THE VOICE: Riley Green Deploys Powerful New Button After 15-Year-Old Singer’s Brilliant Audition
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Voice coach Riley Green took an extra step to ensure that one singer wouldn’t join anyone else’s team during the blind auditions for Season 30.
15-year-old Allie Rae barely finished singing the first word of Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet” before Green turned his chair. His reaction was instant!
Kelly Clarkson wasn’t far behind, and for a while, it looked like they’d be the only two to turn for the teen’s brilliant performance. But then, Queen Latifah tossed her hat into the ring by flipping her chair around.
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“Oh my gosh,” Clarkson exclaimed after Rae finished singing. Her jaw dropped when Rae shared she is only 15, and she jumped out of her chair after learning she’s from Texas (Clarkson’s home state).
“First of all, I love your voice,” Clarkson said, noting how Rae’s sound reminded her of Dolly Parton at times and Alison Krauss at others.
Queen Latifah agreed, telling Rae, “Your voice sounded exquisite…I just had to see who was singing that song.”
Green flashed a bright smile at Rae as he said, “The song and everything about it felt real to me.” He told her he has “no doubt” that she can stand out among her competitors on the show.
Clarkson kept pleading her case, noting that she’s won The Voice with young female singers before. She tried to tempt Rae with her custom “Team Kelly” jacket, which prompted Queen Latifah and Green to show off their team apparel.
Green jumped back in, remarking, “I was just thinking about, when I turned, it was before y’all.”
Without another word, Green shocked his fellow coaches by deploying a brand-new feature on The Voice…the “First In” button!
What Is The “First In” Button On The Voice, And Why Did Riley Green Press It For Allie Rae?
The “First In” button is new to Season 30 of The Voice. It replaces the “Block” button used in prior seasons of the show.
As an article on the NBC website explains, if a coach is the first to turn for someone’s audition, they can press the “First In” button to automatically welcome that contestant to their team and override the other coaches. This button is so powerful that each coach can only use it once during the blind auditions.
That proves just how much Riley Green wanted to have Allie Rae on his team!
Kelly Clarkson wailed, “Nooooooo!” after Green pressed the button. She was in an obvious state of despair as Green happily strolled onstage to welcome Rae onto his team.
After the audition, Green explained why he used his “First In” button on Rae. He said:
“[She’s] extremely talented, she took a song and made it bluesy, and country, and Americana. She’s got a style that’s unique, and that’s one of my favorite things in somebody’s voice is to hear something that’s different.”
Watch Allie Rae’s audition below, and see how everyone reacted when Riley Green pressed the “First In” button after her performance!
