All seemed to be lost on Tuesday’s episode of The Voice for veteran judge Kelly Clarkson.
However, redemption was around the corner for the vocal powerhouse when the Cunningham Sisters, 15-year-old Maci and 14-year-old Marie, chose Clarkson over John Legend. The duo managed to get Clarkson and Legend to turn around in the blind audition as they sang on Tori Kelly & Kirk Franklin’s gospel hit, “Never Alone.”
The pair revealed they sang in church in Ohio, Legend’s home state. Clarkson thought all hope was gone because the sisters had more in common with Legend. However, she decided to pitch anyway. Blake Shelton even offered his condolences when he jokingly said, “Sorry Kelly.”
Clarkson decided to go the gusto anyway. She told them, “You have so much in common with John, right? But you’re here to learn new stuff.”
“I’m probably gonna lose anyway, so I’m just gonna go all in,” Kelly added, before she began offering Maci and Marie early coaching advice. “Y’all both have amazing voices. On your own, you could have careers… But one thing I did notice was it wasn’t perfectly in sync. You have to learn how to blend, and to let the other shine in moments. And I am really good at that.”
Clarkson’s strategy worked as the young sisters surprised the judge when they decided they wanted her to coach them. Clarkson nearly fell out of her chair at the news.
“I was shocked that The Cunningham Sisters picked me. I was so excited,” she told the cameras. “I’m just really excited about going through songs with them.”
“I thought I had an in with them,” John lamented to the cameras. “Maybe I never had a chance!”
Legend and the sisters had Ohio in common, but learning new things appeared to be their interest.
Fans on social media said the sisters were the best of the night, so this may be their first of many big moments on the season.
Watch their performance below: