Evan James Turns Three Chairs With Morgan Wallen Cover — Then Makes a Surprising Coach Choice
Evan James had three The Voice coaches competing for him after delivering a powerful performance of Morgan Wallen’s “Wasted On You.” But despite the obvious country connection with Riley Green, the 22-year-old Michigan singer chose a different path.
The decision caught both the Coaches and the audience off guard.
Three Coaches Turn for Evan James
James, from Highland, Michigan, comes from a family that runs a Christmas tree farm. He is also a student at Michigan State University, where he is majoring in Public Relations.
During his Season 30 Blind Audition, James performed Wallen’s “Wasted On You,” a song that reached No. 1 on both of Billboard’s country charts.
The Coaches initially listened without turning their chairs. Then, just as it appeared James might finish the performance without a turn, Riley Green, Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine all pressed their buttons at the same time.
With three Coaches now competing for him, James had a difficult decision to make.
Why the Coaches Wanted Him
Kelly Clarkson spoke first after the performance, praising James for putting his own identity into such a recognizable song.
She compared his vocal style to Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, telling him:
“…you actually made it Evan’s,” she said. “That’s a difficult thing to do with such a popular song.”
Riley Green explained that he initially held back because he felt the song started slowly. But as James continued, he heard him “crank it up,” which ultimately convinced Green to turn his chair.
Then came Adam Levine’s pitch.
Levine joked that he was already accustomed to losing country singers to Green.
“Evan, here I am again. [I] turn around for a country artist, it’s heartbreaking. It’s sad for me, because I never get any country artists on my team.”
Still, Levine made his case. He pointed out that Green’s team already had plenty of country singers, while Clarkson had several as well. Joining his team, Levine suggested, could give James an opportunity to stand out.
Evan Chooses Adam Levine
When it was finally time for James to choose his Coach, the audience appeared to expect him to go with Green. Some people in the crowd could even be heard calling for him to join Team Riley.
Instead, James made the unexpected choice.
He chose Adam Levine.
The announcement visibly surprised everyone. Clarkson’s jaw dropped, while Levine appeared stunned by the decision.
“I’m in shock right now,” Levine said before rushing onto the stage to hug James.
After turning three chairs with his performance of “Wasted On You,” Evan James ultimately chose the Coach many expected him to pass over.
His decision sends him into the next stage of The Voice Season 30 as a member of Team Adam.