'Wow, you've made the queen cry': Reba McEntire moved to tears by 'Voice' contestant's emotional audition

New The Voice coach Reba McEntire had had trouble recruiting contestants, amid swirling rumors that she’s unhappy on the show. But on Monday, Season 24’s final night of Blind Auditions, she completed her team with the last four-chair singer of the season — and the star of the season’s most memorable and moving moment so far.

Twenty-year-old Dylan Carter auditioned with Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” an ambitious power ballad that even under normal circumstances would difficult to sing. And Dylan had understandably struggled to sing it before. In October 2022, when his beloved mother unexpectedly and suddenly died from a heart blockage at age 47 before Dylan had a chance to say goodbye, he tried to perform “I Look to You” at her memorial, because she had mentioned in the past that that was her chosen funeral song. At the time, he wasn’t able make it through the entire song, and he hadn’t tried to sing it since.

This week, however, Dylan powered through, pouring all of his still-fresh pain into his clearly cathartic performance — and his efforts were rewarded with four chairs. “When I saw y'all turn around, I saw my mom,” he confessed through tears. “This was the best second chance. I just made her so proud. This was her dream before it was mine.”

Reba started to choke up even before Dylan shared the story of his mother’s death and his deep personal connection to the Whitney classic. “I love songs when you can take it spiritual or secular, either one. So much emotion! I saw it and I felt it. … I saw you get so emotionally involved, and that's when you know you've got a great song and a great singer: when it touches your heart. … That is when you really hone in on why you're put on this Earth, which is to touch people's hearts. And you did.”

Once Reba learned Dylan’s tragic backstory, her eyes filled with tears as she reminisced about her own mother, who died at age 93 in 2020, and her mother's dreams. “When I had the opportunity to go to Nashville to meet with some folks [as a young artist], Mama took me. … She said, ‘Reba, if you don't want to do this, let's turn around and go back home. But let me tell you something: If you do this, I'll be living my dreams through you,’” Reba recalled. “And I said, ‘Well, shoot, Mama. Why didn't you say that at the beginning? Let's go!’”

“That's how this feels. I hear her through me,” Dylan replied.

“Mamas are so special. We're very blessed to have them,” Reba said sweetly.

“Wow, you've made the queen cry — in the best way possible,” coach Niall Horan observed.

However, this was a night of happy tears, when Dylan ultimately joined Team Reba as her last and possibly best recruit. Dylan’s mother was a major McEntire fan, so somewhere, a proud Mrs. Carter was smiling.

Throughout Monday’s two-hour episode, Niall, John Legend, and finally Gwen Stefani completed their team lineups ahead of Tuesday’s Battle Rounds kickoff. And by the end of the night, Niall felt confident that all four coaches had potential Season 24 winners within their respective ranks. Here’s how the rest of night panned out:

Huntley, 33: “She Talks to Angels”

This single father with an extremely recordable, professional voice started off as a teen metal screamer, and he sings everything from reggae to country. But clearly the indie/Americana route is his lane. Reba compared him to Chris Stapleton, Niall namechecked Daniel Merriweather and James Morrison, and Gwen even said Huntley sounded like Sublime’s Bradley Nowell. “Your voice has so much polish. It sounds like you’ve been on big stages before. … It’s so ready for the world, ready for the radio. It’s truly one of the best voices we’ve heard,” raved John.

Who turned? All four coaches, very quickly. And to think Huntley had been worried that no one would turn!

Result: Team Niall. Huntley was accompanied by his mother, Reba’s “No. 1 fan,” but he also brought his 6-year-old daughter Stella to the audition… and when he let Stella make the final decision, of course she picked the former boy band heartthrob. Sorry, Mom... and Reba!

Azán, 28: “Golden”

Azán’s voice wasn’t quite at a Jill Scott level — Gwen said she didn’t turn because she “heard some tuning stuff” — but this dancer from Dallas was a vivacious performer that John said “did some fun things with the melodies” and was “full of positive energy.”

Who turned? John and Reba.

Result: Team Legend, the obvious choice.

Eli Ward, 21: “Bruises”

At first this young student’s voice was shaky in a vulnerable way that actually worked, tapping into the Lewis Capaldi ballad’s pathos and angst. But once Gwen spun around, Eli totally lost his composure and his nerves got the better of him. This kid might not be ready for prime time. However, Gwen assured Eli that he had “potential” and had sounded “solid” during the first half of the song.

Who turned? Gwen and Reba. It probably wasn’t a good sign that Niall, who has performed “Bruises” with Capaldi himself, refrained. I do wonder if Gwen and Reba regretted spinning once Eli’s performance went off the rails. Reba barely even fought for him.

Result: Team Gwen.

Brailey Lenderman, 33: “If It Makes You Happy”

This Nashville-based “coffeeshop pop” singer-songwriter suffered an “identity crisis” when she was signed to a record deal at age 24, when she was told she was already “too old” and was advised to “lose 25 pounds.” The Voice was made for artists with all-too-common backstories like Brailey’s. To be honest, I had zero issues with Brailey’s image, but I did find her performance underwhelming until she got to Sheryl Crow’s big chorus. The verses sounded too low for her, and even Gwen noted that Brailey, despite having “character” and “texture” to vocals, made “some weird choices for some of the notes.” But Niall blamed such issues on “first audition nerves” and felt confident that he could help Brailey find her true voice.

Who turned? Niall and Gwen.

Result: Team Niall.

Claire Heilig, 30: “Tennessee Orange”

This indie-country songstress had a pleasant “dirty and gritty” tone, according to Gwen, but there was never a big breakout moment here; the midtempo Megan Moroney tune lacked dynamics, never really going anywhere. It just didn’t allow Claire to showcase everything she can do. However, I am curious to see how Claire will fare with some more rangy and ambitious song choices. She could be a dark horse.

Who turned? Only Gwen. Reba said she would have turned, but luckily for Gwen, Reba’s team was already full.

Result: Team Gwen.

Lennon VanderDoes, 27: “The Night We Met”

Showcasing an androgynous tone that sounded like the lovechild of James Bay and Brandi Carlile, this Phoenix singer-songwriter — my favorite contestant of Season 24 — gave one of the most stunning performances of Season 24. John was up out of his chair, calling out Jesus’s name and “waving my hands like I was at church,” and he even said Lennon had “one of the best voices I’ve heard.” Niall said he “couldn’t have turned quicker if I tried” and “would give anything” to be Lennon’s coach.

Who turned? Gwen, Niall, and John. This said a lot about Lennon’s talent, considering that these coaches all had only one remaining slot on their respective teams. (Ironically, Lennon assumed he had “no place” on this show because his voice sounds “so different,” but it turned out he had several places.) I’m sure if Lennon’s audition had taken place earlier in the season, this would have been a four-chair sweep.

Result: Team Niall. Lennon had just called Niall his songwriting “hero,” so his decision wasn’t a surprise. Niall could win a second consecutive season with this unique and brilliant “character singer.”

Taylor Deneen, 23: “Redbone”

This Berklee grad brought a ton of swagger and charisma to her Childish Gambino cover, and her vocal was pristine. “I love how feminine your voice is; it’s such a refreshing tone,” marveled Gwen. “You just kept getting better and better and better. You kept finding new places to go with the notes,” said a “stunned” John.

Who turned? Gwen and John. Niall, who called Taylor’s voice “flawless,” was mock-hitting his button in frustration, unable to turn because his team was full.

Result: Team Legend.

Calla Prejean, 22: “You’re So Vain”

This sultry singer-songwriter resides in Nashville and used to be Sara Evans’s personal assistant, but she sings pop and R&B, not country music. A multifaceted genre-hopper like Gwen could be the perfect coach to bring out the best of Calla’s “rich and warm and rounded” tone.

Who turned? Gwen, the only coach still in the running. Niall and John said they would have turned if they could.

Result: Team Gwen, obviously. Now… on to the Battle Rounds!

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• Reba McEntire, 68, makes 'Voice' debut, makes history as show's oldest and most seasoned coach

• Amid rumors of Reba McEntire's frustrations with 'double-crossing' castmates, 'Four-Chair King' John Legend dominates 'The Voice'

• Reba McEntire on finding love again with 'The Hammer' co-star Rex Linn: 'I'm very grateful and thankful to God that he came into my life, at this period of my life'

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