Photo: Trae Patton/NBC
Kelsea Balleriniâs jaw dropped when a Voice hopeful started her blind audition on the hit competition show. The newest season of The Voice â and Balleriniâs debut as a coach â premiered on Monday evening (February 3).
âThis is my song!â Ballerini exclaimed to fellow coach Michael BublĂŠ when Angie Reyâs audition started. Rey delivered a stunning rendition of âPenthouse,â one of the emotional, fan-favorite tracks that appears on the country superstarâs Rolling Up The Welcome Mat. Ballerini released the EP and an accompanying short film in February 2023, sharing her story of heartbreak and the road to healing after divorce.
Ballerini listened for a moment with a dropped jaw, though she was quick to turn her chair for the 25-year-old singer. Ballerini embraced Rey in a hug after the performance. Rey introduced herself as a singer-songwriter from Seminole, Florida, and she now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Rey admitted it was âscaryâ for her to cover Balleriniâs song in front of her, but Ballerini countered, âthatâs scary for me!â
âThatâs scary for me! Because youâre hitting notes that I donât hit in that song,â Ballerini told Rey. She later noted that she âcould tellâ Rey is a songwriter because of the way she sang some of the emotional âPenthouseâ lyrics. âThank you so much for singing that song. I could tell you were nervous. Itâs a nerve wracking industry to get into, but when you beat it, itâs fine.â
Rey also received feedback from BublĂŠ, Adam Levine and John Legend. Rey acknowledged, âI love John, and I love Michael, and I love Adam, but theyâre not Kelsea.â BublĂŠ suggested that Ballerini join Rey on stage to deliver an impromptu duet version of âPenthouse.â Watch that heartfelt moment here: