Former 'AGT' contestant scores 3-chair turn on 'The Voice' 29 as coaches rush to add her to their team
Monday night's episode of ‘The Voice’ saw 18-year-old Ashley Marina walk onto the stage and wow the audience. Her appearance on the show didn’t come out of nowhere. She had a brush with the reality-competition world before stepping onto the ‘Voice’ stage. When she was just 12 years old, she competed on ‘America's Got Talent.’ Back then, she made it through the early rounds before being eliminated, and she's now back to showcase her talent again. The Pittsburgh singer chose an emotional ballad for her audition: ‘Tonight I Wanna Cry’ by Keith Urban. Before long, three of the famous red chairs had turned around. Coaches Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, and John Legend all wanted a closer look at the young performer standing on that stage.
That’s when the fun began: the persuasion. Clarkson jumped in first, giving Marina honest feedback. She pointed out, “I could hear country in there, but I could also hear other influences musically, which I think is really important. You were pitchy after we turned around, [but] I don't know if that's cause you got nervous.” Turns out, she was right. Marina admitted the sudden pressure rattled her a little, but Clarkson didn’t seem bothered by that at all. In fact, she sounded eager to help with the issue. She told the contestant, “I think you have a killer voice and I would love to help you tackle those nerves, girl.” Then Levine jumped in with a slightly different perspective, talking about how ‘grueling’ the Blind Auditions can be for coaches. He explained, “We're taking so much in. It almost gets harder to really be able to identify what's truly great. And what's really nice is when you have a moment like listening to you.”
Levine told Marina, “You absolutely know that what you're listening to is really special. You tackling the nerves, and you getting past that literally is the formula to do well and succeed on the show. That's what we’re here for.” Legend, meanwhile, leaned into the musicality of the performance when it was his turn to speak. He praised her, saying, “We heard the different parts of your voice, and it was really beautiful, and it was really tasteful, and it was really musical.” And then came the pitch. Legend said, “You have this beautiful gift and we're just here to cultivate it and help you develop the confidence you need. And I would love to be your coach on this journey.” So now the ball was in Marina’s court, and three coaches were waiting for her to make a decision. She paused and then finally made her call: Team Legend.
Though Marina was eliminated from 'America's Got Talent,' it was a big moment for her. However, she admits she was “really, really young” back then. Now 18, she is studying commercial music in Nashville. According to her, “I don't have a plan B, so I'm down to do whatever it takes.” And judging by that three-chair turn, the gamble already seems to be paying off.
