Now on Season 21, “The Voice” has certainly not had a shortage of extraordinarily talented artists blow away the coaches and all the viewers at home.
A Tennessee native, Wendy Moten, was amongst these unforgettable performers and may go down in history alongside them. Blake Shelton even went as far as saying Moten was in his top three blind auditions ever on the show. For reference, the country music superstar is the last coach standing that has been with “The Voice” since the very beginning.
That’s a lot of blind auditions.
Monday night was the premiere of the series, which means it certainly started off with a bang. Several performers showed up giving absolutely stunning performances that left Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and new coach, Ariana Grande, begging them to join their team.
Wendy Moten showed up with a gorgeous and soulful rendition of a classic Beatles’ song, “We Can Work It Out.” It’s no easy task to take on a group as influential and powerful as the Beatles, but she completely blew America away by her rendition. It was similar to Chaka Khan’s 1981 cover of the song.
During her performance, the 56-year-old artist was greeted by the smiling faces of all four coaches. Each had decided they wanted Moten on their team. Both Shelton and Legend turned around very shortly after she started signing. Shelton also decided to go ahead and use his block on Legend.
Grande hit her button shortly after that. Clarkson was the last to turn around after waiting until near the end of the performance. Clarkson admitted, “I forgot that I hadn’t even pressed my button.”
It came with no surprise that Moten had some professional experience under her belt. She had 35 years of music industry experience from back in the day. According to Today, that even includes a record deal that she was given in the 1990s. If her voice seems familiar, you may remember her hit single “Come In Out of the Rain.” Instead of becoming a star, headlining artist, she did backup singing for artists like John Oates and Julio Iglesias.
Now, she is more than deserving of getting that spotlight all to herself. This is what all four coaches pointed out to the rising star. Ariana Grande said, “What a privilege for them to have gotten to sing with you. You are spectacular and I need you to be in the foreground. It’s time.”
Clarkson then added, “You are what this show is all about. A voice that is so powerful, so transcendent that you kind of move people to another level.”
Although both Clarkson and Grande gushed over Wendy Moten, it was Blake Shelton that got her on his team. The comment about being in the top three blind auditions probably didn’t hurt his case at all. To celebrate, in very Blake Shelton fashion, the country singer did a moonwalk for the audience. Or something reminiscent of a moonwalk. Last season, “The Voice” put together a hilarious compilation of all Shelton’s best dancing moments over the years.
No wonder Gwen Stefani fell for him while they were coaching the show together.
Wendy Moten wasn’t the only four-chair turn of the night. The coaches all turned for a sibling band called Girl Named Tom. Kelly Clarkson secured them onto her team. Monday was the first of the two-night premiere of “The Voice.”
