A special education paraprofessional in Fort Smith, Ark., Lacey Schaffer-Thomas went viral recently when she led a band of teachers through "Superstition," a Stevie Wonder classic. Her commanding, soulful delivery has gained comparisons to Janis Joplin. Motivational speaker Jon Gordon appeared at the same event and posted the footage. In the caption, he called it "the coolest convocation I've ever seen" and insisted that someone "call The Voice" on Schaffer-Thomas' behalf.
At least one The Voice alum took note, as Kelly Clarkson invited Schaffer-Thomas to The Kelly Clarkson Show for a special Kellyoke duet of "Superstition."
Schaffer-Thomas fit in with the host, and not just because they both wore black and gold. She held her own with a hot band and a world-class pop singer. Indeed, she doesn't seem the least bit nervous under the bright lights of daytime TV.
"I'm still on cloud nine, y'all. I just sang with Kelly Clarkson," Schaffer-Thomas told Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Ark.'s ABC 40/29. "She's exactly what you see on TV."
Schaffer-Thomas' daughter Phoebe was among the commenters on Clarkson's Instagram reel from the performance.
"That's my momma!!" Phoebe wrote. "I am so incredibly proud of her. She deserves all the love she can get after singing for 45 years."
Phoebe added that her mother was a professional singer before focusing on her career as an educator. However, her mom is "getting back into music though with this overwhelming response."
Schaffer-Thomas responded warmly to Gordon's post.
"I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude at all the kind responses this has generated," she wrote. "Thank you so much."
Schaffer-Thomas reflected further on her viral brush with fame with ABC 40/29.
"It's such a remarkable experience, I can't even describe it," she said. "You never know in life what's going to happen. I've been singing since I was 15. I'm 60 now, which is a very long time, and it's not like I'm good finally at 60. It's the same old voice, but it just takes one kind person."
