The final night of The Voice Season 23 Blind Auditions marked the end of an era, as it was Blake Shelton’s last chance to push the iconic red button from his chair.
The country star, who has been a coach on the show for all 23 seasons, felt a sense of fate when 19-year-old country music artist Grace West from Canton, Michigan took the stage.
Fellow coaches and the audience gave him a heartfelt standing ovation for his 23-season journey.
Grace, currently working as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, dreams of becoming a performer.
Her story resonates with Blake’s, who also moved to Nashville at 17 and worked as a songwriter before pursuing his performing dreams.
With her polished and radio-ready voice, Grace’s performance of “Maybe It Was Memphis” by Pam Tillis won over both Shelton and fellow coach Niall Horan.
With only one spot remaining on their respective teams, it was a close call.
Horan praised Grace’s storytelling voice and even impersonated Blake during his pitch.
However, as soon as Blake began his pitch and Grace greeted him, Niall knew he had lost her.
Blake shared how much he related to Grace’s story and emphasized his finality with the show, convincing Kelly Clarkson, another coach, to endorse him as the best choice for Grace.
Ultimately, Grace joined Team Blake, marking the end of Shelton’s Blind Audition rounds.
Emotional Reflections and Heartfelt Ovations
In a conversation with host Carson Daly, Shelton became reflective about his time on The Voice.
He admitted to getting choked up when realizing Grace would be the last contestant he would ever hit the button for.
Fellow coaches and the audience gave him a heartfelt standing ovation for his 23-season journey.
Blake’s decision to leave the show came during the pandemic, as he felt it was time for a change.
The Voice has had a profound impact on his personal and professional life, even leading to his marriage to Gwen Stefani.
Despite joking about wanting Kelly Clarkson off the show, he acknowledges the show has changed his life for the better.
Newcomers Joining the Coaching Panel and Veteran Coaches’ Perspectives
This season, newcomers Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan join the coaching panel alongside veteran coaches Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.
Both new coaches are eager to share their knowledge and experience with the contestants.
Chance the Rapper, for example, sees a young version of himself in the artists and wants to impart the wisdom he has gained over the years.
Niall Horan, who rose to fame on Britain’s “X Factor” as a member of One Direction, shared his coaching approach, emphasizing that he is looking for voices that evoke emotions and tell stories.
Kelly Clarkson, returning to the show after sitting out last season, expressed her excitement for being back and engaging in the creative process with her team.
As the 23rd season of The Voice continues on NBC, fans will witness the unfolding drama and excitement, including whether coaches Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, or Horan manage to outshine Shelton in his final season.
With emotions running high and a talented roster of contestants, this season promises to be one to remember.
Article In a Snapshot
- The Voice Season 23 marks the end of an era with Blake Shelton’s final season as a coach, as he leaves the show after participating in all 23 seasons.
- Blake felt a sense of fate when 19-year-old country music artist Grace West joined his team during the last Blind Auditions, as her story resonated with his own career journey.
- Fellow coaches and the audience gave Blake Shelton a heartfelt standing ovation for his 23-season journey, highlighting the impact the show had on his life.
- Newcomers Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan join the coaching panel alongside veteran coaches Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton in Season 23, eager to share their knowledge and experience.
- With high emotions and a talented roster of contestants, Season 23 of The Voice promises to be memorable as fans witness whether coaches Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, or Horan can outshine Shelton in his final season.
