Reba McEntire Makes ‘Sneaky’ Last-Minute Decision On Carrie Underwood Cover

Photo: Trae Patton/NBC, Getty Images

Reba McEntire welcomed a “powerhouse” singer to her team on The Voice after spinning her iconic red chair at the last minute. Ashley Bryant was wrapping up her cover of Carrie Underwood’s 2007 anthem, “Last Name,” during the blind auditions when McEntire turned around.

Bryant, 26, introduced herself while catching her breath. McEntire told the new addition to Team Reba that she “did a great job on Carrie’s song. She would be very proud.” The beloved country music legend

“I’ve been singing my whole life. Professionally, just about four years,” said Bryant, who said she’s from Louisville, Kentucky. “I got into a car wreck a couple years back so I’m 30% hearing in my right ear, and here I am.”

John Legend applauded Bryant’s “energy and (her) enthusiasm,” and brought up Maelyn Jarmon, who won The Voice when she competed on Legend’s team in season 16. Legend noted that the Texas-born artist also endured “significant hearing loss,” and assured Bryant that “the sky’s the limit for what you can do on this show.”

Dan + Shay — first-time coaches on The Voice and the first-ever coaching duo this season — said they knew that Bryant would be a “perfect match” with “Queen Reba,” though McEntire was “sneaky…and waited ’til the last minute!” Chance the Rapper said Bryant “should be really, really happy and excited.”

McEntire also coached Bryant’s new fiancé, Tom Nitti, on the last season of The Voice. Nitti, a former New York State Trooper and a father of two, left The Voice early to be with his family. It’s because of the show, however, that he met his fiancée. Bryant posted a photo on Instagram last week of the moment she and Nitti got engaged outside the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. She shared at the time, “my heart is so full.” Nitti wrote in an Instagram caption of his own that he’s “happier than ever.”

Watch Bryant’s cover of Underwood’s “Last Name” here: