Kelly Clarkson was so determined to land a country singer for her team on The Voice that she resorted to an unusual tactic during a Season 30 Blind Audition: physically getting in Riley Green’s way.
The hilarious moment unfolded when 26-year-old Anna McElroy took the stage and performed Maren Morris’ “80s Mercedes.” Clarkson and Queen Latifah turned their chairs early in the performance, but Green soon joined the battle.
With the show no longer featuring the “Block Button,” Clarkson took matters into her own hands.
As Green turned around to see the performer, Clarkson immediately jumped out of her chair and positioned herself between him and McElroy, preventing the country star from making eye contact with the singer.
Kelly Clarkson wasn’t taking any chances
Kelly Clarkson tries to block Riley Green from a Voice contestant (Photo Credit: The Voice / YouTube)
Clarkson clearly saw McElroy as the country artist she had been searching for since the Season 30 premiere.
Learning that McElroy was from Mobile, Alabama, however, appeared to make Clarkson nervous. Green is also from Alabama, giving him an obvious connection to the young singer.
Still, Clarkson made her case, emphasizing that she had been looking for a country artist to add to her team.
Adam Levine, who had not turned his chair during the audition, decided to help Clarkson make her argument.
He pointed out that McElroy had chosen a Maren Morris song, suggesting she could move between country and other styles just as Morris does.
Levine then joked about Green potentially being a newer version of former The Voice coach Blake Shelton.
“Your choice [of singing Maren Morris] indicates maybe there’s some freedom in your decision and you’re not just gonna go with Blake 2.0,” Levine said.
Green quickly played along.
“I’ve gotta be at least Blake 4.0!” he replied.
Levine then piled on the compliment, joking that Green was “way more handsome, talented, younger,” looked better in a cowboy hat and was “smarter, in general.”
The exchange was also a playful reminder of Shelton’s long history with The Voice, despite the country star no longer being part of the coaching lineup.
Riley Green makes his pitch
Green eventually got his opportunity to speak directly to McElroy.
He suggested that their backgrounds might have a lot in common and focused on her country roots.
“Maren does do a lot of pop country and lives in a lot of different spaces,” Green told her. “But I have to imagine that you’ve got a very country background.”
He then made his appeal personal, telling McElroy that if country music was where her heart truly was, she should choose him.
McElroy immediately responded with a joke of her own:
“Moving in already?!”
The lighthearted exchange showed just how competitive the coaches had become over her.
“I think I can win with you”
Clarkson then delivered her final pitch.
She acknowledged that she believed McElroy would probably choose Green, but insisted that she had the experience to help her succeed.
“I have won this show. I am proven. I know you’re gonna pick him…But I think I can win with you!” Clarkson told her.
After all the effort she had put into keeping Green away from McElroy, Clarkson finally got the answer she wanted.
McElroy chose Kelly Clarkson.
Clarkson was visibly stunned by the decision and immediately rushed toward the stage to hug her new team member.
As the two embraced, Clarkson repeated her confidence that they could win the competition together.
Kelly gets the country singer she wanted
The result made Clarkson’s earlier attempt to block Green even funnier: she ultimately did not need to physically keep him away.
Following the audition, Clarkson explained just how significant McElroy’s addition was to her team.
“Anna is the country artist I’ve been waiting for,” she said.
For McElroy, the decision meant joining Clarkson’s team after an audition that had already delivered one of the more memorable moments of the Blind Auditions.
And for viewers, Clarkson jumping out of her chair to physically obstruct Green provided an unexpected reminder of just how competitive the coaches can become when they find an artist they desperately want.
