Marilyn Hucek brought something completely different to The Voice Season 30 when she stepped onto the Blind Audition stage and performed Shakira’s “La Tortura.” In a season already filled with powerhouse country singers, soul vocalists and big pop voices, Marilyn immediately separated herself from the pack by leaning into her Chilean-American background and delivering a performance that felt energetic, confident and unlike almost anything the coaches had heard during the auditions.
Taking on a Shakira song is already a difficult challenge. “La Tortura,” originally released by Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz, depends on rhythm, attitude and personality just as much as vocal ability. Marilyn had to make the song recognizable without simply trying to imitate one of the most distinctive singers in Latin pop, and that challenge became part of what made the audition so interesting. Instead of treating the Spanish-language track as a novelty, she performed it as though it belonged naturally within her own musical identity.
Marilyn’s connection to the song also made sense when looking at her background. She describes herself as an American-Chilean singer-songwriter and has previously spoken about experimenting with different sounds rather than limiting herself to one narrow genre. Long before appearing on The Voice, her music had already drawn comparisons to pop artists including Shakira, making the Blind Audition feel like an opportunity for viewers to finally see that influence displayed on one of television’s biggest stages.
As the performance developed, Adam Levine and Queen Latifah became the two coaches most interested in what Marilyn was doing. Their reactions created a fascinating contrast because both could offer her something completely different. Adam has years of experience guiding unconventional pop and alternative singers through The Voice, while Queen has spent her career moving between hip-hop, soul, jazz, acting and other forms of entertainment without allowing herself to be placed inside one category.
That made Marilyn exactly the kind of contestant capable of creating a difficult decision. She wasn’t presenting herself as only a Latin singer, only a pop singer or only a singer-songwriter. Her audition suggested she wanted the freedom to combine those worlds, and choosing a coach therefore became about much more than deciding who liked the performance the most. It was about deciding who could understand what she wanted to become as an artist.
Adam’s interest was particularly significant because he has always responded strongly to singers with recognizable identities. Marilyn’s willingness to perform such a bold Spanish-language song showed confidence, and her stage experience was obvious. Rather than appearing overwhelmed by the size of the moment, she seemed comfortable performing in front of the coaches and allowing the personality of the song to drive the audition.
Queen Latifah, meanwhile, represented another intriguing possibility. Queen has repeatedly emphasized emotion, individuality and authenticity while building her Season 30 team, and Marilyn’s audition offered plenty of all three. The performance wasn’t simply about hitting a massive final note. Its appeal came from the rhythm, phrasing and personality Marilyn brought to the song, qualities that can be just as important on The Voice as raw vocal power.
For viewers, the use of Spanish also helped make the audition memorable. The Voice has featured performances in different languages over its long history, but they still stand out when they arrive during a Blind Audition packed with familiar English-language songs. Marilyn’s decision to perform “La Tortura” allowed her to introduce something personal while also taking a musical risk that immediately distinguished her from the artists who performed before and after her.
The audition also represented the latest chapter of a music career Marilyn had spent years building before television audiences ever knew her name. She grew up around Silver Spring, Maryland, later attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland and eventually pursued a corporate career in fashion in New York. Music, however, remained the ambition she couldn’t completely leave behind.
Eventually, Marilyn walked away from that career and committed herself to becoming a full-time artist. During the pandemic, she built a home studio and began working more seriously on her own recordings. Over the following years, she released independent music, two EPs and a self-titled album while accumulating millions of streams — meaning her Voice appearance was far from her first experience trying to establish herself as an artist.
Her path carried an emotional side as well. Marilyn has spoken publicly about losing her father after his long battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She transformed some of that experience into music, including writing in his honor and using her platform to raise awareness. That history adds another layer to why reaching the Voice stage represented such a significant moment after years of trying to build a career on her own terms.
Marilyn had even tried to reach The Voice earlier in her life. She has previously recalled auditioning when she was younger without telling people around her and failing to make the show. At one point, that rejection contributed to her stepping away from the dream and focusing on fashion instead. Years later, returning to the same competition — this time actually standing in front of the coaches — turned her Season 30 audition into something of a full-circle moment.
That history made what happened after “La Tortura” even more meaningful. Marilyn was no longer the aspiring singer hoping simply to get onto the show. She had reached the Blind Auditions with years of independent work behind her, performed a song closely connected to her musical identity and earned serious interest from Adam and Queen. Suddenly, the artist who once failed to reach the television stage had coaches competing for the opportunity to guide her.
Then came the decision. After listening to the pitches and considering two very different possible directions for her journey, Marilyn had to choose which coach she believed could best understand the artist she wanted to become. It was the kind of moment that naturally generated discussion among viewers because there was no completely obvious answer. Adam’s experience made him tempting, while Queen’s versatility and connection to artists who refuse to stay inside one genre made her equally compelling.
Whatever ultimately happens later in the competition, Marilyn Hucek made sure her introduction would not be easily forgotten. Performing Shakira’s “La Tortura” allowed her to bring Spanish, Latin-pop influence and her own personality into the Season 30 Blind Auditions rather than taking the safest possible route. After years of building her career independently and once wondering whether The Voice would ever become part of her story, Marilyn finally reached that stage — and turned the opportunity into one of the season’s most distinctive auditions.
