By Mary Colurso
Five singers from Alabama are competing on “The Voice” during Season 25, and we’re ready to cheer for all of them. These talented and ambitious vocalists aced their Blind Auditions on the NBC reality series and now move on the Battle Rounds. The Battles start on Tuesday, March 18, and will continue for the next few episodes.
In this phase of the competition, the singers perform duets with other contestants on their teams, vying to keep their spots on the show. Their coaches prepare them to do battle, then make the final decisions on who stays and who goes. The Battles tend to be exciting for viewers, and “The Voice” rules include a twist, giving each coach the ability to steal one singer who’s about to be eliminated. Also, each coach can use one “playoff pass” to save an eliminated contestant (from another coach or from their own team) and move that person directly to the Playoffs, skipping the Knockouts round.
Forty artists are competing on “The Voice” this season, on teams led by John Legend, Reba McEntire, Chance the Rapper and Dan & Shay. (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney coach a single team on the show.) Pairings for the Battles haven’t been announced in advance, but we’re likely to see at least one of the Alabama contestants on stage this week, singing his or her heart out.
If you haven’t been watching “The Voice,” or simply want a refresher course on the contestants from our state, here’s a handy primer.
VAL T. WEBB
Who she is: Gospel, R&B and soul singer from Birmingham; currently lives in New Braunfels, Texas. According to her LinkedIn profile, Webb served as the worship director for Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, 2020-2022, as well as The Rock Church, 2012-2015. She also has more than a decade of experience as a singer and director of background vocals at Audiostate 55 recording studios in Birmingham.
“Voice” coach: Chance the Rapper.
Blind Audition: Webb, 43, covered Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” a 1998 hit for the Canadian R&B singer. Her skillful rendition prompted four chair turns and a standing ovation from all the coaches.
What Chance said: “I would honestly love an opportunity to work with you. Your breath control is ridiculous. And I thought that you have such a great control of your higher register. You made it your own song, and I feel that’s what this show is all about, is people showing their true personalities through their music. … I really, really think that we can make some special moments together.”
Official “Voice” bio: “Val is fulfilling a promise to her son, Joshua, by auditioning for ‘The Voice.’ Joshua has been a passionate fan of ‘The Voice’ and has long believed in his mother’s star quality. Val has had an impressive career, providing vocal direction and background vocals for renowned gospel and mainstream music artists. Her musical journey began in church at a young age, leading her to pursue music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition to her work as a background vocalist, Val released her first gospel single in 2011 and independently launched her album ‘Dream’ in 2016, which reached No. 18 on the Gospel Albums Billboard Chart. A highlight of her career was performing at the World Games’ opening and closing ceremonies in 2022, where her rendition of ‘We Shall Overcome’ reached millions worldwide. Val is also a devoted wife and mother of three children, with two stepdaughters.”
DUCOTE TALMAGE
Who he is: Country singer from Auburn, attended Auburn University, also works as a firefighter. His first name is pronounced “Doo-KO-tee.”
“Voice” coach: Dan & Shay.
Blind Audition: Talmage, 20, covered Morgan Wallen’s “Sand in My Boots,” inspiring chair turns and standing ovations from John Legend and Dan & Shay. The coaches also engaged in a playful tussle — verbally, of course — as they tried to coax Talmage onto their teams. When he chose Dan & Shay, the duo yelled “That’s what I’m talking about!” and “That’s our guy!” They presented Talmage with a team jacket and gave him joyful hugs.
What Dan & Shay said: “Honestly, we have no one like you (on our team) and you would be an absolute standout, I promise you that,” Shay Mooney said. Dan Smyers added, “Man, your voice sounds like it should be on country radio right now. It was incredible. Then you really opened up. You’ve got a lot of power to your voice, man.”
Official “Voice” bio: “Ducote, the youngest of seven, grew up in a family that embraced outdoor activities like mud play, ATV riding, fishing and camping. Singing around the campfire with his dad playing various instruments, Ducote formed a band with his brothers and performed at local events. While pursuing a career as a firefighter, which covers his school expenses, he also nurtures his passion for music and aviation. He balances his education with performing solo gigs and booking gigs for weddings and parties. Ducote faces the challenge of choosing between his firefighting career and wholeheartedly pursuing music.”
RIVERS GRAYSON
Who he is: Pop-rock singer and songwriter from Muscle Shoals. Grayson released his debut EP in February, “Vignettes,” featuring five songs: “So Much Time,” “Seventeen,” “New York City,” “Sleepwalking” and “Like I Used To.”
“Voice” coach: John Legend.
Blind Audition: Grayson, 27, sang “Babylon,” a 1999 single by British singer-songwriter David Gray. Legend was the only coach who turned his chair, signaling that he wanted Grayson on his team.
What John Legend said: “Your performance was so subtle, and you just executed it with beauty and precision and taste. And that’s what I want on Team Legend … I’m gonna make them regret not turning for Rivers.”
Official “Voice” bio: “While music is Rivers’ first love, skateboarding is a close second as he started skateboarding at 6 years old and participated in competitions. Now, skateboarding provides him with musical inspiration and helps get him into the songwriting flow. His first exposure to music came from growing up in Muscle Shoals, Ala., home of the famous Muscle Shoals Sound and FAME Recording Studios. Once he became interested in guitar and singing, he joined a worship band at church and started to write and record his own music. He dreamed of living up to those legends that had once come through his hometown. After leaving the church band, Rivers continued to perform and released a single, but felt a plateau in his career. Encouraged by his supportive mother, he took a chance and auditioned for ‘The Voice,’ where he hopes to get the guidance and mentorship he needs.”
ASHER HAVON
Who he is: R&B, soul, pop and gospel singer from Selma. “Asher HaVon is known for his down-to-earth personality and genuine connection with his audience,” the artist’s website says. “He believes in using his platform to spread positivity and inspire others to pursue their dreams fearlessly.” His recordings include “Solemn Swear,” “Have You Ever” and “Broken,” according to the site.
“Voice” coach: Reba McEntire.
Blind Audition: HaVon, 31, sang “Set Fire to the Rain,” a No. 1 single for pop superstar Adele in 2011. Reba McEntire, Chance and Dan & Shay turned their chairs, indicating they wanted HaVon on their teams. John Legend was the only coach who didn’t turn a chair. Chance made a strong bid to convince HaVon to join his team, and Dan & Shay offered plenty of kudos. For HaVon, however, the choice was clear. “Chance, I really love you, I really do, I really do,” he said. “But I gotta choose Reba.”
What McEntire said: “Asher, what an incredible voice you have. Your range, your power. I couldn’t wait to turn around and see what you look like, and not disappointing at all. Way to go. I loved your tone, I loved the song and I would love to have you on Team Reba.”
Official “Voice” bio: “Growing up in Selma, Ala., Asher was surrounded by gospel singers. President Obama went to Selma in 2015 for a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery in honor of African-American civil rights. Asher auditioned for a spot in the choir that was set to perform John Legend’s song ‘Glory.’ The choir director was so blown away by Asher that Asher led the choir that day, performing in front of 200,000 people. This was also a turning point for his relationship with his father, whom he’s always had a complicated relationship with. A couple of years ago, his father survived a car accident and their relationship grew even stronger. They now talk regularly and he greatly supports Asher’s music. It was Asher’s mom who really pushed him to sing when he was young. He likes to call her his singing sergeant and is excited to make her proud on ‘The Voice.’”
COREY CURTIS
Who he is: Singer-songwriter from Summerville, Georgia; currently lives in Saraland, near Mobile. “He mixes acoustic pop with his own type of genre,” the artist’s website says. “I wrote my first song at age 16 and released my first single at age 20,” Curtis says on his site. “I love to write, inspire and create. The things that most people wouldn’t give a second glance, I find inspiration in.” His original singles include “Your Number,” “Nice Guys,” “Oh Aye,” and “Good Morning Text.”
“Voice” coach: Chance the Rapper.
Blind Audition: Curtis, 23, covered “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer. Chance was the only coach who turned his chair, indicating that he wanted Curtis on his team. “Welcome to Team Chance,” the coach said. “You’re on ‘The Voice.’”
What Chance said: “I think, stylistically, you get, like, really into your performances, which is important. I want you to enunciate and like, give more syllables, just so you got more space for movement and places to put emphasis. But it was an awesome performance. That’s why I turned around. I thought it was great.”
Official “Voice” bio: “Corey’s musical journey began when he joined his church band, where he taught himself how to play the drums. After the band separated, he taught himself three more instruments, including the guitar. Once he started coming into his voice, he started to write his own songs. The first song he ever wrote, titled ‘Broken’ moved his mother and ignited his passion for music. Corey says his relationship with his mother, who he credits as his biggest supporter, was a driving force for his pursuit of success. Corey grew up in Georgia but later moved to Alabama to move in with his brother and, hopefully, find more open doors and musical opportunities. He has accumulated over 620,000 streams across all music platforms and has gained a following on TikTok with 29,600 followers, all while showcasing his talent through gigging and busking in more than 10 states.”
ALABAMA ON “THE VOICE”
Alabama’s never had a winner on “The Voice” during its 13-year history on television. However, more than 30 contestants from the state have made their marks on the show over the years, starting with Nakia Reynoso in Season 1 and continuing through spring 2023 with four Alabama singers moving through the competition in Season 23.
D. Smooth, an R&B singer from Birmingham, took third place on “The Voice” during the Season 23 finals in May 2023. Three other Alabama contestants — Ryley Tate Wilson, Jerome Godwin III and JB Somers — were eliminated earlier in the season.
