THE Voice has returned for Season 24 and the coaches are pulling out all the stops to get their picks on their teams – including the reveal of secret talents.
Missouri 16-year-old Ruby Leigh took to the Voice stage on Tuesday for a blind audition that had all the judges impressed.
Ruby sang Patsy Montana’s I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart, winning the praise of all the judges, enough to give the performer a four-chair turn.
The show’s newest coach Reba McIntire spoke to Ruby last, saying: “Being as young as you are, and being a fan of Patsy Montana, I’m a third generation rodeo brat, so Patsy Montana, a country western singer, not just country – there is a difference – I’m very flattered, very proud of my heritage that you’re singing this song.”
The country legend added that her mother taught her how to yodel and gave a sample of what she could do, and in the end, won Ruby over.
Meanwhile, Reba has made history in the singing competition series by being the oldest (at 68) and most experienced coach to have ever worked on the series.
Teams so far
So far, each coach has at least three singers on their team.
Team Gwen – Kristen Brown, Joslynn Rose, Jenna Marquis, Juliette Ojeda
Team Niall – Alexa Wildish, Olivia Minogue, Sophia Hoffman, Julia Roome
Team Reba – Jackson Snelling, Jordan Rainer, Ruby Leigh
Team Legend – Deejay Young, Ephraim Owens, Mara Justine
About Reba’s ex
From 1989 to 2015, Reba was married to her manager, Narvel Blackstock.
The pair announced their divorce in August 2015, which was finalized in October of the same year.
Reba’s marriage to Blackstock was her second, following her first one to Charlie Battles.
She married Battles in 1976 and the couple divorced in 1987.
About Reba’s boyfriend
Reba has been dating her Young Sheldon co-star, Rex Linn, since early 2020.
Reba spoke of her and Linn’s romance during an appearance on The Today Show on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
She said on the program: “Rex and I had known each other since 1991 when we were in The Gambler movie together with Kenny Rogers, and then have known each other, kept in contact.
“And then in 2020 when mama got sick, he called me. We’d gotten to see each other before because we’re both on Young Sheldon.
“So starting in March of 2020, we just kept talking and visiting and finally got together in June. We’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since.”
About the newest judge on the panel
Reba McEntire is a famous American country singer.
Born in McAlester, Oklahoma on March 28, 1955, she shot to stardom in the 1970s.
She’s sold more than 75million records worldwide, and even had her own television show from 2001-2007.
Why Blake left The Voice
After 23 seasons of The Voice, the longest-standing original coach Blake Shelton made the decision to walk away from the show.
Shelton said in an October 2022 Instagram announcement: “I’ve been wrestling with this for a while and I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step away from The Voice after next season.”
“It’s been a hell of a ride over these 12 years of chair turns and I want to thank everyone at The Voice from NBC, every producer, the writers, musicians, crew, and catering people, you are the best.
“I have to give a huge shout to the singers—the ‘Voices,’ who come on this stage season after season and amaze us with their talent, and a special thanks to those who chose me to be their coach.
“Lastly, it’s about y’all, the fans, who watch and support these artists, us coaches, and everyone at The Voice who are chasing our dreams. It would not happen without you!”
Kelly is no more – for now
While no official reason has been given for her decision not to return as a coach for season 24, Variety has claimed that Kelly Clarkson’s daytime TV show The Kelly Clarkson Show will move to New York City from Los Angeles—where The Voice tapes.
During an appearance on TalkShopLive, Kelly explained that her loved ones inspired the decision to change the soundstage.
She was adamant about moving, even if it meant canceling her chat program. NBC, thankfully, agreed to her request.
“Being isolated and so far from your family, that’s not good for anyone. My family is East Coast, they’re North Carolina based,” she said to the outlet. “So, it was one of those things where I just had to [do it].”