“You captivated me” — The Voice coach Snoop Dogg impressed with Sydney Sterlace’s rendition of Driver's License by Olivia Rodrigo

Season 26 of The Voice, which premiered on September 23, continues to showcase new talent. In season 14, Brynn Cartelli became the youngest winner at 15 under coach Kelly Clarkson.

Now, in season 26, attention is on 15-year-old Sydney Sterlace from Buffalo, New York, who could tie that record. Coach Snoop described her audition as almost a religious experience.

"You captivated me like I was in church. The way you just held control of the audience," Coach Snoop said.

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Sydney Sterlace’s Blind Audition performance in The Voice season 26

Sydney Sterlace’s journey on The Voice began on a high note with a Blind Audition during the season premiere that saw a rare four-chair turn. Performing Olivia Rodrigo’s Driver's License, Sterlace captivated both the audience and the coaches.

Her parents and grandmother watched with pride and nervous anticipation as she delivered a powerful rendition that quickly won over Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé. Moments later, Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire also turned their chairs, with Snoop Dogg standing up in admiration even before the performance concluded.

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The Voice Coaches’ remarks

In her effort to woo Sterlace onto her team, Gwen Stefani highlighted her personal connection to Olivia Rodrigo, noting their joint performance at Coachella. Stefani expressed her admiration for Sterlace’s ability to emulate Rodrigo's tone and emphasized her desire to help Sterlace find her unique style.

"It took me a minute to push my button because it was so unbelievably close to her tone. Now finding out that you're 15-years-old... I know what you need, I'm like your mom right now. I'm like the cool mom, though."

Michael Bublé followed, offering a piece of wisdom he received from the legendary Tony Bennett. Bublé shared,

"We stand on the shoulders of the people that we love and then we find ourselves. I love that one of us is gonna get to be a part of watching you find yourself. Thank you so much for coming to our show."

Coach Snoop Dogg’s emotional response spoke volumes about Sterlace’s impact. He admitted,

"You made me move, you made me get up. I haven't heard anybody that sounds as good as you. You have a beautiful spirit [and] I would love to Coach you... What I could give you is some love and a blank canvas, so you could paint a picture on who you want to really be in life."

Reba McEntire also expressed her admiration, noting Sterlace’s mature inner self, which shines through her performance. She appreciated Sterlace’s presence on the show and offered her team’s assistance in nurturing her talent.

"You've got a maturity to your inner self that comes out from your heart, your soul, and we felt it...I'm just so thrilled that you came on this show and we're all here to help, so welcome to The Voice. I'd love to have you on my team."

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Sydney Sterlace’s decision

Ultimately, Sterlace chose to join Team Gwen, driven by the opportunity to bridge the gap between her and her idol, Olivia Rodrigo. Stefani’s touching gesture of bringing a kitten named "Sydney" on stage as a token of her commitment may have played a significant role in Sterlace’s decision.

Sydney Sterlace’s journey on the show promises to be exciting. She could potentially become the second 15-year-old to win The Voice, joining Brynn Cartelli in the show's history books.

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Witness the incredible journey of aspiring singers like Sydney Sterlace as they transform their dreams into reality. Tune in to The Voice every Monday at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC, and catch the latest episodes on Peacock the next day.