Kelly Clarkson and John Legend on The Voice season 29 Blind Auditions (Image via Youtube/The Voice)
Kelly Clarkson waited until the final seconds of a Blind Audition in The Voice season 29 before turning her chair for contestant Houston Kelly. The Memphis, Tennessee singer performed “Walking in Memphis,” prompting Clarkson to hit her button at the last moment and secure him for her team.
Clarkson had been cautious about filling the final spots on her team during the Blind Auditions of The Voice. With only two openings remaining, she was specifically looking for artists capable of earning multiple chair turns.
The strategy related to the show’s “Super Steal” advantage during the Battle rounds, which goes to the coach whose team has the most three-chair-turn contestants.
Houston Kelly’s performance ultimately convinced Clarkson to act, even though she admitted she hesitated until the very end of the audition. After turning her chair, Clarkson said,
“I was so close. I’m sweating. I’ve never waited that long. I literally was thinking, ‘I already have country,’ but then I was like, ‘Wow, but nobody sounds like this though.’ You are so talented.”
The Voice season 29: Houston Kelly impresses coaches during Blind Auditions
Houston Kelly’s audition became one of the memorable moments of The Voice season 29 Blind Auditions. The singer accompanied himself on piano while performing “Walking in Memphis,” a song closely tied to the city where he grew up.
During the conversation with the coaches on The Voice, Houston Kelly explained that country music shaped his early musical interests. He said,
“When I first started, my dad and I would ride around in his pickup truck listening to Alabama‘s Greatest Hits CD. I think that’s where it all started for me.”
Clarkson’s eventual chair turn came after she carefully considered whether adding another country artist to her team would make sense. At that point in The Voice season 29, she already had artists in that genre.
Despite that, the uniqueness of Houston Kelly’s voice persuaded her to take the chance.
The other coaches also reacted strongly to the performance. Adam Levine immediately recognized how deeply Houston Kelly’s style leaned into traditional country influences.
During the exchange on The Voice, Levine said,
“He’s so country, I don’t even know what to do about it.”
Clarkson joked that Houston Kelly might have chosen a different coach if former The Voice coach Blake Shelton were still part of the show. Clarkson said,
“What I love most is that Blake Shelton isn’t here because if he was, I know you’d pick him.”
Levine said,
“If Blake were here, it would be already over.”
“But he’s not, so I’m very excited,” Clarkson continued.
John Legend also referenced Shelton’s lasting presence on The Voice even after his departure from the coaching panel. He said,
“His ghost haunts us every day.”
Clarkson replied,
“He does. He has that effect that lingers.”
Levine later acknowledged that Clarkson’s late decision to turn her chair effectively ended his chances of recruiting Houston Kelly. Levine said,
“She turned at the last second and blew our minds. I was thinking about it, too, right when she did it, and then I was like, ‘This is an uphill battle for me that I’m going to lose.’”
Levine also teased Clarkson about the way she adjusted her speaking style when talking to country performers. He asked,
“Did you notice how she gets a little more country when she starts to talk to a country artist?”
Clarkson responded with a laugh. She said,
“I get real country when I talk to my sister because she’s from North Carolina and that’s a different dialect.”
Legend also praised Houston Kelly’s performance during the Blind Audition segment of The Voice season 29. Legend said,
“I thought you gave a really strong performance. Your voice has so much power to it. Kelly’s going to be a great coach. I’m so excited for you, Houston.”
Clarkson later reflected on the decision to bring Houston Kelly onto her team, explaining what stood out about the singer’s voice. She said,
“Houston was amazing. What I loved about Houston’s voice was that he has this big, round tone, and I love that his name was Houston Kelly.”
At that stage of The Voice season 29, Clarkson still had one remaining slot left on her team and was considering what type of artist she hoped to add next. Clarkson said,
“I have one spot left, and I really want something special. Right now, I have country, singer-songwriter, it’s kind of all over the map, but I am looking for soulful pop. I would really like someone to fill it out in a different way.”
The Voice airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.
Stay tuned for more updates.