Season 1 of The Voice hit airwaves on April 26, 2011, with Coaches Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton. The show has evolved over the course of 13 years and 26 seasons, but the basic premise and the dream that fuels it remains the same.
Watch The Voice Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock.
Rewatch the pilot and you’ll see 20-year-old Kelsey Rey among the Blind Auditions. Rey sang “American Boy” by Estelle and earned a Three-Chair Turn from Levine, Aguilera, and Green. She ended up on Team CeeLo and was eliminated in the Battles, singing Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” against The Thompson Sisters. That ended her career on The Voice, but not forever. Now, with more than a decade of extra life and performing experience, she returns, rebranded as Felsmere, for another shot at glory.
Felsmere (a.k.a Kelsey Rey) sings “Some Kind of Wonderful” during The Voice Blind Auditions
Photo: Tyler Golden/NBC
“In Season 1, I was young and timid. I’m coming in with a new sound, and I hope the Coaches love it,” Felsmere said, before taking to the stage. Her performance began in darkness, almost as if the singing to the Coaches’ backs wasn’t secret enough, as she delivered a vibrant rendition of “Some Kind of Wonderful.”“I actually was on the first season of The Voice,” Felsmere confessed after her Blind Audition wrapped. “CeeLo, Adam, and Christina turned for me. I was eliminated after the Battle round, but I learned so much only being 20 years old. It was the best experience of my life.” Since Felsmere left Season 1 of The Voice, she’s spent her time writing and producing music, leveling up for her triumphant return.
Michael Bublé was the first Coach to turn, zeroing in on Felsmere’s smoky, jazz-influenced vocals. Gwen Stefani followed soon thereafter. Felsmere earned a Two-Chair Turn, but it was almost three (with Snoop Dogg apparently refraining for strategic reasons).
“I’m always trying to find people who have big dreams that I already lived, that I can Coach and figure out how to find their identity through these songs. I feel like it would be so amazing for me to hang out with you, to figure out who you are, and I’d love to have you on Team Gwen,” Stefani said.
“You have this kind of jazzy thing going. That, to me, means that you can stride between the pop world and the jazz world. You’re perfect with your runs. You have a really sweet tone. Whoever you choose, you’re going to be great on this show,” Bublé said.
Ultimately, Felsmere chose Team Gwen. “Felsmere came to Season 1 of The Voice, and now she’s back for Season 26,” Stefani said. “Everything she was trying, she was landing. She’s consistent and her tone is just undeniable. I’m really excited to pick songs for her.
News
‘The Voice’ Fans Are Calling This 15-Year-Old Contestant a “Mini Kelly Clarkson”
The teen got a four-chair turn from the coaches and left fans on social media in awe. Season 26 of The Voice premiered last week, and fans of the blind singing competition show already have favorites — even saying some of the…
Reba McEntire wants a second win on ‘The Voice’ – with help from these singers
The country legend is back in her red swivel chair looking for a second win A few months after her first victory on “The Voice” as a coach, country legend Reba McEntire is back in her red swivel chair looking for a…
How to watch blind auditions on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ for free | Season 26 episode 2
NBC’s hit singing competition continues its early stages of season 26. A fresh set of blind auditions for the “The Voice” airs Monday, Sept. 30, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Watch the new episode for free with Fubo or DIRECTV Stream. Episodes can also be…
Reba McEntire’s New Sitcom Can Finally Make Up For A Disappointing 23-Year TV Streak
Reba McEntire’s new show Happy’s Place has a chance to right one major wrong from ‘00s TV history as the series brings the iconic star of Reba back to television. Reba’s cast of characters were some of the best sitcom characters of the ‘00s, but the…
Reba McEntire Makes Snoop Dogg Cry on ‘The Voice’ During Emotional Moment With Contestant
Tears were flowing during the season 26 premiere of The Voice on Monday, September 23. Snoop Dogg got rather emotional following an interaction between Reba McEntire and a contestant. The touching segment began when contestant Kendall Eugene took the stage for his blind audition. He performed a rendition of Morgan…
Watch Emotional Moment Reba McEntire Shocks All Of The Other Judges On ‘The Voice’
She even makes Snoop Dogg shed a tear. Snoop Dogg is making himself right at home on the set of The Voice. The rapper, who joined the show as a judge and mentor for Season 26, experienced a rite of passage on…
End of content
No more pages to load