Former Ellen child star Maddi Jane gets 4-chair turn on The Voice

It’s no secret that The Voice coaches love it when an artist comes to the show and does something they aren’t used to seeing (or hearing). While that might seem kind of difficult 25 seasons in, it’s exactly what 24-year-old Maddi Jane does when she takes on “Escapism.” by RAYE featuring 070 Shake during the second night of the Blind Auditions. The Voice doesn’t get many artists who can rap and sing with equal power, so it’s not a surprise that Maddi winds up getting the coveted four-chair turn.

The Chicago native is no amateur when it comes to performing. When Maddi Jane was just 11 years old, she appeared on Ellen, performing The Script’s “Breakeven” after being discovered by way of a video her guitar teacher had posted online. That appearance led to great success covering songs on YouTube (she has over one million subscribers) and now she’s producing her own music out in Los Angeles. She’s ready for the next step, and she may have just found it. 

While the coaches find the rapping impressive, it’s only once Maddi opens up into her full singing voice that coaches John Legend, Chance the Rapper, and Reba McEntire all press their buttons. First-time coaches in the double chair Dan + Shay follow soon after. John tells Maddi that he was particularly impressed to find someone with her “level of confidence and stage presence” who also “has the voice to back it up.” He adds what everyone is thinking: “We don’t get a lot of artists like you on The Voice.” 

While John makes a good pitch as to why he could be a good fit for her coach, Maddi Jane is a rapper/singer from Chicago… just like Chance the Rapper. Chance points out how difficult it is to perform both styles of music together and noted some breath issues Maddi had, but also tells her she is “obviously a star.” He loves to blend genres, which seems like something Maddi is into, too, and wants to give her a platform to tell her story. “The possibilities are endless,” he says after Maddi chooses to be on his team by way of rapping his hit “No Problem.” You know, that’s not the worst way to kick off a coach/team member relationship.

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

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