Kayleigh Mathews Turns Down Riley Green and Chooses Queen Latifah After Four-Chair Turn on ‘The Voice’

Kayleigh Mathews had the kind of Blind Audition most singers dream about. After her performance on The Voice Monday night, Oct. 5, all four coaches turned their chairs, leaving the 31-year-old country singer from Tucson, Arizona, with the rare opportunity to choose exactly who she wanted in her corner.

The decision became especially interesting because one of the coaches competing for her was country star Riley Green. Given Mathews’ country background and her choice of a Vince Gill classic, Green had a strong case. In the end, however, Mathews trusted her instincts and chose Queen Latifah.

Kayleigh Mathews Earns a Four-Chair Turn

Mathews performed Vince Gill’s “When I Call Your Name,” delivering a performance that quickly captured the attention of all four coaches: Queen Latifah, Riley Green, Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson. Her audition was strong enough to earn a four-chair turn before the song was even finished.

For Green, the song choice immediately stood out.

The country singer praised Mathews for taking on one of Gill’s most recognizable songs and said the performance reminded him of the music he grew up hearing in Alabama. He also told her that stepping into Gill’s shoes was a major challenge, but that she had handled it impressively.

Green made it clear that he wanted the chance to coach her, saying he believed the two of them could create something special together.

Latifah offered a very different pitch.

She told Mathews that the performance had taken her to “church,” describing the moment as something deeply spiritual. Rather than limiting Mathews to a particular musical lane, Latifah said she could help her find songs that brought out the beauty in her voice and allowed her to continue connecting with audiences.

Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson also made their own arguments for why Mathews should join their teams, leaving the singer with four compelling options.

Mathews Chooses Queen Latifah

With all four chairs turned, Mathews had to decide which coach felt right for her.

Rather than choosing the most obvious country pairing, she followed her instincts.

“I’ve got to just go with my heart and my gut and what I know,” Mathews said before selecting Queen Latifah.

The choice appeared to surprise Latifah, who was nevertheless thrilled to have Mathews join her team.

Latifah also made clear that she does not view Mathews as an artist who has to stay inside a narrow definition of country music. In a confessional, she explained that she loves country music and sees connections between country, soul, rhythm and blues.

That perspective could give Mathews plenty of room to explore where her voice can go during the competition.

For Green, the loss was particularly notable because Mathews’ audition seemed like a natural fit for his first season as a Voice coach. Still, the country singer managed to get in one more bit of playful competition before the moment was over.

Riley Green Gets the Last Laugh

Green had already spent the audition trying to convince Mathews to choose him. He also joined in the playful rivalry unfolding among the four coaches.

At one point, Green used a “duck blind” to block Adam Levine’s chair, adding another humorous moment to an audition already filled with competition between the coaches.

The antics were part of a larger battle as the coaches worked to fill their teams during the final stretch of the Blind Auditions.

For Mathews, though, the biggest moment of the night came when she had to make her choice. After earning the rare distinction of turning every coach’s chair, she ultimately passed on the country star and selected Queen Latifah as her coach.

When to Watch ‘The Voice’

The Voice airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Peacock.

Mathews’ four-chair turn adds another memorable moment to Season 30, particularly after she had all four coaches competing for her and then made the unexpected decision to join Team Latifah.