Kelly Clarkson Says She Knew Her Choices for the Semi-Finalists on “The Voice” 'From the Jump'
Kelly Clarkson Says She Knew Her Choices for the Semi-Finalists on “The Voice” 'From the Jump'
Daniela AvilaTue, April 7, 2026 at 11:40 PM UTC
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Kelly Clarkson on 'The Voice'Credit: Trae Patton/NBC -
Kelly Clarkson said her semi-finalists on The Voice have stood out since the blind auditions
Clarkson said it was due to their soulful approach and storytelling ability
There are nine contestants left on season 29 of the singing competition show
Kelly Clarkson knows how to follow her gut.
In an interview with a small group of reporters discussing the results of the Monday, April 6 episode of The Voice, Clarkson said she's known who her semi-finalists were from the beginning.
"If I'm being honest, these were the three from the jump," Clarkson, 43, said of JW Griffin, Liv Ciara and Mikenley Brown.
"I had a weird season," she continued. "I did the blinds and then I wasn't able to be there for the rehearsal of the Battles. But these were the three from the blinds that definitely stood out for me. All three, the commonalities, they're very different artists."
Though they're different, the "Breakaway" singer said that all three contestants had a "certain level of raw soul that I love."
"Whatever you're listening to it, it means something and it comes from a place of purpose and they're highly motivated to be a vessel for a storyteller," she added.
Clarkson concluded, "It doesn't matter the genre of music for me. I always like to have a lot of different variety on my team but these three from the jump have made me cry at some point. They're all really gifted."
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The nine contestants in the semi finals include Team Kelly's Griffin, Ciara and Brown; Team Adam's Alexia Jayy, Jared Shoemaker and Jeremy Keith; Team Legend's KJ Willis, Lucas West and Syd Millevoi.
In the Battles, Clarkson paired Brown and Ciara together and chose Brown as her winner. Moments later, however, she saved Ciara by using her steal button.
"I had to use my Super Steal on Liv. Liv reminds me of a young Mariah," she said at the time. "At 16 years old to be able to float like that with all that range and confidence as a performer, it’s really rare. I was never letting her go."
JW Griffin, Liv Ciara, Kelly Clarkson and Mikenley BrownCredit: Trae Patton/NBC
After the Knockouts, when Brown was up against Jonah Mayor, Clarkson said that there was nobody like Brown.
"Even down to your wardrobe. You come out here and I was like, 'I want that sweater.' You pick songs that people are familiar with, but you always put a twist on them," she said. "You always go to these really cool places that not many artists go, which I think is very cool and interesting and sets you apart.”
Griffin received a triple-turn during his blind audition and Clarkson complimented him for being "such a great storyteller" — and pleaded to be chosen as his coach.
"I really am so happy Blake Shelton isn't here right now," she said, later adding of her fellow coaches John Legend and Adam Levine, "I do think that I've won with country artists and they have not. So pick me."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
