Meet 4 Alabama singers competing on Season 23 of ‘The Voice’ (and pick your favorite to win)
Could Alabama finally have a winner on “The Voice”? Four singers from the state are competing during Season 23 of the NBC reality series, and all of them have earned extravagant praise from the celebrity coaches.
Words like “insane,” “incredible,” “beautiful” and “super soulful” were tossed around during the blind auditions, as Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan, Chance the Rapper and Blake Shelton evaluated performances by a quartet of Alabama hopefuls. Now we’re ready to see who makes it through the battle rounds, as the competition continues this week with episodes on Monday and Tuesday.
If you haven’t been following “The Voice” this season, or simply need a refresher course, here’s a look at the four Alabama contestants in the mix. Also, share your thoughts in our poll, telling us your favorite to win.
RYLEY TATE WILSON
Alabama ties: Wilson, 15, is from Montgomery.
Blind audition: Wilson covered Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” turning the electro-pop hit into a ballad, as Calum Scott did in 2015. His performance inspired all four coaches to turn their chairs, signaling that they wanted him on their teams.
What Horan said: “Ryley, my head nearly exploded. That was the best audition we’ve seen here, by a long shot. … It’s so nice to hear a 15-year-old have that confidence in their own ability. It felt like if I was to get you to sing that song again, you wouldn’t sing it the same way twice. And that is an amazing way to keep people on their toes. … You definitely have that storyteller element to your voice, from the second you open your mouth.”
What Clarkson said: “I don’t know if you noticed, Ryley, but I pushed (the button to turn the chair), like light years before the others. Because I heard your tone, and I was, like, it’s incredible. Your voice is insane. I love working with young people, too. Actually, I win a lot of time with young talent. … I think that I could be the best coach for you. … Your runs were crazy good. They weren’t planned; they were felt. If you’re feeling that at 15, wow! I would love the chance to work with you. I think you are just incredible.”
What Chance said: “Ryley, you’re insanely talented, dude. That was fire. What really caught me was in the ending where you kind of just improvised with the runs, and really just felt the song out. I love how controlled the runs are. It felt very, like, experimental R&B. … I would just love the opportunity to work with you in that capacity, and finding the songs you can play with. There’s certain arrangements that will work perfect for what you have, and I would just love to see what you could do in that space.”
What Shelton said: “I know that I don’t have much of a shot here, probably. I’m probably the fourth choice that you have on this panel. I mean, I’m the country coach, right? But I’ll tell you this. I’ve been coaching here for 23 seasons, and I’ve won with all kinds of artists. You pick me as your coach, and I will quit coaching after this season. I’m telling you right now, I will walk away. I will be satisfied that I got the chance to work with you, Ryley. That’s all I’m gonna say. Pick me, Ryley. Let’s win this thing.”
Which team? Wilson is on Team Niall, choosing Horan as his coach.
“Voice” bio says: “From an early age, Ryley Tate turned anything and everything into a drum set and by 4, moved on to keyboard and guitar. He never wanted to be away from music, so his mom drew him a keyboard on cardboard, so he could practice on the go: at church, in the car and at restaurants. When Ryley Tate decided he wanted to make his own music, he saved up his money for recording software and learned the production side of things. His plan is to start gigging around town when he gets his driver’s license. He spends most of his time being heavily involved in local theater, always participating in musicals or singing for his church youth group.”
Sneak peek: “The Voice” released an early video of Wilson’s battle round with Michael B. Williams, singing a duet on Giveon’s “Heartbreak Anniversary.” Results of the battle haven’t been announced yet.
Where to find him online: Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Spotify.
READ MORE: Watch ‘Voice’ coaches fight over Alabama teen after ‘insane’ audition and 4-chair turn
D.SMOOTH
Alabama ties: D.Smooth, 25, is from Birmingham. He now lives in Montgomery, and his offstage name is David Mitchell.
Blind audition: He covered Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect,” inspiring Clarkson and Horan to turn their chairs.
What Clarkson said: “I loved the runs; I was enjoying the runs. I’ve been here nine seasons. Mama turns when she wants to turn. … It was so different from how Ed does it, and I love that. … I really want you on my team. That’s all, D.Smooth.”
What Horan said: “You just carried the song and you kept taking it to new heights, nice and delicate at the start, and then you went on a rip and you were just flying. It was so cool. … Whoever you end up with, you’re a super singer, and you’re going to go really far in this.”
What Chance said: “D.Smooth, I got to tell you, straight outta the gate, you smashed that, you powered through. There was like, maybe a second at the very beginning where there might have been a little sour note, but straight from after that, you just had so much control. I told Kelly she needed to turn around.”
Which team? D.Smooth is on Team Kelly, choosing Clarkson as his coach.
“Voice” bio says: “D.Smooth was about to take the stage at the Season 21 blind auditions when the teams filled up. Looking back, he’s grateful he didn’t get a chance to perform at a time when he wasn’t giving 100% to music. D. Smooth grew up in the rural countryside and his entire extended family all lived on the same street. He feels blessed that his family was close by to keep him grounded. In high school, D.Smooth was a singer in the jazz band, but even though he loved music, his main focus was sports. Now that he’s back at ‘The Voice,’ he’s ready to give music his all.”
Where to find him online: Instagram, Twitter.
READ MORE: Birmingham singer thrills Kelly Clarkson with Ed Sheeran cover on ‘The Voice’
JEROME GODWIN III
Alabama ties: Godwin 20, is from Ashford. He now lives in Montgomery.
Blind audition: Godwin covered Ariana Grande’s “pov,” inspiring Horan and Clarkson to turn their chairs.
What Horan said: “Your voice is incredible. Like, that low stuff is amazing. For a while, I didn’t think it was going to take off, and then I hit my button (to turn the chair) the minute you went there, ‘cause I couldn’t wait for you to get right up there, and I feel like I want to hear more of that. It would be incredible to have you on my team. I mean, that smile, the great teeth. They’re fantastic. The people watching this at home are going to fall in love with you. You’re such a likable dude with an incredible voice.”
What Clarkson said: “Your runs were so cool. You could feel how excited you were before I even turned around. I hope you never lose that passion and that desire. Keep that with you always as a creative person — as a human, really. Your smile is like the greatest smile ever. … I also have experience winning this show, so if you like being on a team that has that, I would love to have you on my team, man. I just really, really dig your voice.”
What Chance said: “Jerome, your voice is amazing. I like that you powered through the whole performance, even when there might have been some points where it got a little pitchy. I love your lower register, and the control you got down there.”
Which team? Godwin is on Team Niall, choosing Horan as his coach.
“Voice” bio says: “Jerome got his first taste of music at a young age when his church’s music director pushed him to direct a show at a nursing home. From there, he followed in his parent’s musical footsteps and started singing in church. Jerome’s parents are both teachers, so they made sure Jerome focused on his academics. Now a sophomore in college, Jerome is a pre-dentistry major and has big dreams of becoming the ‘singing dentist.’ Pursuing dentistry leaves little time for Jerome to focus on music, but he does manage to make time for leading worship at a church. ‘The Voice’ is his opportunity to see if he has what it takes to make a career out of music and follow his dream.”
Where to find him online: Instagram, Twitter, TikTok.
READ MORE: Alabama singer’s ‘super soulful’ audition thrills Niall Horan on ‘The Voice’
JB SOMERS
Alabama ties: Somers, 31, is from Montgomery. He now lives in Nashville.
Blind audition: Somers covered Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You,” inspiring Clarkson and Chance to turn their chairs.
What Clarkson said: “When I turned around first — do you remember that time? — when I turned around, it was even more beautiful to watch you perform it. You just, like, exude so much empathy and emotion, just all of it. And then your eyes were closed for a lot of it, but it was cool, because it was intimate. I would love to have you on my team. I have no one like you on my team. You are going to make it to the finale, regardless of which team you’re choosing here. It is a beautiful gift that you’ve been given.”
What Chance said: “I really want you on my team. It did take me a little while to turn around, because of how particular I am about hearing people cover Joni Mitchell. Really, I was just waiting to hear your high register. That’s one of the things I respected the most about your performance. You were just dynamically showing us your different ranges, and your approach to it was just very strategic. … JB, one of my very good friends covered that same Joni Mitchell song. And his initials are JB: James Blake. I’d love to give you the platform to be able to just be you on TV. But like Kelly said, whoever you go with, you’ll probably make it to the finale. For sure, if you get on Team Chance, though.”
What Horan said: “I just want to tell you why I was an idiot and didn’t turn around. My team is nearly full to the brim and I had someone very similar.”
What Shelton said: “I didn’t turn around … because I didn’t want to hear ‘no.’”
Which team? Somers is on Team Kelly, choosing Clarkson as his coach.
“Voice” bio says: “By day, JB works for Sarah Cannon Research Institute activating clinical trials for cancer research. Though he doesn’t work directly with patients, JB loves that he’s able to help people in this way. JB’s desire to make a difference intensified after the death of his sister, Somer, from whom JB derives his stage name. Since Somer’s death in 2016, JB has dedicated himself to living a life that’s worth living, especially concerning his music career. The loss of his sister showed him that pursuing a career in music was paramount and it brings him to ‘The Voice’ stage now — a long-time dream fulfilled.”
Where to find him online: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube.
READ MORE: Kelly Clarkson predicts finale spot for Alabama singer on ‘The Voice’: ‘So much empathy and emotion’