Oklahomans shine on ‘Idol,’ ‘ The Voice’
Oklahomans have been taking center stage recently on a national scale. A Broken Arrow man performed a meaningful song he’d written on “American Idol,” and a McLoud man was featured on “The Voice.”
Special song hits the right notes for ‘American Idol’ judges
After bringing his girlfriend in the audition room and singing the song he had written for her, a Broken Arrow resident won the golden ticket to Hollywood thanks to a unanimous vote from “American Idol’s” three judges.
Tanner Charles, 21, performed his original song “Golden Eyes,” which he wrote for his girlfriend, Delaney Blaylock, because her eyes are “super golden.”
All three judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, were moved by Charles’ talent.
Perry was especially taken by the couple’s “young love,” saying “they’re meant for each other.”
When it came time vote, Perry gave her approval before saying, “Welcome to your purpose.”
“There’s a lot of singers that come to this show, but you are an artist,” Perry said.
“We can help support you with some confidence, because I think you’re getting a little bit doubtful about when you go higher. But you already got it, you’re there.”
Richie complimented Charles on his ability to do two nerve-wracking things at once, auditioning for the show while also surprising his girlfriend with a song. “The fact is, the sky’s the limit for you,” Richie said. “You’re one of the best I’ve personally seen at telling the story, and then you’re able to soar melodically because you have the vocal ability to go there,” Bryan said. “Your instincts are perfect.”
Charles works as a valet and is a graduate of Mingo Valley Christian School and a former student at Tulsa Community College and Oral Roberts University, the Tulsa World reported.
The Battle Creek Church worship leader is stepping away from college to see how far he can go on “American Idol.”
33-year-old secures spot on Team Niall after a blind audition
An Oklahoma resident caught the ears of all four judges during his blind audition on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Ross Clayton, an Illinois native who is now a resident of McLoud, Oklahoma, performed the song “Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban in his blind audition.
Though all four judges – Blake Shelton, Niall Horan, Chance the Rapper and Kelly Clarkson – turned their chairs and gave their pitch to convince Clayton why he should choose them, Clayton ended up asking Horan to be his coach.
“Your voice is absolutely incredible,” Horan said.
“You have that country tone to your voice, but to me, I was hearing so much soul.”
Clayton, 33, found his passion for music during his senior year of high school when he auditioned for the school’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” according to a news release.
After college, he did some gig work across Chicago and the Midwest, and briefly found an audience in Nashville in 2014 before stepping back.
He and his wife moved to her hometown of McLoud. The couple and their three children live on an acre and a half where they keep goats and dogs, while Clayton works in software development.
When asked how he finds time to sing, Clayton told the judges, “I had to put it aside for a bit to focus on family.”
“Ross stepped away from performing for a normal life in rural Oklahoma until recently, when he took down the guitar on his wall and decided to give music another shot,” a news release said.