Harmony McKee walked onto “The Voice” Season 30 stage and immediately took a major musical risk. The 19-year-old singer chose Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder & Lead,” despite later revealing that she had never performed a country song before.
You wouldn’t have known it from the audition. Harmony attacked the song with a powerful voice and brought elements of her own musical background into the performance. Before long, both Riley Green and Adam Levine turned their chairs for her.
After finishing the song, Harmony surprised the Coaches by explaining that she doesn’t actually consider herself a country Artist. Her musical interests are rooted more in R&B, rock and blues, making her Miranda Lambert performance a significant departure from what she normally sings.
That revelation immediately made Adam even more interested. Rather than seeing Harmony as a country singer, he heard an Artist who might be able to move between several different styles. He praised the strength of her voice and made it clear that he wanted the opportunity to work with her.
Riley, however, discovered a personal connection that helped his argument. Harmony explained that she had previously sung some Johnny Cash with her grandfather. Riley could relate to the importance of a grandfather in developing an appreciation for older music.
Riley also believed Harmony’s blues and rock influences could actually work in her favor if she explored country further. He pointed to Chris Stapleton as an example of an Artist who has successfully brought a strong blues influence into country music.
Kelly Clarkson, who had not turned her chair, noticed something interesting about the potential pairing. Riley didn’t already have someone quite like Harmony on his team, meaning her different musical background could allow her to occupy her own lane.
Harmony eventually had to choose between Adam and Riley. Despite Adam’s enthusiastic pitch and the audience appearing to enjoy his efforts to recruit her, she announced that she was joining Team Riley.
That was when the moment took an unexpectedly funny turn. Instead of immediately erupting when Harmony made her choice, the room became noticeably quiet. Riley seemed so confused that he didn’t initially get out of his chair to celebrate.
Kelly finally pointed out that Harmony had chosen him, prompting Riley to realize he had just won the coaching battle. He then jokingly questioned why the audience wasn’t cheering for him. The crowd eventually gave him the louder reaction he had been expecting.
For Riley, winning Harmony was particularly satisfying because it meant defeating Adam in a head-to-head recruiting battle. He later joked about how good it felt to beat his fellow Coach, adding another chapter to the playful rivalry developing between the two during Season 30.
Harmony, meanwhile, said she was excited to continue the competition and especially excited about working with Riley because of his professional experience in the music industry. Her gamble had clearly paid off: a song from a genre she had never previously performed earned her two chair turns and a place on the team she wanted
