The Voice 27 Recap: Blind Auditions 2 Live Blog with Videos
The Voice season 27 Blind Auditions continue on to week 2 with a new coaches lineup, including the return of OG Adam Levine and vet John Legend. Reigning champ Michael Buble comes back for a second season and newbie Kelsea Ballerini joins the lineup.
We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances right here.
The Voice 2025: Full Season 27 Schedule
The Voice Season 27 Preview: 15 Singers to Watch (Photos, Videos)
For the Blinds, each coach gets a block, and the new TWIST called “The Coaches Replay” is back. It allows a coach to hit their button after an artist is done singing (typically, coaches must turn during the performance).
Tatum Scott – 22 – vampire by Oliva Rodrigo
Tatum hails from High Point North Carolina (Hometown of American Idol’s Fantasia!) but now lives in Nashville. NBC posted a preview of her audition last week. She started a business in high school singing at kid birthday parties. Her high school chorus teacher recently died from breast cancer at a young age. “I can’t believe she’s gone” Tatum says, emotionally.
The young singer performs an intimate performance of vampire by Olivia Rodrigo. John turns, followed by Kelsea. Adam looks ready, but then doesn’t. Michael stays put. Maybe the two held back because she didn’t hit any big notes. But it doesn’t matter. She confesses to being a huge Kelsea Ballerini fan. John attempts to fight for her, highlighting his experience on the show. But in the end, of course, Tatum picks Kelsea – Kelsea and John turn, Tatum picks Team Kelsea
Bryson Battle – 21 – A Song for You by Leon Russell
As a teen, Bryson was diagnosed with the skin condition, vitiligo (It causes patchy skin. Michael Jackson suffered from it). After his grandmother passed, he began to embrace his condition.
Bryson is filmed in shadow initially, until the coaches begin turning for his exquisite and soulful version of “A Song For You.” John is the first to hit his button, followed by Michael. Kelsea turns and then finally Adam. It’s the first 4-chair turn of the night. He ends the song by showing off his gorgeous falsetto. The audience is wowed.
“You were just singing from your soul,” Kelsea tells the Harrisburg, North Carolina native. She describes writing songs as a 12 year old. She understands music as a safe place. “You might have the greatest voice I’ve ever heard,” Michael declares. He wants to write with him. Adam calls what he does “incredible.” Anyone who doesn’t see that is an idiot, he insists. Adam wants to help him choose good songs. John notes he turned first. He felt Bryson made the song sound fresh. – 4-chairs, Bryson picks Team Legend
Jordan Allen – 30 – Old Time Rock n’ Roll by Bob Seeger
Jordan lives in the country–London Kentucky–with his wife and family. He comes from a family of coal miners. His dad encouraged him to play and sing. He’s a real estate agent by day. He also mows lawns. But he spends time on the road playing gigs.
Jordan loves songs from earlier eras and hopes to keep that music alive. He’d probably succeed as a tribute singer. His baritone is solid, but not remarkable. Nevertheless, Michael and John hit their buttons. He’s got the voice but lacks originality.
Adam didn’t turn, but makes a Risky Business joke. Har har. “I want to go to a wedding with you,” Michael shares. Did he just call him a wedding singer? Michael is convinced that he’s versatile. “You can really sing,” John remarks. John had a few technical quibbles which he feels he can help iron out. Good pitch! Jordan picks John. Smart. John should pick songs for Jordan that kick him out of his safe zone. John and Michael turn, Jordan picks Team Legend
Hayden Grove – 31 – Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin
His video package opens with him “interviewing” families waiting backstage to watch their loved ones audition. And it turns out that Hayden is a sports reporter in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s been doing journalism since he graduated from high school. But he also sings standards on Tik Tok. Michael follows him on social media and namechecked him from the concert stage in Pittsburgh.
Hayden sings with a nice tone, but he’s shaky on the syncopation and pacing. He also seems really nervous!. Adam tells Kelsea to block Michael, but she doesn’t think he’ll turn. And indeed, he does not. EMBARRASSING. Adam hits his button, however. Hayden is on the show.
The minute Michael turns, he recognizes Hayden. “I know you!” He even remembered his name. “This dude knows that I love him.” Michael explains that Hayden’s use of vibrato kept him from turning, because apparently vibrato isn’t a thing in standards singing. And from there, Michael takes the stage to “coach” Hayden, demonstrating the correct technique. In the end, Michael promises to help Adam coach his standards singing team member. Only Team Adam turned
Susan Hickman – 39 – It Must Have Been Love by Roxette
The singer, from Texas, is also a professional skydiver. She has jumped over 700 times. Leann Rimes inspired her to follow music. She’s been touring since she was 15.
It’s clear from the start that she won’t get turns. First, the song pick is too old fashioned, and second, she has unfortunate pitch problems throughout the performance. She also sounds screechy on the top notes. She’s probably really nervous.
John felt the performance was unsteady in parts. Adam felt she needed to come in hot. Kelsea urges her not to be discouraged. Nobody encourages her to come back and try again, however. – No Turns
Jaelen Johnston – 21 – Where the Wild Things Are by Luke Combs
The Mississippi native works in construction and concrete, but plays music on the weekends. His dad abandoned him. But his mother and her family raised him well. Jaelen’s only father figure, his grandfather is “not quite right anymore” after a series of strokes, and that’s been difficult for the singer. He’d like to work with either Kelsea or Michael.
Jaelen boasts a beautiful country baritone that exhibits both strength and vulnerability. His phrasing is thoughtful. He knows how to work his raspy tone. Adam turns first, followed by Michael and then Kelsea.
He shares that he writes music. Kelsea describes herself as a die hard country artist. She calls Jaelen an artist and wants to lean into his singer-songwriter side. Adam admits he doesn’t have much of a chance, but he felt he had to turn around for his talent. Then he invokes Blake, like that matters? Ha. Michael loves country music so much, he says, that he’s performed several country duets. Blake recorded his song “Home!” Unsurprisingly, Jaelen picks Kelsea. – Adam, Michael, Kelsea turn, Jaelen picks Team Kelsea
Ricardo Moreno – 25 – Put Your Head on My Shoulder by Paul Anka
Ricardo has a huge following on social media for his Mariachi music. His parents are both from Mexico, and work hard to get by. He’s been performing in talent shows since childhood.
Singing a mouldy oldie can come off as gimmicky. But Ricardo pulls it off with stylish vocals. After hitting big notes on the bridge, Ricardo slides into Spanish. Nobody is turning. Crazy. Adam loved the switch into Spanish. He thought that Michael would turn. And so did everyone else. MICHAEL’S GOT THAT REGRET. IT’S COMING. He hits his Coaches Replay button and Ricardo is on his team. – No turns, Team Buble uses Coaches Replay button.
Ari Camille – 21 – I Wanna Be Down by Brandy
The singer comes from Chicago, but now lives in Los Angeles. She graduated from USC with a theater degree. Her mom is also a recent college graduate–from nursing school.
Ari’s voice is silky and soulful. It’s no wonder John turns his chair first. Her phrasing is effortless and her tone so smooth and pretty! Michael hits his button just as she finishes.
Kelsea calls her stunning. John loved her approach to the song. He reminds everybody that Brandy served as a mentor for his team. Michael jokes that he doesn’t have a chance, but he’s going to try. He promises to tattoo her name on his arm. Ari gives him a side eye. She makes the only choice–Team Legend. John and Michael Turn, Ari picks Team Legend
Braxton Garza – 28 – Pretty Little Poison by Warren Zeiders
Braxton has two children by two different mothers, but he is doing his best to co-parent them. Sadly, his own father died from Covid in 2020. It’s an emotional subject for him. “He was the most loving person I ever met in my life.” Braxton doesn’t play in front of audiences much.
However, despite his inexperience, Braxton is surprisingly good. He’s not nervous while delivering a grounded and emotional performance. Kelsea warns Adam and Michael not to turn, but weirdly she does not hit her button right away. It’s a mistake, Michael moves and BLOCKS her.
Adam calls Michael “ruthless.” Kelsea knows the lane Braxton fits into and is bummed to be blocked. Michael promises not to drop the ball as they work together. He feels blocking Kelsea proves his commitment. Then he refers to himself as an “international superstar.” Alrighty then.
Carmela – 29 – Like a Stone by Audioslave
Oh noes. Carmela is a retro rock singer from Los Angeles and she is next to the last in tonight’s lineup. I SMELL A NO TURN. Fortunately, she’s a popular live streamer, so she’ll be ok!
Her lower register is smokey and rich. But she’s weaker on the top notes. She’s pitchy, which doesn’t matter so much on a rock n’ roll stage, But it matters a lot in a singing competition. So unsurprisingly–no turns.. Ha ha. Michael didn’t know the song. Adam admires her ambition, noting that tackling Chris Cornell is a tall order. He suggests she try again – No Turns
Britton Moore – 21 – Yellow by Coldplay
He started playing sports as a kid in San Antonio, Texas. A gifted player, he loved baseball. In high school, he was ready to audition for The Voice. But the audition and baseball playoffs conflicted. But at 21 years old, he’s ready to choose music as his path.
Adam hits his button right away. Britton has a unique voice that contains a ton of character. John and Kelsea turn next in that order. And then Michael hits his button for a four chair turn.
Adam loved his falsetto. and felt an instant connection. John felt he sounded effortless. Michael loves “character” voices like Britton’s. Kelsea wants to be more than one thing when it comes to music, and suspects Britton feels the same way. Adam and Kelsea begin battling and the gimmicks come out. She pushes a button of her singing “Yeah I’m calling dibs.” Mayhem ensues, but in the end, Britton chooses Adam. – 4-chair turn, Britton picks Team Adam.
