Kelly Clarkson was clearly not willing to let Riley Green steal another country singer from her on The Voice Season 30.
During the Blind Auditions, 26-year-old Anna McElroy took the stage with Maren Morris’ 80s Mercedes. Kelly Clarkson and Queen Latifah turned their chairs early, but Riley Green soon joined the fight.
Once Riley turned around, Kelly quickly got out of her chair and moved in front of him, trying to block his view of Anna. With the Block Button gone this season, Kelly found another way to make her case.
Kelly already knew she had a tough battle ahead. Anna is from Mobile, Alabama, just like Riley, and the country coach had an obvious connection to her Southern background.
Still, Kelly made it clear that she had been waiting for a country singer to join her team.
Adam Levine, who did not turn his chair, even stepped in to help Kelly. He pointed out that Anna chose a Maren Morris song, suggesting that she could move between country and pop rather than being limited to one sound.
Adam then jokingly compared Riley to former coach Blake Shelton, leading Riley to say he was more like Blake 4.0. Adam played along and praised Riley in his own funny way.
Riley then made his own pitch to Anna. He said that if country music was where her heart was, she should choose him.
Kelly thought Riley had a strong advantage, but Anna kept the moment light by joking, “Moving in already?!”
Then Kelly made one final push.
“I have won this show. I am proven. I know you’re gonna pick him… But I think I can win with you!” she told Anna.
But Kelly’s biggest fear never happened.
Anna chose Kelly.
The coach was stunned and immediately ran to the stage to hug her new artist. Kelly repeated that she believed they could win the show together.
After the audition, Kelly called Anna “the country artist I’ve been waiting for.”
Fans react to Kelly’s hilarious move
Fans quickly reacted to Kelly jumping out of her chair and getting in Riley’s way.
One viewer joked, “She is so funny. ”
Another fan laughed at Kelly’s move, writing, “It looks like Gwen blocking Blake a few seasons ago… just saying.”
Another viewer simply wrote, “I just love her!! She is so funny.”
Not everyone was a fan of the coaches’ antics, however. One viewer complained that the coaches were taking attention away from the singers, saying, “I think it’s supposed to be about the contestants……”
For many viewers, though, Kelly’s playful battle with Riley became one of the funniest moments of the audition.