Gwen Stefani grabbed a teen singer with an unusual story for her team on Tuesday’s episode of The Voice.
Larriah Jackson, a 15-year-old high school student from Sacramento, California, wowed Gwen, 51, with her cover of The Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There, done in the style of Mariah Carey.
She dedicated the song to her family, who shared a particularly strong bond.
Teenage contestant: Gwen Stefani grabbed a teen singer with an unusual story for her team on Tuesday’s episode of The Voice
When she was two, Larriah’s father left, so she was raised by her mother and grandmother, whom she said had helped her know her worth as a young Black woman.
‘He might have missed out on something great,’ she said of her dad, noting that ‘music definitely brought my family together.’
At one of her performances, Larriah saw her mother having an emotional conversation with two women at the side of the stage, and when she came off, she was told, ‘Those are your sisters.’
They had found her name on a flier and waited four hours to see her sing, Larriah recalled.
Strong cover: Larriah Jackson, a 15-year-old high school student from Sacramento, California, wowed Gwen, 51, with her cover of The Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There, done in the style of Mariah Carey
‘And then seven more came along!’ she added.
It turned out that her father had also left those children, who then reconnected as one big, tight-knit group and formed their own family.
‘For them to show me so much love meeting me after all these years is so amazing,’ she said. ‘They’ve become my best friends.’
Parental separation: When she was two, Larriah’s father left, so she was raised by her mother and grandmother, whom she said had helped her know her worth as a young Black woman
Gwen loved Larriah’s ‘rich, warm and dreamy’ tone, adding ‘Everybody knows that I just want a daughter. Is that weird?’
As the show opened, a cliffhanger from the previous episode of The Voice was resolved, as Desz, a 30-year-old professional singer from Houston, chose Kelly Clarkson, 38, as her coach.
The next singer, Olivia Reyes, 19, from Teaneck, New Jersey, had been signed up to audition by her friends, one of whom was the daughter of season 2 winner Jermaine Paul, 41.
Show cliffhanger: As the show opened, a cliffhanger from the previous episode of The Voice was resolved, as Desz, a 30-year-old professional singer from Houston, Texas, chose Kelly Clarkson, 38, as her coach
Show connection: Olivia Reyes, 19, from Teaneck, New Jersey, had been signed up to audition by her friends, one of whom was the daughter of season 2 winner Jermaine Paul, 41
Jermaine spoke to her before her audition, saying, ‘I am especially excited for you because I’ve walked that path before, and I’m so happy for the world to get a chance to hear you.’
Olivia’s cover of Harry Styles’ Falling scored her chair turns from Gwen and John Legend, 43, and she went with John, who’d toured with Jermaine and called her tone ‘gorgeous.’
Sam Stacy, a 27-year-old musician from Lincoln, Nebraska, said he worked gigs all week long in Los Angeles, and that experience showed in his cover of James Taylor’s Fire And Rain.
Grammy winner: John Legend landed Olivia on his team early during the one-hour show
Nebraska native: Sam Stacy, a 27-year-old musician from Lincoln, Nebraska, said he worked gigs all week long in Los Angeles, and that experience showed in his cover of James Taylor’s Fire And Rain
‘Sam, I’m good friends with James Taylor,’ said Blake Shelton, 44, who nabbed him after sparring with Gwen and Kelly. ‘By the end of that, performance I thought, ”Man, this guy’s really got it”.’
‘Blake, you’re a wild card,’ Sam returned. ‘I don’t know what your coaching style is like, and I kinda want to figure it out. So let’s do it.’
Payton Lamar, 23, from Nashville, Tennessee, recalled living in France before the show, where she wrote songs with French artists and played underground gigs.
Name dropper: ‘Sam, I’m good friends with James Taylor,’ said Blake Shelton, 44, who nabbed Sam Stacy after sparring with Gwen and Kelly
Nashville singer: Payton Lamar, 23, from Nashville, Tennessee, recalled living in France before the show, where she wrote songs with French artists and played underground gigs
Her rendition of Tori Kelly’s gospel-flavored tune, Never Alone, landed her on Blake’s team.
Van Andrew, 29, from Cooper, Texas, grew up with eight siblings and said music helped him stand out from an early age.
He moved to Nashville right before a tornado hit, and then the coronavirus epidemic occurred, so he spent most of his time there sequestered and songwriting.
Large family: Van Andrew, 29, from Cooper, Texas, grew up with eight siblings and said music helped him stand out from an early age
Blake and Gwen turned their chairs for his version of The Who’s Behind Blue Eyes, and he chose the Hollaback Girl for her love of indie rock.
Like Van, Tanner Gomes, 28, had moved to Nashville to pursue music, and he grew emotional when he realized how much his life had changed.
Tanner had grown up taking care of his family in Yuma, Arizona, where his mother became addicted to opioids after a car accident and he’d had to mature quickly.
Country singer: Tanner Gomes, 28, had moved to Nashville to pursue music, and he grew emotional when he realized how much his life had changed
‘I know this isn’t how she imagined our future,’ he said, noting that his mom had gotten clean. ‘I honestly think I can make it through anything after that.’
Tanner’s take on Dustin Lynch’s Cowboys And Angels moved Kelly to push her button right away, with Gwen and John following.
‘I turned light years before the others,’ Kelly pointed out. ‘Your voice sounds like everything I loved about ’80s and ’90s country.’
Touch pick: Kelly Clarkson and Gwen both lobbied to land Tanner on their team
‘I love to hear that,’ replied Tanner, who’d earlier declared it his favorite musical era.
Gwen pointed out that she had ‘access to the greatest country star in the world’—Blake—but it didn’t do the trick.
‘I can get you in the finale,’ Kelly offered, winning Tanner to her team.
The Voice will return next week on NBC.
Bold statement: ‘I can get you in the finale,’ Kelly offered, winning Tanner to her team