19-Year-Old Brayden Howell Turns Heads on The Voice With Deep Take on Garth Brooks Classic
At just 19 years old, Brayden Howell brought an unmistakably old-school country sound to The Voice stage, and one remarkably low note was enough to earn him a spot on Team Riley Green.
During the Season 30 Blind Auditions, the singer from Marshville, North Carolina, chose a song that has become a country standard: Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.” His rich baritone and traditional country style quickly caught the attention of the coaches, with Kelly Clarkson even singing along from her chair.
Brayden Howell Brings Old-School Country to The Voice
Howell took the stage during the sixth and final night of the Season 30 Blind Auditions, which aired October 6, 2026. By the time he performed, the competition had reached a crucial point: most of the coaches had already completed their teams, leaving Riley Green as the only coach with an opening remaining.
Rather than choose a contemporary country hit, Howell went back to one of the genre’s best-known songs.
“Friends in Low Places” was released by Garth Brooks in 1990 as the lead single from his album No Fences. The song spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and later won both an ACM Award and a CMA Award for Single of the Year.
Howell’s performance immediately reflected his affection for traditional country music. His deep voice gave the song a distinctly classic feel, while his appearance reinforced the throwback style.
He performed in a red button-up shirt, leather fringe vest, black pants and cowboy boots, with a nearly shoulder-length mullet completing the look.
The combination made Howell look and sound far removed from the typical image of a 19-year-old contestant.
One Low Note Changed Everything
For much of the performance, none of the coaches appeared ready to turn.
Howell was already well into the song when Riley Green finally made his move. The deciding moment came when the young singer dropped into one of the song’s lowest notes.
Green immediately pressed his button and turned his chair.
The timing was especially significant because Riley was the only coach who could still add another artist to his team at that point in the Blind Auditions. Howell therefore secured the final available spot on Team Riley.
The other coaches still made it clear that Howell had impressed them.
Kelly Clarkson praised him for taking on such a demanding Garth Brooks song, noting that he had stepped into some very big shoes by choosing the country star’s signature hit.
Queen Latifah also said she would have turned for Howell if her team had still had room.
Her reaction highlighted just how much the low part of the performance stood out.
Riley Green Hears a Honky-Tonk Voice
Once the performance ended, Green wanted to learn more about the teenager who had just joined his team.
Howell explained that Elvis Presley influences his personal style, while Randy Travis is one of his biggest musical inspirations.
That combination made sense for the performance Howell had just delivered. His voice carried the traditional country character that Green was looking for.
Green later explained that when he closed his eyes during the audition, Howell’s voice made him feel as though he were sitting inside a honky-tonk.
For Green, the decision to fill his final team spot with Howell was an easy one.
Howell’s audition also fit naturally with the direction of Team Riley, which already included several artists with strong country influences. He joined the team alongside performers including Ferryn & Brinkley, Caroline Alexis, Harmony McKee, Kenna Elpers, Cade Mower, Allie Rae, Everett Bounds, Keiyana Osmond, Brandy Neelly and others.
Fans Quickly Take Notice
Howell’s appearance marked the end of the Blind Auditions, but his run on The Voice was only beginning.
The official Voice social media channels shared his audition, and viewers quickly responded to his traditional sound, distinctive fashion and unusually deep vocal range.
Several viewers singled out his low notes as the highlight of the performance. Others praised his natural delivery and retro country appearance.
One fan described Howell as a natural young singer with a great voice and praised his retro fashion.
Another focused on the difficulty of the song and said Howell handled the low notes particularly well.
A third praised the tone of his voice and his bass notes, adding that the young singer now had plenty of friends in many places.
A Place on Team Riley at the Perfect Moment
Howell entered the competition at a particularly important point in Season 30.
His audition came during the final Blind Auditions episode, with the competition moving directly into the Battle Rounds. The episode aired Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and was the sixth and final Blind Audition of the season.
That left Howell with little room for error. Had Riley Green not turned his chair, the teenager would have finished his audition without a place on any team.
Instead, the lowest note of his performance helped produce the moment he needed.
With his traditional country sound, Elvis-inspired style and admiration for Randy Travis, Howell now moves forward on Team Riley Green, carrying the momentum from an audition that introduced him to The Voice audience in memorable fashion.
His performance of “Friends in Low Places” gave the season its final Blind Audition addition and secured the 19-year-old singer a chance to continue his journey into the Battles.
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