Many hopefuls on The Voice would only dream of receiving a four-chair turn from the judges, let alone within 30 seconds of their performance. A singer named Mac Royals got the chance to experience that — as well having the coaches fight over him — during his blind audition on The Voice Monday night (Oct. 2).
The Arkansas resident took the stage while the coaches listened to the instantly recognizable intro of John Mayer's "Gravity." It only took a few lines out of Royals' mouth before Niall Horan turned his chair, with John Legend immediately following. Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire then looked at one another for a few seconds before they both turned around for the singer. All told, it took about 30 seconds for Royals to grab the attention of all four judges.
Once they turned their chairs, the coaches got the chance to enjoy Royals' performance, which showcased his uniquely soulful voice and complicated vocal runs. After his performance, Royals' introduced himself and explained that his goal is to be a "bridge" between the music industry and musicians in Arkansas. Then, the speeches from the coaches ensued.
Legend said he would love to help the singer "put Arkansas on the map" and added that Team Legend would be a "perfect place" for Royals' talent. Stefani then complimented Royals' ability to hold back his voice and show his artistry and called him a "true, pure artist."
Horan — the often sarcastic one of the bunch — started his pitch with his now-infamous impression of former coach Blake Shelton. He then called Royals' performance "off the scale" and touted his win from last season.
When it came time for McEntire to sell a place on her team to Royals, she pointed out their biggest similarity: being from tight-knit Southern communities and having the desire to give back to those places. When she mentioned her Oklahoma upbringing, however, Stefani took the chance to chime in and mention that she now lives in Oklahoma part-time with husband Shelton.
As McEntire continued, she talked about growing up in a town of 18 people and understanding the Southern, small-town culture. She admitted also that, although she and Royals come from different musical worlds, she enjoys broadening her horizons when it comes to genre.
When it came time for Royals' to choose a coach, he told a story about his late grandmother and then made a decision that shocked everyone onstage.
"When I was a kid, one of the very, very strong women in my life was my grandmother, and my grandmother passed before she was able to see this moment," he said. "As a child, me and my grandmother used to sit and watch the 'Reba' show. I think I'm going to go with Reba."
Watch the audition here:
