The Voice
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Jay Ammo, a 29-year-old singer from Clarksville, Tenn., earned the final four-chair turn of The Voice Season 27 after delivering an emotional performance of Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team.”
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The Blind Auditions wrapped up with Ammo securing interest from all four coaches—John Legend, Adam Levine, Kelsea Ballerini, and Michael Bublé—before ultimately choosing Team Legend.
John Legend was the first to turn for Ammo’s performance, praising his vocal tone and delivery. “What a lovely voice you have. It was floating through the room. I was almost thinking you were from Africa because I could hear an Afrobeat kind of vibe. Is that the music you listen to?”
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Ammo, originally from Georgetown, Guyana, revealed that Sheeran’s song resonated deeply with him due to his time serving in the U.S. military in Afghanistan. “Yes, my calm-down song was yours.”
Legend replied, “We have a strong connection musically. Let’s just remember the musical connection that we have, and I would love to coach you.”
Levine, who has landed the most four-chair turns this season, described Ammo’s performance as “ethereal.” “You are very special and magical and singular in that nobody else in this competition is doing that. It gives you this really unique window, which is what this is all about.”
Ballerini also made a strong case for Ammo to join her team, calling him a “creative force.” “You kept the integrity of that song, but you also kept just the right amount of you in it, and that’s artistry.”
The country star was surprised when Ammo revealed he had previously covered her song “Better Luck Next Time.” “Did you now? I didn’t expect that. Now I feel taller and more powerful.”
Bublé, the last to turn, acknowledged some early pitch issues but praised Ammo’s ability to recover. “The second those other chairs turned, your pitch issues subsided. You have a beautiful tone, and you tell a story really well.”
When it came time to make his decision, Ammo selected Team Legend. “Jay’s voice is so cool. He has this kind of lilt to his voice. I really think that Jay has got an interesting musical tableau that he’s working with. We’re going to have a lot of fun picking songs together.”
With the Blind Auditions now complete, The Voice Season 27 will move into the Battle Rounds, where Ammo will compete for a spot in the Knockouts.
After a five-year break, Adam Levine is back on The Voice and it feels good. The singer said he’s “ready” and “rested” after stepping away from the show for a bit, telling Jennifer Hudson on Tuesday’s (Feb. 25) Jennifer Hudson Show that getting a chance to take a break and hang with wife Behati Prinsloo and the couple’s three young children has been good for him.
“Stepping back into it when I was really ready and comfortable it kind of felt like natural timing for everything,” said Levine, 45, who logged 16 seasons on The Voice before splitting in 2019. Levine was there in the show’s debut season in 2011, slipping into the iconic red chair next to Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green and his best frenemy, Blake Shelton.
Hudson, who overlapped with Levine during seasons 13 and 15, asked if Levine has changed his strategy at all on he show, noting that he was “not easy to deal with” when she was going up against him. “I’m a pain in the butt,” Levine admitted, revealing that there was no official strategy when the first crew started the reality series that his team won three times.
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“So you just think to yourself, ‘Okay, I’ll just see how this goes,’” he said. More importantly, Hudson noted that Levine is now sitting in Shelton’s old chair after the nine-time champ country singer departed his long-time gig in May 2023 after 12 years.
“Doesn’t smell great,” Levine laughed. “Smells kind of off… weathered. Worn in, the seat’s a little more sunken in cuz he’s big… he’s a tall drink of water that guy. Nah, I think they washed it. It feels good.” He also described being on the “other side” of the stage this time, with John Legend book-ending the panel, a set-up the self-proclaimed “end-seat kind of guy” loves.
In the chat, Levine described taking his whole family on tour with Maroon 5 on the band’s recent run of shows in Asia, as well as being a “heated” basketball coach for his kids and the group’s upcoming “M5LV” Las Vegas residency at the Dolby Live at Park MGM theater in March.
And though he didn’t reveal many details, Levine also promised that M5 has some new music coming “soon,” and though he admitted he always says it, he’s “the most excited” about the upcoming LP, their follow-up to 2021’s Jordi. “We scaled it back a little bit and I did some writing on my own.. I kept it tighter,” he said of writing some of the songs by himself, saying they “harken back to the older stuff.”
Watch Levine on The Jennifer Hudson Show below.
Olivia Kuper Harris didn’t just step onto The Voice stage—she transported it to another era. Taking on Doris Day’s timeless ballad “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” the Dallas-born singer draped the room in nostalgia, delivering a performance so rich and velvety it felt like a lost recording from jazz’s golden age.
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John Legend, Adam Levine, and Kelsea Ballerini couldn’t resist.
Legend was the first to turn his chair, drawn in by Harris’ effortless control. Levine wasn’t far behind, nudging Ballerini to do the same. “What are you waiting for?” he asked, prompting her to hit her button.
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“I don’t know! You’re so right,” Ballerini admitted.
As the final note hung in the air, Levine turned to Harris with a grin. “You’re really special,” he said, making it clear she had impressed him. Then, in true Adam fashion, he took a playful jab at his fellow Coach. “And Michael Bublé is a fool.”
Legend, ever the strategist, made his pitch. “What got me at first was just the beauty of your tone,” he said on the warmth and elegance Harris brought to the song. Ballerini added that Harris’ voice had a rare quality—something that could transcend genres and connect with all types of listeners.
Harris, overwhelmed with emotion, took a deep breath. She had come looking for a sign, a confirmation that this was the path she was meant to follow. “Being on stage, I feel like it’s my purpose in life,” she said. “It makes me emotional because I’ve looked for so many other things I could possibly do… and this is it, man.”
With three Coaches vying for her, the decision was hers.
Ultimately, it was Legend’s pitch that resonated most with Harris. She joined his team, adding another unique voice to his roster for The Voice Season 27.
Harris’ audition stood out not just for its technical precision but for its ability to evoke an era long past. While many hopefuls lean into pop, R&B, or powerhouse ballads, Harris took a different route—one that paid off in a big way.
As the competition heats up, it remains to be seen how Harris will evolve under Legend’s mentorship. But if her Blind Audition was any indication, The Voice might have just found its next great jazz revivalist.
Singer-songwriter BD.ii walked onto The Voice stage with quiet confidence, but the moment he began singing Miguel’s “Adorn,” it was clear he was a standout contender.
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His smooth, controlled delivery and effortless stage presence captivated the audience—and the coaches, who wasted no time turning their chairs.
Michael Bublé was the first to hit his button, recognizing BD.ii’s undeniable vocal ability. Kelsea Ballerini quickly followed, with John Legend and Adam Levine completing the four-chair turn. However, Levine was in for a surprise when he realized he had been blocked by Ballerini, leaving him visibly frustrated.
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“I’m a sad, sad man, because you are world-class. You’re a badass,” Levine added as the other coaches laughed.
BD.ii, an Atlanta native whose singing career took off after an injury ended his basketball aspirations, delivered a version of “Adorn” that felt fresh yet true to its original essence. His tone, phrasing, and natural charisma made an immediate impact, prompting Bublé to make an impassioned pitch.
“He’s not the threat. I’m the threat,” Bublé joked. “We’re about to help grow the population of America with that voice.”
Ballerini emphasized her versatility as a coach, stating, “I am actively having crossover songs, for other artists and with other artists. I don’t believe in boxes.”
But it was Legend who ultimately secured BD.ii for his team, pointing out his personal connection to the song’s original artist. “I’ve written with Miguel,” Legend said. “You made it sexier, made it cooler.” With that, BD.ii made his decision. “Imma go with my boy John,” he announced, sealing the deal as Legend celebrated and Levine processed his disappointment.
Miguel’s “Adorn” became a defining track of modern R&B, spending 23 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and winning the Grammy for Best R&B Song. The track, featured on Kaleidoscope Dream, also peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
With his undeniable talent and Legend’s guidance, BD.ii is already emerging as one of the season’s most promising contestants.
Watch BDii’s performance below.
Michael Bublé pulls out all the Canadian stops to get 31-year-old Jessica Manalo on his The Voice team.
In an exclusive audition video premiering on Billboard below, the Las Vegas native tries out for season 27 of the reality competition show, putting her own spin on Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Unholy.” The reimagined version of the hit featured Manalo on acoustic guitar, without sacrificing the sultriness of the collab.
Bublé turned his chair first and Kelsea Ballerini followed shortly after, leaving Manalo with the difficult decision of choosing between the two coaches.
“I love that song, and it took me a minute to realize that you had reimagined it, then I turn around and you’re playing a guitar,” Ballerini told the contestant. “I play guitar. You’re a musician, you’re a creative, I love that you’re from Vegas — I’m feeling lucky. Women are killing it in music right now, specifically women who have these really identifiable voices and styles, and that’s what you have.”
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It was then Bublé’s turn to state his case, jokingly pleading, “Sure, you could go to Team Kelsea. You could go to this incredibly young, smart, talented, really fresh-brained woman, or you could be with a much older — what was I saying?”
“A Canadian gentleman,” fellow coach John Legend chimed in to help.
Bublé then turned the Canadian energy up a notch when Ballerini tried to offer Manalo a pair of cowboy boots to convince her to choose the country singer as her coach. Bublé whipped out a hockey jersey, and the floor turned into an ice hockey rink.
That’s not all. He completed the show by belting out the Canadian national anthem. “All of this was so expensive, and I did it because I really hope you choose me,” he told Manalo with a laugh.
Watch the full audition below, and find out who Manalo chooses on The Voice, which airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, before streaming the next day on Peacock.
Britton Moore made a lasting impression on The Voice Monday night (Feb. 10), delivering a stunning performance of Coldplay’s “Yellow” during Blind Auditions that earned him a coveted four-chair turn.
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The 21-year-old singer from San Antonio wasted no time winning over coaches Adam Levine, John Legend, Kelsea Ballerini, and Michael Bublé, setting off a heated battle for his talent.
Levine, who was the first to turn his chair just seconds into Moore’s audition, made it clear he saw something special in the young singer. “When I heard you go into your falsetto, I was like, ‘Okay, I need to coach this guy,’” the Maroon 5 frontman told Moore.
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“There’s definitely something in your voice that reminded me a little of how I do it. I just felt an instant connection, and I pushed really early because I thought, ‘Man, this kid’s gonna be special,’ and I was right. You’re amazing, dude!”
Legend was equally impressed, praising Moore for his control. “Singing falsetto is actually really hard in a live setting,” he said. “I always tell my artists, ‘Your falsetto will betray you when you need it most.’ And it did not betray you, and you sounded so effortless and you really took some creative leaps.”
“I think nobody sounds like you on the show, and that will be exciting. And it would be so fun to coach you.”
Ballerini, in her first season as a coach, said, “Can I call you Britt? Perfect. We go way back. You’re from Texas, I’m from Tennessee. Similar. You’re 21, I respect my elders.” She also played a snippet of her song “Dibs” via a button on her chair, attempting to secure Moore for her team.
In the end, Moore chose Team Adam, marking Levine’s second four-chair turn victory of the season. “Almost half my team is four-chair turns,” Levine remarked backstage.
Moore’s song choice was no small feat—“Yellow” served as the Stateside lead single for Parachutes, the band’s landmark Grammy-winning debut studio album (it won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2002 awards show). On the Billboard Hot 100, “Yellow” climbed to No. 48, while Parachutes reached No. 51.
Watch Moore’s performance below.
As Kelsea Ballerini stepped into her new role as a coach on The Voice for its new season on Feb. 3, she got a sweet note of encouragement from the previous artist to fill that seat on The Voice–her fellow country artist Reba McEntire. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]
Adam Levine is officially returning to The Voice, six years after he departed the show in 2019, and Billboard caught up with the season 27 judges ahead of the premiere. “It used to get so ugly. You guys don’t even know. We used to scream over each other,” Levine playfully told his fellow coaches — […]
Ryan Whyte Maloney, who appeared on The Voice in 2014, has died. He was 44 years old. The Las Vegas Clark County Coroner confirmed to People on Tuesday (Jan. 28) that Whyte Maloney died by suicide, with the cause of death listed as a gunshot wound to the head. The Traverse City, Mich., recorded his […]
Sofronio Vasquez is the winner of season 26 of The Voice. The Team Bublé singer gave coach Michael Bublé a win in his first season on the show on Tuesday night (Dec. 10) when the 31-year-old singer from the Philippines emerged as voters’ favorite following electric performances of Sia’s “Unstoppable” and The Greatest Showman showstopper “A Million Dreams.”
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In addition to scoring a $100,000 payday and a record deal, Vasquez said the amazing mentorship provided by the “Spicy Margarita” singer was its own prize. “Your mentorship is a blessing to me, my family and to all the dreamers out there,” Vasquez told Bublé before the final results were read. In a rare double-down, Bublé was also the only coach to have two contestants make it into the top five, as well as boasting the top two finishers thanks to his other contestant, Shye, coming in as runner-up.
Bublé joins Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan and John Legend as the fourth new coach to score a win in their first season on the show. In addition to beating out his teammate, Vasquez also bested Team Snoop’s Jeremy Beloate and Team Gwen’s Sydney Sterlace.
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“My Filipino brother, you are the hope of so many people… it has been such an unbelievable journey to be here with you,” Bublé told Vasquez — who moved to the U.S. in 2022 to chase his music dreams — before the singer was handed his hardware. According to an NBC bio, Sofronio grew up in the Philippines with no bed or indoor plumbing and “describes his upbringing as happy because music was always there to bring his family joy.” He loved singing for his late father, but thought a music career was out of reach, so he began to study dentistry, then decided to give music a chance while taking his dental boards.
After his father’s sudden death, Sofronio moved to the U.S. to pursue music full-time, landing gigs at the famed Apollo Theater and racking up nearly 10 million Facebook views for his cover of Dionne Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For.”
“I think if people understood the strength that you have and the fact that through all of this adversity, you walk out here on a night like tonight, when it probably matters more than anything has in your whole life career-wise,” Bublé added. “You walk out here in the moment and you take the brass ring and I’m just so happy for you.”
It was a joy ride for Vasquez, who got a four-chair turn at the beginning of the season from coaches Bublé, Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg for his take on Mary J. Blige’s version of Rose Royce’s 1976 disco ballad “I’m Goin’ Down.”
Along the way, Vasquez proved his versatility with covers of Elvis’ “If I Can Dream,” Jennifer Rush’s “The Power of Love,” Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” as well as a killer take on Roy Orbison’s “Crying” during the playoff rounds. He also teamed up with his coach during Tuesday night’s finale for a cover of soulful cover of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “Who’s Loving You.”
After the confetti fell, Vasquez posted a picture on his Insta of himself with Bublé holding the trophy with the caption, “Dreams really do come true.”
The 27th season of The Voice will premiere on Feb. 3 with Bublé returning alongside Kelsea Ballerini, Legend and returning coach Adam Levine.
Check out video from Vasquez’s final night.