The Voice Season 26 contestant Camryn Brooks provided living proof on Monday night (October 14) that you should never give up on your dreams. Three years after washing out Season 21 after having no chair turns, the California native made a triumphant return that resulted in four chair turns.
After wowing the judges with her explosive cover of Maggie Rogers' “Light On,” Brooks, 24, brought down the house and lifted Gwen Stefani out of her chair, prompting the solo star and No Doubt singer to boast: “I was first! ”
“I'm literally crying right now because this is completely unreal. I was a contestant on season 21 and I didn't have chair turns,” Brooks told coaches Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Micael Bublé after her performance. “I never imagined I'd get four, so this is literally a dream come true.”
McEntire, who praised Brooks' “beautiful” voice, was enthused by the redemption story, reminding viewers that the show's judges often tell singers who don't get the chair to turn around to “please come back.” Bublé also had high praise, adding that he hit his button because of FOMO, with Snoop giving Mt. Shasta props for her tone, composure and stage presence.
She and Bublé also bonded at their first concerts singing the National Anthem, though the Canadian singer failed to get Brooks to join him in a chorus of his paternal “Oh Canada” as Snoop repeatedly trolled him for singing ” wrong” hymn. He got his own redemption, however, when Brooks noticed that when he attended a performing arts school the only song he sang to win money in competitions was Bublé's cover of Nina Simone's “Feeling Good.”
Despite the mutual admiration, Brooks ended up going with Stefani, who said the new group member's voice reminded her pleasantly of her favorite 1970s singers. “There are so many singers who are good, but there are some who they touch you because of their tone or just because of the little taste they make,” Stefani said. “That's what I felt from you. I would listen to that voice on record. It's round, it's soothing, it would be really fun to work with you because I feel like we could pick some really cool songs and define who you are.”
Not for nothing, Brooks' story was even wilder because after auditioning without a turn in 2021 she noted that her plans to finish school and start acting professionally were derailed when she was diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. “It was really scary because I couldn't get more than three words out at a time,” she said. “The first thought that came to my mind was, 'Will I be able to sing again?' At that moment, you just think, 'Am I going to die? I'm too young for that to happen.”
Although scary, Brooks said the condition really put into perspective what was important to her and made her fight harder for her dreams. “I'm very blessed to be here,” she said.
New episodes of The Voice air Monday and Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, then stream on demand via Peacock the following day.
Watch Brooks perform “Light On” below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-voice-camryn-brooks-gets-four-chair-turn-1235801176/
