Get to know NBC "The Voice" contestant Chevel Shepherd of Farmington. Wochit, Farmington Daily Times
Remaining contestants will compete again on Monday
FARMINGTON — Chevel Shepherd fans, rejoice. Team Kelly is still in the running on "The Voice," thanks to the 16-year-old junior from Farmington High School whose performance of a country classic last night took her to the finals.
Country music was well represented tonight as Shepherd and her duet partner from Monday, Kirk Jay of Team Blake, advanced to the final four on NBC’s “The Voice” national talent competition.
The other finalists are Team JHud’s Kennedy Holmes and Team Blake's Chris Kroeze, according to results posted on official The Voice app.
The final four will compete again next Monday when the show airs at 7 p.m.
Shepherd got a hug from celebrity coach Kelly Clarkson after her name was called early in the show. When asked earlier by host Carson Daly what the best advice was she’d received from Clarkson, Shepherd said, “She’s always told me to just be myself and have fun.”
Strong performance Monday
On Monday Shepherd sang a country duet with Team Blake’s Kirk Jay, the pair sharing Jason Aldean’s 2009 hit “She’s Country.”
Jay appeared briefly with Shepherd after the show when the college arranged a quick video appearance by Shepherd at the end of the Monday night watch party in the Henderson Fine Arts Center.
"She's the best country singer I've seen," Jay said to Shepherd's fans as they stood backstage in "The Voice's" Burbank soundstage.
Since the live show was filmed an hour before it was broadcast here, Shepherd described for the Monday night crowd how she'd spent her past hour in a red carpet setting, giving interviews.
Jay, of Montgomery, Alabama, said on the show that he hopes to continue to showcase country music. He said advancing makes him feel “one step closer to all my dreams coming true.”
Worth the wait
While the duet came early in Monday night's broadcast, viewers at home and in the watch party waited until almost 9 p.m. for Shepherd's solo performance. When it was over it brought the watch party crowd to its feet.
Late in the show she sang the classic “Blue,” a vocally complex song written for Patsy Cline in 1958 by Billy Mack. LeAnn Rimes won the Grammy with it in 1996.
Judge and celebrity coach Kelly Clarkson, along with judge Adam Levine, wished her well and said they hoped she made the final four.
“This is pure country, this is what I fell in love with as a little girl,” Clarkson said of Shepherd's performance.
Holmes wins elimination round
Having just turned 14, Holmes, of St. Louis, is the show’s youngest contestant.
She posted on Twitter, "I AM IN THE #VOICEFINALE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! Wow you all saved me tonight and I am forever grateful. I love each and every one of you! #TeamKennedy @NBCTheVoice."
Kroeze lives in Barron, Wisconsin.
Next week is the final round
The finalists are now just one step from possibly winning this season's competition. On Monday, Dec. 17, the four will perform. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, the winner will be announced.
Shepherd on Dec. 4 made the cut and advanced to the group of eight following her performance Dec. 3 when she sang a cover of the Loretta Lynn standard "You're Lookin' at Country."
The performance drew praise from Lynn, who gave the young singer her approval via social media.
More: Farmington's Chevel Shepherd advances to the final 8 on 'The Voice'
That performance was just one of several Shepherd has made on the program this season as she has advanced through the blind auditions, knockout rounds and elimination rounds. Shepherd has been in Los Angeles full time since early November, when she began appearing on the show on a weekly basis.
!["The Voice" runner-up Chris Kroeze, left, applauds as coach Kelly Clarkson hugs champ Chevel Shepherd during a confetti blizzard after Tuesday's Season 15 finale.]()
1 of 39![THE VOICE -- "Live Finale Results" Episode 1519B -- Pictured: Chevel Shepherd -- (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)]()
2 of 39!["The Voice" finalist, Chevel Shepherd, left, for season]()
3 of 39![Tension mounted Tuesday as Season 15 finalists Kirk Jay, left, Chris Kroeze, Kennedy Homes and Chevel Shepherd waited for host Carson Daly to announce the winner of "The Voice."]()
4 of 39![Finalists (left to right) Kirk Jay, Chris Kroeze, Kennedy Holmes and Chevel Shepherd wait for Carson Daly to reveal the winner of "The Voice" season 15 Dec. 18.]()
5 of 39![New Mexico's Chevel Shepherd, 16, covered Tanya Tucker's “It’s a Little Too Late” for her opening number.]()
6 of 39![Monday night was do-or-die time on "The Voice" as the finalists made their case for being named winner. The last four left standing? Kirk Jay (Team Blake), Kennedy Holmes (Team JHud), Chris Kroeze (Team Blake) and Chevel Shepherd (Team Kelly). The Season 15 champ will be named Tuesday night.]()
7 of 39![Chevel Shepherd partnered with coach Kelly Clarkson on the Judds' "Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain.']()
8 of 39![Chevel Shepherd and Kirk Jay sing a country duet Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, in the semifinal round of NBC's "The Voice."]()
9 of 39![A crowd turned out in the Scorpion Arena Monday night to support Farmington High student Chevel Shepherd as she competed in the final round of NBC's "The Voice" talent competition.]()
10 of 39![Chevel Shepherd will be back onstage Monday night for the final Top Four competition on NBC's "The Voice." The winner of a recording contract will be announced Tuesday.]()
11 of 39![Chevel Shepherd poses backstage at NBC's "The Voice" soundstage in Burbank, California, in this undated photo.]()
12 of 39![Chevel Shepherd sang the country classic "Blue" Monday night as hometown fans at a watch party hosted by San Juan College cheers and later gave a standing ovation.]()
13 of 39![Fans and supporters of Farmington High School junior Chevel Shepherd watched her duet performance Monday night in the Henderson Fine Arts Center at San Juan College.]()
14 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd, center, reacts after]()
15 of 39![Chevel Shepherd sings "You're Lookin' at Country" on]()
16 of 39![Big screens played past performances by Farmington's Chevel Shepherd as crowds filled the Farmington Civic Center before NBC's "The Voice" talent competition started tonight.]()
17 of 39![A sign outside the Chevel Shepherd "The Voice" watch party in Farmington Civic Center greeted attendees, more than 400 of them.]()
18 of 39![Team Kelly members Chevel Shepherd, left, Sarah Grace,]()
19 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd sings "Space Cowboy" on]()
20 of 39![Chevel Shepherd delivers a performance of "It's a Little]()
21 of 39![Chevel Shepherd, center, performs "Broken Hearts" on]()
22 of 39![Contestant Chevel Shepherd behind the scenes on The Voice]()
23 of 39![Contestant Chevel Shepherd behind the scenes on The Voice]()
24 of 39![Contestant Chevel Shepherd behind the scenes on The Voice]()
25 of 39![Contestant Chevel Shepherd behind the scenes on The Voice]()
26 of 39![Contestant Chevel Shepherd behind the scenes on The Voice]()
27 of 39![Farmington resident Chevel Shepherd, a contestant on]()
28 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd, a contestant on NBC's]()
29 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd performs during her "Blind]()
30 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd sings "Little White Church"]()
31 of 39![Chevel Shepherd signs autographs, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at Hustle Kindness Headquarters in Farmington.]()
32 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd performs on NBC's "The]()
33 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd flashes a victory sign]()
34 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd performs during her Nov.]()
35 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd continues her quest for]()
36 of 39![Farmington's Chevel Shepherd performs Monday during]()
37 of 39![Team Kelly waits for the verdict. Who moves on from "The Voice" Live Playoffs? From left, Abby Cates, Chevel Shepherd, Kimberli Joye, Sarah Grace, and Zaxai.]()
38 of 39![The Region Inn at 601 E Broadway Ave. in Farmington is showing its support in a very visible way for Farmington High junior Chevel Shepherd, who competes again Monday night on NBC TV's national talent competition 'The Voice."]()
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More: 'The Voice' contestant Chevel Shepherd prepares for next round
MORE:
'The Voice' Season 15: Who's left
Crowd turns out for 'The Voice' contestant Chevel Shepherd at Civic Center party
Farmington girl hopes to parlay 'The Voice' success into Nashville career
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