coaches panel than she did the first time.
If she had problems years ago, she’s more than ready for a chair turn now! Her deep rich tone delivers a lovely and emotional performance. From No turns to 4 turns. Camryn’s face lights up as she realizes what happened.
Camryn explains how she got no chair turns on Season 21. Michael admits he was the last to turn, but he loves the way she almost lost it. Snoop calls her the perfect example of why singers should NOT stop trying. Michael leads the crowd in a version of “Oh Canada” after Camryn mentioned that she sang the National Anthem. She sang “Feeling Good,” a song that Michael covered, in college, she says. Gwen loves her round soothing tone. And in the end, Camryn picks Gwen – 4-chairs, Camryn picks Team Gwen
Tuesday night, The Voice 26 Blind Auditions 6 is the LAST of the Blinds. The Battles begin next week.
