16-Year-Old Slays Emotional Adele Cover On ‘The Voice’ — Meet Rio Doyle
Tyler Golden/NBC Reading Time: 3 minutes
It’s certainly not easy taking on an Adele song on The Voice in front of four of the world’s biggest music superstars. But 16-year-old Rio Doyle completely took the hit “When We Were Young” and made it her own. Watch the video below to find out if any of the coaches turned their chairs during Rio’s Blind Audition this season.
Rio Doyle Takes On Huge Adele Hit On ‘The Voice’
Rio is a 16-year-old from Adrian, Michigan who opened up about her mother’s health battles before her Blind Audition. In 2016, her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She is currently undergoing treatment and was able to accompany Rio to her audition.
“I remember when they first told me I went to my room and I just cried and prayed,” Rio said before her audition. “I wasn’t ready to lose my mom. I’m so thankful that she’s here. Recently she just had radiation done to hopefully kill that mass. So far, so good.”
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About 15 seconds into her Blind Audition, John Legend turned his chair. We never really see John so moved by an artist in such a short period of time. He actually said “wow” out loud during the performance. John was the only coach to turn his chair which makes Rio a member of Team John.
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John Bonded With Rio About Being From The Midwest
“I thought it was an excellent performance. Your voice is really impressive,” Nick Jonas said. “I didn’t turn just because I felt like there were a few moments where the vibrato started to lose pitch a little bit, so if there’s anything to focus on, John is a great coach for that.”
“Your tone is really cool, but at times, it would almost sound like your mouth was so open in the back, you would swallow the words a bit to where I couldn’t understand,” Kelly Clarkson said. “Work with that a little bit and I think you’ve got an incredible gift. It’s really impressive.”
“I’m from Ohio. We’re neighbors,” John said. “Half my family grew up in Michigan. I feel a connection with Michigan. I’m so excited I get to work with you.” John proceeded to sing her a song and play a keyboard by his chair about making it onto The Voice.
“I love Rio’s voice,” he said when she went backstage. “I was truly surprised that more coaches didn’t turn for her,” Legend said backstage. “To be 16 and to take on an Adele song is a bold, risky move and I thought this is the kind of artist I want on my team.”
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Rio will be moving on to The Battles where she will be paired against another artist from Team John.
