Riley Green had been holding onto his First In Button for the right singer, and on Monday night, he finally decided that 15-year-old Allie Rae was the one.
During her Blind Audition on The Voice, Rae delivered a powerful version of Alannah Myles’ Black Velvet that immediately caught the attention of Riley Green, Kelly Clarkson, and Queen Latifah.
Clarkson heard something special in the teenager’s voice, telling Rae that she could hear hints of both Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss in her performance. Queen Latifah also praised how naturally Rae seemed to connect with the song.
Green was just as impressed.
He told Rae that her performance felt “real” and praised her for taking a familiar song and making it sound like her own.
“That’s what it takes to really stand out and I have no doubt you can do it,” Green told her.
Kelly Clarkson makes her case
After Rae revealed that Chris Stapleton and Aretha Franklin were among her musical inspirations, Clarkson quickly made another attempt to win her over.
The coach pointed out that they share similar musical influences and reminded Rae of her history of working with young singers on The Voice.
But Clarkson’s pitch was about to become irrelevant.
Green had already made up his mind.
Riley Green presses his First In Button
“I was just thinking about when I turned it was before y’all,” Green told the other coaches.
Then he pressed his First In Button again, automatically claiming Rae for Team Riley.
Afterward, Green explained why he had been waiting for this moment.
“Allie Rae is extremely talented,” he said. “She took a song and made it bluesy and country and Americana.”
Green also praised Rae’s unique style, saying one of his favorite things is hearing a singer whose voice does something different.
For Rae, the decision came as a major surprise.
“I did not think he was going to steal me away from everybody,” she said backstage. “I’m very happy that Riley’s my coach.”
Green later revealed that he had been saving his First In Button specifically for someone he believed could make a deep run in the competition.
“Everybody has used their First In, and I’ve been saving mine for someone who can win the show,” he told Rae.
Kelly Clarkson was not happy about it
Clarkson had a very different reaction.
“I have been a part of everyone’s First In,” she complained. “That has destroyed me three different times on this show.”
When Green returned to his chair, he admitted that he had expected to feel bad about taking Rae away from Clarkson.
Instead, he seemed perfectly happy with his decision.
“It turns out he is fine being a jackass,” Clarkson joked.
Green did not exactly disagree.
“It didn’t bother me at all,” he replied, joking that he was thinking about all the “mean, hurtful things” Clarkson and Adam Levine had said about him.
With Rae now officially on Team Riley, Green’s long-awaited First In Button has finally been put to use. And the country star clearly believes he may have found someone worth saving it for.