The coaches battled it out for this country singer.
Michael Bublé, Braxton Garza, Kelsea Ballerini; Photos Courtesy NBC, The Voice
Braxton Garza caused a riff to breakout between The Voice coaches Michael Bublé and Kelsea Ballerini during his blind audition on Monday (Feb. 10).
The lights arose around the stage to reveal Garza as he held the mic up to his lips and let his talent shine with a rendition of Warren Zeiders‘ “Pretty Little Poison.” Just a few seconds into the performance, Bublé turned to Ballerini and said “hey,” signaling to her that he was not about to let her claim this potential team member. She responded, “don’t even think about it.”
Unfortunately for her, Bublé already had his next move planned out. As soon as Garza reached the chorus, putting his powerful set of vocals on display, the “Feeling Good” singer pushed the button to block Ballerini from giving Garza the option of choosing her team. But that didn’t stop the female country star from turning her chair and letting the contestant know she was impressed.
Braxton Garza; Photo by: Christine Bartolucci/NBC
Ballerini sat back in her chair in defeat and watched the 28-year-old Michigan native in admiration as he finished out his delivery of the country hit.
Bublé gave a rowdy “yeehaw” before standing up and celebrating his win.
“I used my block. I used it the right way. I used my block. I used my block. I got you on my team today, woo,” he sang. “Oh, I’m so excited.”
“I’m so mad at you. Can’t even look at you,” Ballerini said to her fellow coach before telling Garza, “You’re so good, Braxton.”
Also on the Season 27 coaching panel is Adam Levine who empathized with Ballerini as he recalled all the times former The Voice coach Blake Shelton stole his potential contestants due to their county music stylings.
“I’m going to chime in right quick. When I hear a voice like yours, I only know one thing. Blake Shelton, he happened to me so many times,” Levine joked. “When it came to voices like yours. My heart has been broken so many times. My friend, however, Bublé, because he is ruthless, blocked Kelsea, who I would love to see you with. And so now you have to be with Michael.”
Luckily, the contestant didn’t seem too disappointed by this outcome as he said, “Michael is man. Michael is the man.”
When it was Ballerini’s time to give her feedback, she proudly pointed out the fact that Garza’s voice reminds her of the evolving country music sound that is currently taking over the genre through voices like Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan.
“I mean, I hear you as country, but I also hear you in that pocket of music right now that’s thriving of the Zach Bryan’s and the Noah Kahan’s, and you have one foot in country, but it’s bigger than that,” she noted. “I feel like your voice is so special and right in that pocket, and I know that pocket and I’m inspired by that pocket also.”
After hearing her sing such praise, Levine informed the contestant that if Bublé “drops the ball,” Ballerini will be there to “pick it up.”
“I’m ready,” she confirmed.
However, Bublé showed no signs of backing down anytime soon.
Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, Adam Levine, John Legend; Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC“Can I tell you something, Braxton? If my freezing this incredible artist out doesn’t tell you that I’m never going to drop the ball…I’m telling you now. I knew what I was doing,” he said confidently.
From the next chair over, John Legend attempted to humble Bublé, claiming that he was spewing out a lot of “big talk.” The Voice coach earned a laugh as he responded, “it’s easy when you’re an international superstar.”
In a post-audition interview, Bublé apologized to Ballerini for the block, but once again stated that he did what he had to do in order to get Braxton Garza on his team.
“I wanted Braxton very badly, and I knew if I wanted a chance to have a country person on my team, I had to push that block button. That was some tactical stuff that I was doing,” he explained.
Tune into The Voice every Monday at 8/7c on NBC or stream the next day on Peacock to see the Season 27 contestants continue their journeys in the competition.
