NM teen hits the big stage tonight
Chevel Shepherd vows ‘to give it my best’ on NBC’s ‘The Voice’
Prior to being a contestant on NBC’s singing competition “The Voice,” Chevel Shepherd had attended only one country music concert.
“I saw the Eli Young Band,” she says, her voice ringing with excitement while on break during rehearsals for the show. “That’s the only one that I’ve ever been to.”
Now, Shepherd is the lone female country singer in the competition, in which 10 singers remain. She will compete during the live broadcast on NBC airing at 7 p.m. today.
Since Oct. 1, fans across the nation have gotten a taste of what the 16-year-old Farmington High School student is all about.
She’s tiny and sassy — standing only 4 feet 10 inches tall.
Her voice harkens back to country music legends Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, yet with a contemporary twist. And she’s pure country — period. “I love all country music,” she says. “I really love telling a story and putting my emotions into a song. I think I find myself through a song and my true country roots. My dad likes classic rock, and he tried to get me to be the next Joan Jett. But it was always country for me.”
Shepherd has been thrust into the national spotlight — “The Voice” is a ratings juggernaut, pulling in nearly 10 million viewers — but she’s handling it pretty well, despite having to relocate for the past few weeks to Los Angeles, where the show is filmed.
“I love to perform and to sing, and all of it has been so much fun,” she says. “Being away from my dad is really hard, because he’s been around me my whole life. I miss my family, my animals and my best friend. It’s been so long since I’ve been back home.”
Performing since she was a little girl, Shepherd has always dreamed of making it as a country singer.
So she would find gigs in and around Farmington where she could perform.
Coming into “The Voice,” Shepherd didn’t know what to expect and has a simple mantra to follow.
“Every performance, I’m going to give it my best,” she says. “I’m super happy with how far I’ve gotten on the show. Definitely, there is a career in music for me.”
Away from her family, Shepherd has become fast friends with the other contestants, and they have become “a giant second family.”
“We all share the same passion,” she adds. “We all love doing this.”
During the week, Shepherd is in rehearsals with her coach and Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson.
Clarkson knows a little bit about being thrust into the spotlight, since she got her start in music by winning “American Idol” — another singing competition — in 2002.
“It’s amazing working with Kelly,” she says. “She is so down to earth and really cares about everyone. She wants to see all of us succeed. I love her so much.”
Along the journey, Clarkson has stated that Shepherd was born to be a storyteller. Those words don’t fall on deaf ears. “It makes me feel good that she believes in me,” Shepherd says. “She helps raise my confidence.”
Shepherd puts in the work — even beyond music — while she’s staying in Los Angeles.
Adding to her rehearsals with Clarkson, she also has her daily schoolwork to complete.
“I’m still in high school,” she laughs. “After all that work is done, I practice my song all the time and polish it until I think it’s my best.”
Each week, during live eliminations, Shepherd has routinely been the first member from Clarkson’s team to be saved.
Yet, this past Tuesday, she was the last member saved from Clarkson’s team.
“My heart was pounding, and I had no idea what was going to happen,” she says. “When I got called, Kelly told me, ‘Remember, it’s in no particular order.’ I was saved and am thankful for everyone that voted for me.”
Her experience on the show is one she treasures — not only because she is pursuing her passion, but also because she now has a platform to inspire.
“I have the opportunity to use my voice to let people know that they should chase their dreams,” she says. “I’m very blessed to be where I’m at and thankful to everyone who supports me because it means the world to me.”
On TV
Farmington’s Chevel Shepherd competes on “The Voice” at 7 p.m. today on NBC.