Columbus musician gets all four ‘Voice’ judges to turn chairs. Here’s how to watch.
A Columbus musician wowed the judges of NBC’s “The Voice” with his powerful rendition of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
Mike Jerel, 31, got all four judges to press their red buzzers during his blind audition which is set to air March 9, according to an NBC spokesperson. Judges Nick Jonas and John Legend immediately turned around after Jerel played the song’s opening notes on the piano and belted out the first line.
Jonas stomped, and Legend cheered Jerel on, clapping, swaying and calling out as the Columbus musician sang. Kelly Clarkson and finally, Blake Shelton, turned their chairs as Jerel finished his almost two-minute performance. He received a standing ovation from the audience. A clip of Jerel’s audition has been viewed more than 1 million times since being posted on The Voice’s Facebook page March 6.
“Mike, you just lit the room on fire,” Clarkson said after the performance.
Judges praised the confidence and vocal range of Jerel’s performance as they worked to convince him to join their team. Jerel’s mother, Pamela, took the stage and offered her opinion on who her son should choose as his coach this season.
“John (Legend,)” she said, as the crowd cheered.
Jerel, originally from Ashburn, Georgia, lives in Columbus. He studied at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, and he’s performed in several bands here, including Mike Jerel & the Chemistry Project, according to his Facebook page.
After his impressive performance, who will Jerel pick to be his coach? Will he take his mother’s advice? Tune in to March 9’s episode of “The Voice” at 8 p.m. on NBC.
Update March 10, 2020: Jerel selected John Legend as his coach during Monday’s episode.
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 1:42 PM.