Kelly Clarkson had a tough choice to make during Season 30’s Cut Week on The Voice. After watching five Team Kelly contestants deliver their performances, the coach had to select just one more artist to join Koumba Diallo and Anna McElroy in the Live Shows.
The decision was especially difficult because every contestant brought something different to the stage. However, Clarkson ultimately chose the youngest singer on her team, 13-year-old Brianna Cameron, and later revealed the real reason behind her decision.
Kelly Clarkson Explains Why She Chose Brianna Cameron
Before making her final pick, Clarkson watched Marcus Ladden Jr., Brooklyn Marie, Brianna Cameron, Nina Howland and Kyle Davis compete for the remaining spot.
Marcus performed Lou Rawls’ “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” impressing the coaches with his energy and stage presence. Brooklyn sang Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” earning praise from Adam Levine for her powerful high notes and potential.
Nina Howland delivered Reneé Rapp’s “In the Kitchen,” while Kyle Davis closed the performances with Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home.” Clarkson praised Nina’s emotional connection to her song and described Kyle as a special singer with a voice unlike anyone else in the competition.
But Brianna made a particularly strong impression with her performance of Natalie Cole’s “Inseparable.” Clarkson was amazed by the 13-year-old’s vocals and compared her to a young Whitney Houston.
“It’s like we’re watching young Whitney Houston,” Clarkson gushed. “You are insane.”
Queen Latifah also praised Brianna’s poise, saying it was remarkable to see someone so young deliver such a beautiful performance. Riley Green went even further, calling her “the most naturally talented person” on the show this year.
When it was time to announce her decision, Clarkson revealed that Brianna had shown her something she had not seen before.
“I picked Brianna because she showed me something I’d never seen. There was another layer to her,” Clarkson explained.
She playfully called the young singer “little miss onion,” wondering how many more layers of talent she could reveal. Clarkson added that she wanted to reward Brianna for being so incredible at such a young age.
Brooklyn Marie Shares a Glimpse of Team Kelly’s Support
Although Brooklyn Marie did not receive the final spot, she later shared that the five Team Kelly contestants gathered backstage after their performances and promised to support whoever Clarkson selected.
The 14-year-old from Alexandria, Minnesota, said the group agreed, “Whoever wins, we’re going to be happy for them. We’re going to be supportive.”
Brooklyn also received encouraging words from Clarkson after performing “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” The coach praised her bold song choice and said her youthful innocence made her especially appealing onstage.
With Brianna’s selection, Team Kelly’s Live Shows lineup was complete. Koumba Diallo, Anna McElroy and Brianna Cameron will represent the coach as the competition moves forward.
The other teams also revealed their three artists. Team Adam Levine chose Lexi Stephens, Connor Closs and Dakota Cohen. Team Queen Latifah advanced Mia Knight, BigCountry and Lillie Kolich, while Team Riley Green selected Ferryn & Brinkley, Cade Mower and Joe Henley.
However, one final spot in the Top 13 remained open. America would vote for one artist from the 16 contestants not selected by their coaches, with the result set to be revealed during the November 9 Live Shows premiere.