Riley Green had been waiting for the right moment to use his First In Button on The Voice, and during Monday night’s Blind Auditions, he finally decided that 15-year-old Allie Rae was the singer worth making his move for.
Rae took the stage with a powerful performance of Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet,” immediately capturing the attention of the coaches. Her performance showcased a blend of country, blues and soul that made the young singer stand out from the beginning.
Riley Green, Kelly Clarkson and Queen Latifah were all impressed by what they heard. For Rae, however, the audition was about more than simply impressing the coaches—it was an opportunity to show exactly what kind of artist she could become.
Clarkson quickly pointed out something distinctive about Rae’s voice. She said she could hear elements reminiscent of both Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss, two legendary country artists known for very different but unmistakable vocal styles.
Queen Latifah also praised Rae’s performance, particularly the natural way the teenager connected with the song. Despite her young age, Rae delivered the audition with the confidence and musical maturity that caught the coaches off guard.
Green had his own reasons for being impressed.
The country star told Rae that her performance felt genuine and praised her for taking a familiar song and making it sound like something uniquely her own. He explained that being able to make a song stand apart is exactly what can help an artist get noticed in a competition like The Voice.
Rae later revealed that Chris Stapleton and Aretha Franklin were among her musical influences, giving Clarkson another opportunity to make her case. Clarkson pointed out their shared musical interests and highlighted her experience working with younger artists.
But by then, Green had already made his decision.
Green revealed that he had noticed he turned his chair before the other coaches and decided to use his First In Button. The new Season 30 twist allowed him to automatically claim Rae for Team Riley before she could choose another coach.
The move instantly ended the coaching battle.
Green later explained that he had been saving his First In Button for a singer he believed could make a serious impact on the competition. He described Rae as extremely talented and praised the way she transformed “Black Velvet” into something that incorporated blues, country and Americana.
For Rae, the moment came as a complete surprise. She admitted that she never expected Green to use the button and take her away from the other coaches.
Still, the young singer was thrilled with the outcome and made it clear that she was happy to become the newest member of Team Riley.
Clarkson, meanwhile, was understandably disappointed. She joked that she had somehow been on the losing end of every First In Button situation so far, describing the experience as particularly painful after losing another artist she wanted.
When Green returned to his chair, he admitted that he had expected to feel at least a little guilty about taking Rae away from the other coaches.
Clarkson quickly fired back with a joke, teasing Green for being perfectly comfortable with his decision. Green played along, saying he had been thinking about all the supposedly mean things Clarkson and Adam Levine had said to him.
The playful exchange added another entertaining moment to an audition that already had plenty of drama.
More importantly, Green now has another promising young artist on his team. Rae’s combination of country, blues and soul gives the new coach another distinctive voice to develop as Season 30 moves forward.
Green has already made it clear that he wants to build a team filled with strong country artists, and Rae’s ability to put her own spin on a classic song fits naturally into the musical direction he has been looking for.
With the First In Button now used, Green has made it clear that he was willing to wait rather than spend the advantage too early. For him, Allie Rae was the artist who finally made the move worthwhile.
And for the 15-year-old singer from the Santa Fe area, one unforgettable performance of “Black Velvet” has officially launched her next chapter on The Voice—as a member of Team Riley.
