THE VOICE: Jordan Rainer Bounces Back From Near Elimination With Blake Shelton Cover
on Dec 12, 2023
Team Reba’s Jordan Rainer narrowly escaped elimination last week, but earned an Instant Save after a rousing performance of Patty Loveless’s “Blame It On Your Heart.”
As one of three remaining members of the first-ever Team Reba, and on the heels of nearly being eliminated in the quarterfinals, Jordan Rainer gave everything she had to her performances Monday night in hopes of securing a spot in next week’s finale.
Part of Jordan and Reba’s strategy going into the semifinals was to channel former Voice coach and fellow Oklahoman, Blake Shelton, who is also the winningest coach in The Voice history. Rainer covered Blake’s 2002 hit “Ol Red” and showed the audience that she is in it to win it.
Rainer’s song choice was a smart one as the coaches praised her performance, with Reba saying, “I think Jordan is a star. ‘Ol’ Red’ is a good song selection for her, because she’s a storyteller.”
Gwen Stefani agreed, saying, “That was such a trip! I just could never imagine a female doing that song — that was crazy. I want to say that that was probably my favorite performance that you’ve done.”
Jordan Rainer first won over The Voice coaches with her Blind Audition performance of “Fancy.”
Rainer, 33, showed no fear as she performed one of Reba McEntire’s biggest hits for the Queen of Country herself. But, Rainer didn’t audition with the song just to win brownie points with Reba. She sang it as a testament to her own life story and learning to survive.
“It was made famous by a strong woman. And it represents lyrically what women do to survive,” Rainer said of her song choice. “And I’m a woman who has done what I’ve had to do to survive, and so I feel that song in every bone in my body.”
In an interview following her Blind Audition, Rainer recalled growing up in a “very humble family” and watching her parents “flip over couch cushions looking for quarters to send me lunch money for school.”
By her early 20’s she was homeless and jobless, willing to do what she had to do to survive. That passion and drive has come through in each and every one of her performances on The Voice.
Tune into NBC Tuesday night to see if Jordan Rainer’s “Ol’ Red” cover will earn her a spot in next week’s finale.
