Queen Latifah Uses First-In Button on The Voice Premiere

Season 30 ofThe Voice has officially begun! The Blind Auditions kicked off with the two-hour premiere on September 21, putting hopeful singers in front of coaches Adam Levine, Queen Latifah, Riley Green, and Kelly Clarkson for the first time.

This season featured the addition of the First-In button, giving each coach one chance to automatically nab an artist for their team if they were the first to push their button for that singer. Latifah was the first to use the First-In button for Season 30.

Scroll down for a recap of the night’s performances and to find out where the teams stand so far.

BigCountry

The first artist to audition was BigCountry, a 37-year-old from Washington, who, contrary to what his stage name may suggest, doesn’t sing country music. The Army vet sang “I Put a Spell on You” and got immediate chair turns from Latifah and Levine. Green followed shortly after.

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“Now I feel like a complete moron,” Clarkson admitted afterwards. “I’m so excited to see what you’re going to do. The only reason I didn’t turn, is I was just waiting for that next little level. You are one hell of a singer, man.”

Levine made sure to point out that he was “so first” to turn around and noted his four previous wins. “I know when I turn around and I see somebody that can win this thing,” Levine added. “To be part of this thing together would be magical and it would be different.” Latifah, meanwhile, told BigCountry that he’s got “it,” and Green said, “Being country is not about singing the genre. It’s about telling a story … and that, I believe, you can do. … What you just did is sing something that had soul in it, but also had country music roots, and that’s what I was drawn to.”

The three coaches fought over BigCountry and continued to give their pitches, but ultimately he went with newbie Queen Latifah.

Joe Henley

Up next, 19-year-old country singer Joe Henley took the stage singing “Anymore” by Travis Tritt, with hopes of getting a chair turn from Green. It was his first performance ever, aside from performing in church.

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Immediately, Clarkson and Green pushed their buttons, and Clarkson was on her feet with excitement throughout the song. Unfortunately, the writing was seemingly on the wall from the moment Green turned around.

“I have won this show, man, with country singers,” Clarkson made sure to point out. “Where do you think all the country singers are going to go? Riley Green. Wouldn’t it be incredible to be the only country superstar on my team?”

Levine and Latifah both called Joe “amazing,” and finally, it was time for Green to weigh in. To really solidify his spot with Joe, he got on stage so they could sing a duet together. No surprise … Joe picked Green as his coach.

Hazel Gerson

Recent college graduate Hazel Gerson performed “Too Close” by Alex Clare for her Blind Audition. Clarkson was the first to turn her chair and Green followed later on.

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“It definitely was not country but there’s something about music that’s really cool that just touches people,” Green said. This time, things seemed to be in Clarkson’s favor, though, as Hazel got giddy when they addressed each other.

“I loved your sound, but what I would love to work on with you is releasing that last level,” Clarkson said. “There’s so much in there, not only vocally. I mean your actual spirit.” When Hazel told Clarkson she likes her new long hair, Clarkson jokingly offered to gift it to her. She probably didn’t even need to make that proposition, as Hazel called it the “easiest” decision to choose Clarkson as a coach.

Marcus Ladden Jr.

Marcus Ladden Jr. performed “Cry Me a River.” After Clarkson turned around, Latifah immediately followed.

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“You are not just a great singer, you are an entertainer. That was so much fun,” Clarkson said, while also letting Marcus know that she wants him on her team “so badly.”

Latifah said, “You are amazing. I turned that chair because you stepped into my heart. I felt it immediately. Your artistry, I connect to that.” Their shared musical theater background helped as well, and Marcus chose Latifah as his coach.

Destinee Monroe

Destinee Monroe came toThe Voice as a solo artist, but she was previously a member of the duo Destinee & Paris with her sister (they opened for Britney Spears on tour). For her Blind Audition, she performed “Home Sweet Home” by Mötley Crüe.

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It took a bit, but Levine eventually turned around, with Latifah and Green following later on. “Clearly you’re a rock singer. Don’t let my pop trajectory fool you. I wrote a song with Slash,” Levine noted. “I love you, Destinee. Please choose me as your coach.”

Latifah said she was “hyped” over Destinee’s “amazing, hardcore” performance, while Green said, “Adam’s wonThe Voice before, he’s been doing it for 16 years, it’s great. What’s a bigger deal than a coach’s fifth win or whatever it is, is a coach’s first win. I think me and you would have a really good chance of going on to win.”

It wasn’t enough, though. Levine was the winner and landed Destinee on his team.

Ferryn & Brinkley

Sisters Ferryn and Brinkley, who work at Dollywood Parks & Resorts and have performed with Dolly Parton herself, took the stage next. They sang “When Will I Be Loved” by The Everly Brothers.

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As soon as they went into their harmony on the third line of the song, Clarkson and Latifah pushed their buttons. After some urging from Clarkson, Green and Levine also turned.

“Your vocals sound so sweet together. Your energy together was amazing. It came through this chair and said, ‘Turn around Queen!’” Latifah raved. Levine said, “Kelly was, like, bullying me to turn around. I can’t think of a reason why you would pick me, which is why I was discouraged. Then I saw you performing with each other and the chemistry was amazing, and I was like … they should be with me! Nobody would expect it.”

Of course, Green played the country music card with the singing sisters from Tennessee, even letting them know they remind him of Ella Langley. “That performance took me back to where I grew up at,” he said. “It’s got that old school, country music feel.” Clarkson made sure to point out her own country roots and history with winning with a group on The Voice.

It was a tough decision for the sisters, but they ended up going with Green.

Forté

For his Blind Audition, Forté sang “Before I Let Go.” Unfortunately, none of the coaches turned around.

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“I could tell the whole time you were performing it because they were excited,” Clarkson said. “I just felt like there were just some pitchy moments. The song you just sang left you no room to breathe. But there were moments that were incredible.”

Latifah said she needed more of Forté’s version of the song. “I need someone toreally make me turn that chair,” she explained. “They really need to do something special, probably within 15 seconds.”

Caroline Alexis

Up next, another country performance from Caroline Alexis, who sang “Take Me There” by Rascal Flatts. After the first half of the song, Green pushed his button.

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Since the other coaches knew Caroline would probably pick Green anyway, he was the sole coach to turn around on that one. “I love your tone, I love your song choice, I love the way you performed it,” he said.

Mia Knight

The next performer was 16-year-old Mia Knight, who sang “You Stole the Show.” She earned an immediate button push from Latifah. Green also turned around, and so did Clarkson.

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“There’s something about that that makes me feel like coaching isn’t even the right word. Whoever you pick is just going to be working with you,” Green gushed.

Clarkson pointed out that she’s won the show with a young artist in the past. “The fact that at 16 years old, you’re going down there low, then you’re going up in your head voice, it’s beautiful,” she added. Latifah called Mia “absolutely fantastic” and noted that she’s also managed young artists in the past. “I’m so glad I turned around early because I got to see you handle the mic, work both sides of the crowd,” she raved.

As Clarkson continued to try and pitch, Latifah used her First-In button to automatically nab Mia.

Owen Uffens

The next Blind Audition was from 18-year-old Owen Uffens, who sang “Everybody’s Talkin’.” It became a battle of the vets, with Clarkson and Levine turning around.

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“Your tone is dreamy,” Clarkson said. “You sing perfectly through your nasal cavity and chest. Your falsetto was flawless. You’re in the moment, you’re going for something really beautiful. Your tone is so special.”

“You’re kind of the sleeper best voice,” Levine added. “You don’t have to do too much for your tone to be recognized.” The Maroon 5 frontman noted that he would make the “most sense” as Owen’s coach, and that pitch won the teenager over.

Brianna Cameron

The final performance of the night was from Brianna Cameron, who is just 13 years old. She sang “River Deep – Mountain High.” Her performance earned chair turns from Clarkson and Green.

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“That was the biggest voice I’ve heard on this show. I’m extremely impressed by you. I have no question you can sing anything,” Green assured the young star.

Clarkson made sure to note that she turned around first. “It was insane, all your runs,” she added. “I loved, actually, when your voice broke and it had that rasp to it. I won this show four times. I can get you to the finale.” Green played dirty by bringing his dog out to convince Brianna to join his team.

In the end, though, Clarkson was the winner, and Brianna picked her as her coach.

Here’s where the teams stand after Night 1 of the Blind Auditions:

Team Queen Latifah
BigCountry
Marcus Ladden Jr.
Mia Knight (First-In button)

Team Riley Green
Joe Henley
Ferryn & Brinkley
Caroline Alexis

Team Kelly Clarkson
Hazel Gerson
Brianna Cameron

Team Adam Levine
Destinee Monroe
Owen Uffens

The Voice, Season 30, Episode 2, Tuesday, September 22, 8/7c, NBC

The Voice, Season 30, Episode 3, Wednesday, September 23, 8/7c, NBC

The Voice, Season 30, Mondays, 8/7c, NBC