“You Captivated Me” — Snoop Dogg, The Voice Coach, Amazed by Sydney Sterlace’s Performance of Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Driver’s License’

Season 26 of The Voice, which debuted on September 23, is highlighting fresh talent. In season 14, Brynn Cartelli earned the title of the youngest winner at just 15 under the guidance of coach Kelly Clarkson.

This season, 15-year-old Sydney Sterlace from Buffalo, New York, is in the spotlight, potentially set to equal that record. Coach Snoop Dogg characterized her audition as almost a spiritual encounter.

“You captivated me like I was in church. The way you just held control of the audience,”Coach Snoop remarked.

Sydney Sterlace’s Blind Audition performance in The Voice season 26

Sydney Sterlace’s journey on The Voice commenced with a remarkable Blind Audition during the season premiere, earning an impressive four-chair turn. Delivering a captivating rendition of Olivia Rodrigo’s Driver’s License, Sterlace enchanted both the audience and the coaches.

Surrounded by her parents and grandmother who beamed with pride and nervous anticipation, she performed powerfully, quickly impressing Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé. Shortly thereafter, Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire also turned their chairs, with Snoop standing in admiration even before her performance wrapped up.

The Voice Coaches’ remarks

In her attempt to recruit Sterlace to her team, Gwen Stefani noted her personal connection to Olivia Rodrigo, reminiscing about their duet at Coachella. Stefani praised Sterlace’s ability to capture Rodrigo’s vocal tone and emphasized her desire to help her develop a unique artistic identity.

“It took me a minute to push my button because it was so unbelievably close to her tone. Now finding out that you’re 15 years old… I know exactly what you need. I’m like your mom right now—just the cool mom,”Stefani expressed.

Michael Bublé followed with sage advice learned from the iconic Tony Bennett, stating,

“We stand on the shoulders of the people that we love, and then we find ourselves. I love that one of us is going to be a part of watching you discover yourself. Thank you so much for coming to our show.”

Coach Snoop Dogg’s emotional response left a lasting impression, declaring,

“You made me move, you made me get up. I haven’t heard anyone who sounds as good as you. You have a beautiful spirit [and] I would love to coach you… What I could offer you is love and a blank canvas to paint who you want to be in life.”

Reba McEntire echoed the admiration, highlighting Sterlace’s mature inner self, which shone brightly in her performance. She expressed her excitement for Sterlace’s presence on the show and the opportunity to nurture her budding talent.

“You’ve got a maturity within you that comes from your heart and soul, and we felt it… I’m thrilled you came on this show, and we’re all here to support you, so welcome to The Voice. I’d be honored to have you on my team.”

Sydney Sterlace’s decision

In the end, Sterlace decided to join Team Gwen, motivated by the chance to connect with her idol, Olivia Rodrigo. Stefani’s heartfelt gesture of bringing a kitten named “Sydney”on stage as a commitment token likely influenced Sterlace’s choice.

Sydney Sterlace’s adventure on The Voice is set to be thrilling, as she aims to become the second 15-year-old winner in the show’s illustrious history alongside Brynn Cartelli.

Experience the incredible journeys of aspiring singers like Sydney Sterlace as they strive to turn their dreams into reality. Tune in to The Voice every Monday at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC, and catch the latest episodes on Peacock the following day.

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