Evan James Earns a Three-Chair Turn on The Voice and Makes a Surprising Choice

Evan James walked onto The Voice stage with a difficult task: take one of Morgan Wallen’s best-known songs and make it sound like his own.

The 22-year-old singer from Highland, Michigan, did exactly that.

During the final night of the Season 30 Blind Auditions on October 6, James performed Wallen’s “Wasted on You,” adding a soulful quality to the country hit and showing the coaches a vocal style that was distinctly his own. By the end of the performance, Kelly Clarkson, Riley Green and Adam Levine had all turned their chairs.

Then James had to decide which coach to join.

His choice caught the room off guard.

A Morgan Wallen hit with a different sound

James selected “Wasted on You,” a Morgan Wallen song that gave him plenty of room to showcase both his country roots and his vocal range.

Rather than simply trying to reproduce Wallen’s version, James gradually built the performance, giving the song a smoother, more soulful feel. His delivery became increasingly powerful as the audition progressed, eventually prompting three coaches to turn around almost simultaneously.

Queen Latifah was the only coach who did not turn her chair.

The three-chair turn was especially significant because all four coaches were competing for artists during the final Blind Audition episode. The episode aired October 6 and marked the conclusion of the Blind Auditions for Season 30.

James’ performance also earned attention for the way he approached such a recognizable song.

Kelly Clarkson immediately pointed out that he had changed the character of the Wallen hit rather than simply imitating the original recording. She compared elements of his delivery to Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and noted the R&B influence she heard in his performance.

Clarkson’s central compliment was that James had managed to make the song feel like his own, something she considered particularly difficult when performing such a well-known country track.

Riley Green focused on another part of the audition: James’ ability to build confidence during the performance.

Green acknowledged that performing on a national television stage is a very different experience from singing around one’s hometown. Still, James continued to raise the intensity of the song and ultimately reached a point where he appeared completely in control of the performance.

For Green, that ability to take ownership of the song was a strong indication that James could continue developing throughout the competition.

From a Michigan Christmas tree farm to The Voice

James’ background is a long way from the bright lights of the The Voice stage.

He grew up in Highland, Michigan, on his family’s Christmas tree farm. The property has been operated by his family for 177 years, with the work following the rhythm of the seasons: planting in the spring, pruning during the summer and selling trees during the winter.

James has also spent years performing in and around his hometown and at school. He told the coaches that he had been performing professionally for roughly three or four years, making his appearance on The Voice a significant next step in his musical career.

Additional reporting identifies James as a Michigan State University student studying public relations. He has continued performing locally while developing his music career.

Three coaches wanted him

Once the chairs turned, James suddenly had three options.

Clarkson made it clear that she believed his ability to reshape a familiar song was exactly what made him stand out. She also emphasized that she would be happy to have him on her team.

Green, meanwhile, leaned into James’ country identity and the strength of his performance. With Green already attracting a number of country singers during Season 30, his interest in James appeared to make the decision particularly competitive.

Adam Levine took a different approach.

Levine acknowledged that he had struggled to attract country artists during the season, with many of them choosing Green instead. He argued that James could occupy a distinctive position on Team Adam because of that dynamic.

With only two spots remaining on his team at the time, Levine told James that he was being selective and believed James could stand out as the competition progressed.

He also acknowledged that James might naturally be considering Green or Clarkson. But Levine urged him to look beyond genre and think about where he could distinguish himself as an artist.

James chooses Team Adam

After hearing from all three coaches, James had to make the decision.

Many viewers might have expected the Michigan singer to choose Riley Green, particularly given his country sound and Green’s position as one of Season 30’s coaches. Instead, James decided to take a chance on Levine.

“I think I’m going to take a leap of faith here. I think I’m going to go Adam,” James said.

Levine appeared genuinely surprised by the decision.

The coach celebrated finally landing a country artist, especially after so many of the genre’s singers had joined Green. He also thanked James for taking a chance on him.

The decision officially placed James on Team Adam for the remainder of the competition. Other coverage of the episode confirmed the choice and identified James as one of the final additions to Levine’s team.

For James, the choice represents the beginning of a new stage in his musical journey. His Blind Audition gave him the opportunity to introduce his voice to a national audience, while the three-chair turn showed that his interpretation of a familiar country song could command the attention of multiple coaches.

What’s next for Evan James?

James’ Blind Audition came during the sixth and final night of Season 30’s Blind Auditions. With that stage now complete, The Voice moves into the Battles.

Season 30 features Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, Riley Green and Queen Latifah as coaches, with Carson Daly returning as host. NBC’s Season 30 schedule lists the Battles beginning October 12, following the completion of the Blind Auditions.

New episodes of The Voice air Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Peacock.

For a 22-year-old singer who grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Highland, Michigan, the journey from local performances to Team Adam marks a significant new chapter. Now, James will have to show what he can do when the competition moves beyond the Blind Auditions.