Talk about inspiration, season 23 of “The Voice” is beating all expectations. A recent episode that featured blind auditions where judges make a decision only on the singer’s voice was one for the ages.
The judges could not see the performer thanks to rotating chairs, and if they can decide to choose an artist to join their team if they press their button so their chair turns and they can see the full package.
ALI walked onto the stage to sing her rendition of “Killing me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack on Monday, March 13. She gave an outstanding performance with tons of soul. And after her performance, it was revealed to the judges that she was born deaf.
“What?” judge Kelly Clarkson said, shocked. “I wear two hearing aids. I was born deaf. I’m so blessed to be able to share this,” ALI said.
Judge Blake Shelton was shocked as well to find out that she had a hearing impairment. “If you had lined up all the singers that we’ve heard so far and then said, ‘Pick one which is hearing-impaired,’ you would probably be the last one that I would say,” Shelton said. “That vocal was just incredible. The only reason I didn’t hit my button is because that’s so far out of my lane musically. Outside of that, wow.”
ALI got two chairs to turn from coaches Kelly Clarkson and Chance the Rapper. She chose Clarkson as her coach.
“I sing for the little girl with the sparkly hearing aids, in Walnut, California, singing along to Kelly Clarkson songs my Uncle Rich burned onto CDs for me,” ALI wrote on Instagram. “I sing for the people who have the same kind of story as me, for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. I sing… I sing for You, Lord. I sing because I love it. This is me. This is my story.”
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