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“The Voice” judge Gwen Stefani saves 14-year-old with replay button


“The Voice” judge Gwen Stefani saves 14-year-old with replay button

There's nothing better than one Agree Blind Audition, where the coaches seem genuinely surprised at who is on stage when they turn their chairs around. This is the situation when 14-year-old Jaylen Durham takes the mic and performs Beyoncé's “Listen” on the third night of Blinds Season 26. Based on the voice alone, trainer Gwen Stefani thought it was “a 35-year-old woman,” and Snoop Dogg agrees.

Jaylen is no stranger to big reactions to his performances. He began singing at the age of two, went viral around the age of 12, and soon after won Showtime's Amateur Night at the Apollo. He's a pro on stage, even if his vocals become increasingly shaky as the song progresses. Unfortunately, none of the coaches push the button for him. He seems fine with the rejection, but mom Jessica seems really upset about the whole thing.

Jaylen Dunham at Blind Auditions for Season 26 of “The Voice.”

Tyler Golden/NBC


Don't worry, Jessica! That is The voice Season 26 and in the new season we have a little thing called the Coach Replay Button. All four coaches are rightly shocked when they turn around and find a teenager on stage, but most of all Gwen Stefani.

Gwen Stefani on season 26 of “The Voice.”

Trae Patton/NBC


“They replaced a person. “Did you sing there?” she asks Jaylen as she immediately runs over to him to hug him. Michael Bublé notes that Jaylen is a great singer now, but imagine how great he will be in a few years. And yet Gwen can't believe how good he is at 14 years old. She sensed his nervousness as the song went on, but is mostly blown away by the control he has in the lower vocal range and that he can pull it off tremendously on the live stage. It doesn't take long: she explains the replay button to Jaylen and then uses this thing to add him to her team. The room erupts.

Jaylen Dunham at Blind Auditions for Season 26 of “The Voice.”

Tyler Golden/NBC


Will a coach who uses repetition ever not make me cry? I'm three for three (what's wrong with you, Bublé?), and I'm not ashamed of it. Host Carson Daly understands: After the audition, he stops by to thank Gwen for using her reprise of Jaylen; It was incredible to watch alongside his parents. “One minute they're at a funeral and then suddenly it's a wedding,” he tells Gwen. “I mean, you’ve never seen emotions change like that.”

The voice Season 26 airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

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