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SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man’s sensational singing had two coaches ready to take things outside on an episode of NBC’s competition show “The Voice” on Tuesday night.
Twenty-year-old James Violet, who is from Utah, swayed “The Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson almost instantly with his crooning rendition of Harry Styles’ “Sweet Creature.” (See the full video of his performance by clicking this link.)
Just before Violet was done with the song, coaches Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani also hit the button, indicating they wanted to try and persuade Violet to join their teams for the show.
Clarkson, visibly frustrated, remarked that she was “this close to not even having to fight” to get Violet on her team before Shelton and Stefani turned around.
In her pitch to Violet, Stefani said his voice was soothing, emotional and relaxed. She also revealed that she didn’t know the song Violet had just sung — to which Clarkson quickly interjected: “Harry Styles. Great record. I love it.”
Stefani shot back, saying that just because Clarkson knew the song doesn’t mean she’s a good coach. She quickly took back the remark, but Clarkson encouraged her, saying “I love this.”
Both Clarkson and Stefani then stood up, jokingly acting as if they were ready to take things outside to fight for the right to have Violet on their team. Clarkson even started taking her earrings out in preparation.
The barbs didn’t stop there. When Shelton remarked that Violet’s voice was powerful enough to transport someone to another place, such as “out in the woods somewhere,” Clarkson sarcastically said “you just went, like, ‘Deliverance’” in reference to the 1972 movie.
Clarkson also tried to persuade Violet by saying that she has visited Utah and loves snowboarding in the state, but he eventually chose to be on Stefani’s team.
