Everett Bounds didn’t need all four coaches to turn around to make a major impression on The Voice. After hearing the 23-year-old California singer’s distinctive country sound, Riley Green became convinced that Bounds could have a much bigger future ahead of him.
Bounds stepped onto the Season 30 Blind Auditions stage with Eddie Rabbitt’s 1980 hit “Drivin’ My Life Away,” immediately bringing plenty of twang, rasp and energy to the familiar country song.
Green appeared interested almost immediately.
Before Bounds had even finished the chorus, the country star pressed his button and turned around, securing a front-row look at the singer he clearly believed could add something different to his team.
Surprisingly, no other coach followed him.
Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and Queen Latifah all remained facing away, meaning Bounds automatically became a member of Team Riley without Green having to fight anyone for him.
That didn’t mean the other coaches weren’t impressed. Clarkson revealed that she had been singing harmony along with Bounds and said she loved his song choice, but admitted that trying to beat Green for another country singer felt like an uphill battle.
Queen Latifah also praised the performance, saying she could sense Bounds’ energy even while her chair was still facing away from the stage. She even joined in on the playful comments about his noticeable mustache.
Levine, meanwhile, said Bounds’ country sound made Green seem like such an obvious coaching match that he suspected the singer would have chosen Riley anyway.
Green had plenty of fun with his newest artist as well. After joking that he could practically “hear” Bounds’ mustache in his voice, he pulled out a pair of bib overalls as a humorous Team Riley welcome gift.
But Green’s comments after the audition became much more serious.
He explained that Bounds brought a certain kind of energy he felt was still missing from his team and praised the young singer for having a genuine “radio voice.” Green also heard hints of soul underneath the country twang, suggesting there may be more versatility in Bounds than one audition could reveal.
Then came Green’s biggest prediction: with the right song, he believes Everett could eventually become a “household name.”
For a singer who received only a single chair turn, that is an enormous vote of confidence. Bounds may have entered the competition without a dramatic four-coach battle, but he left the Blind Auditions with exactly the coach he needed — and one who already believes his voice could someday reach far beyond The Voice stage.
