Photo: Trae Patton/NBC
Kelsea Ballerini’s jaw dropped when a Voice hopeful started her blind audition on the hit competition show. The newest season of The Voice — and Ballerini’s debut as a coach — premiered on Monday evening (February 3).
“This is my song!” Ballerini exclaimed to fellow coach Michael Bublé when Angie Rey’s audition started. Rey delivered a stunning rendition of “Penthouse,” one of the emotional, fan-favorite tracks that appears on the country superstar’s 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 “scary” for her to cover Ballerini’s song in front of her, but Ballerini countered, “that’s scary for me!”
“That’s scary for me! Because you’re hitting notes that I don’t hit in that song,” Ballerini told Rey. She later noted that she “could tell” Rey is a songwriter because of the way she sang some of the emotional “Penthouse” lyrics. “Thank you so much for singing that song. I could tell you were nervous. It’s a nerve wracking industry to get into, but when you beat it, it’s fine.”
Rey also received feedback from Bublé, Adam Levine and John Legend. Rey acknowledged, “I love John, and I love Michael, and I love Adam, but they’re not Kelsea.” Bublé suggested that Ballerini join Rey on stage to deliver an impromptu duet version of “Penthouse.” Watch that heartfelt moment here: