Books, as we know, shouldn’t be judged by their cover. Ronnie Wilson reminds us not to judge someone by their day job.
On Monday night (March 11), Wilson stepped into the bright lights of NBC’s The Voice’s blind auditions and shone right back with his rendition of Zayn’s “Pillowtalk”.
Wilson’s soulful cover was a showcase of control, range, emotion. The full package.
John Legend turned first, then Reba McEntire. Though Dan + Shay and Chance The Rapper were clearly enjoying the art, their chairs didn’t budge.
The 28-year-old singer is proud and out, originally hailing from South Carolina, and now calls Atlanta, GA home.
“That was unbelievable,” Shay Mooney remarked after the performance.
There was more “unbelievable” to come. Wilson pointed to his influences from gospel and “a lot of country music.” And when he’s not he’s blowing minds, he’s counting beans.
Wilson is a full-time accountant, a vocation that no-one saw coming.
In a previous life, Legend too was “crunching numbers, making Powerpoint presentations” as a management consultant, a fun fact he hoped would find a connection with the hopeful. “I know what that’s like,” he articulated.
“You created moments by being creative with the melody, you made the song your own and made it a competition song by the way you did it,” Legend explained. “I just feel like you’ve got fresh taste, great ideas musically and stylistically,” he continued. “I feel like you’re going to do so well on the show.”
Not to be left out, McEntire leaned on her 50 years in the country game. “You have a quality in your voice that just makes a person feel good,” she remarked. “You’re absolutely wonderful.”
In the end, there could be only one coach. Wilson went with Team Legend.
Watch Wilson’s performance below.
This story originally appeared on Billboard
