‘The Voice’: Reagan Strange will bounce back, family says
It’s been quite a week for Reagan Strange.
The 14-year-old contestant on “The Voice” battled dizziness and fatigue this week, according to social media posts by her mom, Amanda Kucinski.
But her family and friends are confident the teen songstress will bounce back for next week’s top 8, even as she finds herself caught in a social media firestorm over coach Adam Levine’s comments.
“We know for every one of the haters, there are hundreds of people supporting her,” said Billie Payne, Reagan’s grandmother. “We choose to see the good in it, and there are people rallying around her to keep on keeping on.”
Bob Westbrook, Reagan’s former vocal coach, said Kucinski called him Monday morning to hear Reagan sing her top 10 song, Faith Hill’s “Cry.” Westbrook said Reagan nailed every note, including the high E’s, but hours later, she began feeling bad.
Payne said soon after Reagan finished her performance Monday, executives came to get Kucinski from the audience due to symptoms Reagan was experiencing.
Payne said she noticed something was off about Reagan’s performance — it wasn’t the same Reagan she had watched for 14 years.
After Reagan’s performance, executives did not allow the teen to do red carpet interviews and instead asked her to rest.
On Tuesday’s results show, Reagan sat off stage with her mother. The decision to not sing and not perform was made five minutes before the start of the show — before they knew she was among the bottom three vote-getters.
Levine supported Reagan instead of DeAndre Nico, another contestant on his team at risk of elimination, and fans across the nation took to social media to voice their support of and opposition to Levine’s lobbying. Reagan, despite not performing, earned the Twitter instant save and advanced to the top 8.
Payne said family members have been supporting Reagan as the negative comments swirl on social media.
Reagan’s brother, Brock, is 15 months younger than she is. He posted on his Instagram Story after reading social media posts:
“Reagan couldn’t perform bc she was sick,” the 13-year-old said. “She can’t control that! all of u saying she doesn’t deserve it bc she didn’t sing tonight have forgotten about all the hard work she has put in to even get to this point.”
Reagan’s dad, Steve Strange, said he was sending her one of her favorite meals for her to have Friday evening. He also wrote her a letter offering support.
Chris Thomas has hosted “The Voice” watch parties each week and has been a friend of the family.
“Nothing has changed for me as a friend and a ‘Stranger’ and watch party host,” Thomas said, adding many people have reached out to him to check on the teen.
“People know she has a great voice. They believe in her. Adam believes in her . ... I think there are going to be more people rallying around her.”
A spokesperson from NBC said Reagan and her mom were not available for interviews due to their schedules.
Reach Abigail Warren at abigail. warren@commercialappeal.com or follow her on Twitter @aewarren3.