Shockingly talented contestant on 'The Voice' blows all four judges' minds

The Voice Season 15 Blind Auditions got off to a slow start last week, but this Tuesday, we may have met the next winner. Chicago rock ‘n’ soul powerhouse SandyRedd did not come to play; she came to slay. The hairography! The leather hot pants! The Pretty Woman boots! The backbend! And that magnificent lioness’s roar of a voice! SandyRedd was serving Tina Turner realness, and all the Voice stage was her Thunderdome. SandyRedd’s four-chair performance of Bishop Briggs’s “River” was so wild and electrifying and explosive, she not only had Jennifer Hudson throwing both of her shoes, but Adam Levine presented SandyRedd with one of his own sneakers, Kelly Clarkson handed over a Team Kelly satin jacket, and even Blake Shelton left an offering onstage: his drinking cup. And you know if Blake was willing to even temporarily part with his ubiquitous mysterious libation for SandyRedd, she must be really, really good.

Kelly was -- in a Voice first -- rendered temporarily speechless. But she eventually stammered out, “I don't know who you're gonna pick, but I don't care. I just can't wait to watch you on this show. You are fire.” And somehow, that low-key sales tactic worked: SandyRedd joined Team Kelly, instead of going with the obvious choice, fellow Chicagoan Jennifer. (After Kelly blocked Jennifer from getting gospel singer Kymberli Joye the night before, this loss truly had to sting.) Now it looks like Kelly, who won last season with a teen country ingenue, might win again with a seasoned diva. Tuesday was the first night of Blinds that actually got me excited for this season; along with SandyRedd, there were a few other singers that we just might see in the finale. Take a look… Reagan Strange, 13: “Meant to Be” Reagan had a ton of potential for someone so young, and her climactic high note was lovely, but she wasn’t quite ready for prime time. Nerves got the better of her, and she sounded breathless and rushed. (She does have a cool name though; sounds like she should be fronting an '80s punk band.) Who turned? Adam, Blake. Apparently it was meant to be! I think she should’ve been told to come back. She obviously has plenty of time to develop. Result: Team Adam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM-ha173Hig Fousheé, 28: “Redbone” This Harlem diva, who sings in the house band at Cafe Wha? (on a stage once graced by Hendrix and Dylan), had so much star power that the Voice audience was cheering before she even opened her mouth. The coaches were intrigued. So was I. This charismatic lady put her own sexy, stylized spin on the Childish Gambino slow-jam, and her Mariah dolphin-whistle note was everything. Adam called it her “outer-space voice.” Who turned? Adam and Jennifer. How did Fousheé not turn all four chairs? And can we just fast-forward to a SandyRedd/Fousheé finale already? Result: Team Adam! I thought poor Jennifer had it in the bag.

Wyatt Rivers, 22: “River” I appreciated the Leon Bridges (not Bishop Briggs) song choice -- but Wyatt didn’t have a nano-fraction of Leon’s soul. He held back the entire time, and his limp performance went nowhere. Jennifer seemed visibly frustrated during this audition. I wasn’t too concerned for Wyatt, though, since he has a solid Plan B: He’s starting medical school this year. Who turned? No one. Result: Team Kelsea. Somehow Wyatt still scored a spot on the Island of Misfit Toys, aka the new “Comeback Stage” team mentored by fifth coach Kelsea Ballerini. But my guess is he won’t be on the show for long, so it’s a good thing he has that whole doctor thing to fall back on.

Chris Kroeze, 27: “Pride and Joy” OK, this small-town beardy rocker had soul! The energy in the studio instantly elevated when he cranked out this Stevie Ray Vaughan barnstormer and let out that big, throaty growl. “He was sangin’!” proclaimed Jennifer. Who turned? Jennifer, who nearly threw her shoe at Chris, and Blake, who praised Chris’s “Ricky Skaggs-type pickin’.” Result: Team Blake. I think Blake had Chris at “Ricky Skaggs.” This really wasn’t Jennifer’s night.

MaKenzie Thomas, 20: “Big White Room” I recall MaKenzie from her own “Redbone” audition last year. She had a big, pure voice, and she should have turned at least one chair. I’m glad she came back, because as Adam told her, “the improvement is tremendous.” Her Jessie J cover showcased a masterful control of soft/loud dynamics, an ability to connect to an emotional lyric, and new confidence. Who turned? Only Jennifer, surprisingly. I thought stankfaced Kelly was a shoo-in. Result: Team J.Hud. Jennifer’s luck was looking up. Blake said MacKenzie could be a “dark horse.”

Come back next Monday for the final week of Season 15 Blind Auditions -- even though SandyRedd will be tough to top.