The Voice 27 Recap: Blind Auditions 5 Live Blog with Videos
The Voice season 27 Blind Auditions CONCLUDE tonight at week 5. The coaches lineup includes 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.
Coming into the last audition episode, Team Legend has two spots remaining, as does Team Bublé and Team Adam. Team Kelsea has 3 spots remaining.
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)
Jay Ammo – 29 – The A Team by Ed Sheeran
Jay is one of those contestants who start off in the shadows. Contestants who start in darkness are meant to be a surprise, I suppose. NBC doesn’t post their photos along with the other previews until after the show, which seems silly. Anyway, the singer garners three turns right away. His voice is sweet soulful and airy. Finally, Michael is the fourth to hit his button for a 4-chair turn. Gonna be honest, his presentation sounded lightweight.
The singer is originally from Guyana, an English speaking country in the Caribbean. At one point he was in the military. He shares about a scary tour of Afghanistan. He handled live bombs. John explains his song as “floating.” He sensed Afrobeat influences. Adam calls him “ethereal” and “singular.” Kelsea feels he changed up the song just enough. “I see you as a creative force,” she says. Michael heard pitch issues, which is why he didn’t turn right away. He compliments his storytelling ability. Jay picks Team Legend! – 4-chair turn, Jay picks Team Legend
Brook Wood – 33 – Save Me by Jelly Roll
Brook’s father was a lead guitarist in a local Indianapolis, Indiana band. After gigging around locally, she toured with a rock n’ roll jukebox show. She was away from home when her mother called with terrible news–her father collapsed. She was able to tell him she loved him on the phone. But sadly, he died on the way to the hospital.
Her soul and rock tinged voice is a perfect match to cover Jelly Roll. John hits his button, It takes a while before Kelsea turned her chair.
Michael has so few spots left, he’s being super picky. Brook loves country, R&B and rock, she tells Kelsea. Adam didn’t turn because he wasn’t sure how he could help her. He advocates for Kelsea. John brags that he knows great storytelling and great music. He claims that she can win the show. Brook wants a double chair! She picks Kelsea. “The girlies got to stick together,” she says. – John and Kelsea turn, Brook picks Team Kelsea
Adam David – 34 – Baby I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton
The Ft. Lauderdale native began playing guitar at 8. Right now, he’s a musician full time. However, life wasn’t always good. In 2019 he got clean and sober. Five years later, he often drops by the treatment center where he got sober to play for the patients.
He presents a classic song from the 70s with a reggae beat. His vocal is distinct enough that he’s able to put a new spin on it. His phrasing is impressively soulful. Michael is the only turn for a great audition that deserved more turns.
You have a character voice,” Michael observes. “You are perfect.” He thanks the other coaches for not turning. John compliments his phrasing and timing, “A really great performance.” Adam wanted to hear more range. However, he’s thinking he made a mistake. Kelsea appreciates his vibrato and calls him “really really talented.” – Only Team Buble turns
William Casanova – 32 – Do 4 Love (What I Would Do) by Bobby Caldwell
William is from Washington DC and joined his first band at 17. He started busking as a teen. He would sing all day.
The soulful singer puts a very different spin on the old classic. The arrangement is contemporary and very sexy. He might not get a turn though at this late stage of the competition. It’s too bad. He deserved a chance, for sure.
Michael calls his attempt ambitious and sensed pitch issues. Kelsea liked him and feels a little regret. Adam wanted to hear more purity in his tone. John liked the arrangement and suggests the execute “a little more tightly” next time. – No Turns
Simone Marijic – 20 – Favorite Crime by Olivia Rodrigo
She’s a Los Angeles native, but is studying history at the University of Virginia. Her parents emigrated from Croatia and work as doctors. She learned to sing traditional Croatian music at a young age.
Kelsea hits her button first. Simone’s sweet, soaring and angelic voice showed range toward the end of the performance, which got Michael to turn at the last minute.
Kelsea calls it an ambitious performance. She points out that she turned fast. Michael calls himself a drama queen. He claims that he turned last minute to mess with Kelsea. He also notes that he won his first season compared to newbie Kelsea’s lack of experience. John calls out Michael for stressing female power while trying to steal an artist from a woman. And in the end, Simone picked Kelsea – Kelsea and Michael turned, Simone picked Team Kelsea
Pablo Herrera – 31 – Jealous by Labrynth
Pablo’s older sister taught him how to harmonize. The San Diego native learned to sing in the church. He co-parents his two sons after he split from his wife of 10 years.
John and Michael both hit their buttons as Pablo delivers a soulful rendition of the song. His vocal is full of angst and longing. He’s fearless about wearing his emotions on his sleeve. Finally Kelsea turns too.
Adam loved his low range. Kelsea felt he gave the song a completely different vibe. She thinks she can help bring out “cool” moments for him. Michael insists he can sing anything. He can help him become a “great entertainer.” John is impressed that he’s able to convey a story. Michael does his usual exaggeration deal and then finishes up in Spanish. Nevertheless, Pablo picks Team Legend. Oops. Pablo says that he speaks very little Spanish. – John, Michael and Kelsea turn, Pablo picks Team Legend
Team Legend is full. To celebrate, John brings out the B-Boy dancer from earlier in the season and croons his “Welcome to Team Legend” song.
Tori Templet – 24 – Lover by Taylor Swift
This Atlanta native grew up as a fan of aughts divas like Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus. She works full time for working social media for a sandwich company. She has over 100K followers on her own social media accounts. A coffee shop picked up one of her songs and it got played all over the world.
Tori is struggling in her lower register, but her tone shines on the chorus. Her sound is pretty and infectious. She hits the higher notes without struggle. Michael and the picky Adam both turn.
Kelsea calls herself a huge Taylor Swift fan. Michael wants to hear her sing jazz songs in her breathy voice. John appreciated her tone. Adam hears cool stuff. He compares her to 90s indie band, Mazzy Star. The zoomer knows who they are. Adam picked a few constructive things he wants to help her with. Tori picks Team Adam – Michael and Adam turn, Tori picks Team Adam
Alanna Lynise – 21 – Issues by Julia Michaels
NBC dropped Alanna’s audition last week. Check it out HERE. Her large family came upon hard times when her father’s family business failed. They were homeless, living with relatives. However, they stuck together and are very close to one another.
Adam and Michael turn instantly for Alanna’s trembly voice. John’s team is full so he can’t hit his button. Kelsea eventually joins the party. Call it a 4-chair turn in spirit.
John assures Alanna that he would have turned in the first 15 seconds if he could. Adam calls her voice “distinct.” He says, “That’s all I care about.” Kelsea claims she turned last to try “reverse psychology” on Adam. Michael calls out Adam for telling many artists that they are his favorites. He’s not wrong. “I want to be with you every step of the way,” Michael insists. He thinks she could win. Kelsea tries to pass off her relative inexperience as a plus. Oh really? – Adam, Michael, Kelsea turn, Alanna picks Team Kelsea Kelsea is VERY surprised.
Team Kelsea is full!
Naomi Soleil – 18 – Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
In her video package she shares that she’s starting college. These auditions were taped summer 2024. Did she actually start in the fall, I wonder. Her mom and dad are both musicians.
She sings with a full and emotional alto. She gulps for air, which is a bad habit. But at 18 she haspotential. Eventually Both Adam and Michael hit their buttons.
Kelsea notices some nerves, but she felt the performance was captivating. Adam compliments her outfit. He especially liked her phrasing. Michael wonders what her style is. He admits that he doesn’t understand her folk pop genre. Oh boy. She’d be crazy to pick him. BUT SHE DOES. Ok then. – Adam and Michael turn. Naomi picks Team Buble.
Team Buble is full.
Cornelius Versa – 35 – Burning Love by Elvis Presley
Oh boy. He’s covering Elvis. and he wears nudie suits. His husband is supportive, even after he began losing his vision to macular degeneration.
His vision problems are no joke. But this performance kind of is. And with only one spot left for season 27, it’s for sure not going to this guy. And indeed, Adam does not turn. Kelsea can tell that’s he’s a good performer. Michael likes his voice, but struggles with Elvis covers. He’s not saying his team is full. This must have been taped earlier in the process. That’s why the panel where’s the same outfit every day, so they can mix and match auditions. Adam suggests he come back and audition again with a different song.
Trevon Dawson – 17 – Religiously
Growing up, he lived in a camper with his family. His dad worked at oil and gas sites. Now, they own a maintenance company, where Trevon works part time while attending high school. He’s better at music than he is at fixing things, his parents admit. He plays around at small clubs and wineries. He descries his sound as “red dirt.”
He’s twangy country. Will Adam go for that? He does. With Kelsea and Michael full, he’s got Trevon all to himself. For a teen singer, Trevon sings with mature phrasing and solid storytelling ability. He’s rough around the edges, but Adam can help him. He is noticeably nervous. Michael takes the stage to hug him. Probably he and Kelsea would have turned if they had spots on their team. Kelsea jokes that Blake Shelton caused trauma as he kept country singers to himself. Adam loves the way his voice cut through the performance. “You could win the show” Adam says for the millionth time. – Adam fills his team
