The Voice finalist, Jaelen Johnston joined first-time coach Kelsea Ballerini for a breathtaking rendition of Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss’ “Whiskey Lullaby” during the Season 27 Live finale.
Set beside a glowing campfire under the night sky, the pair of artists sat quietly as the flames cracked on the stage before beginning the tune. It was a fitting backdrop for Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss’ heartbreaking 2004 ballad.
Johnston began the first verse, stepping into Paisley’s role as he told the story of a man haunted by heartbreak and unable to move on. When Ballerini joined in, taking on Krauss’ lines, she showcased the wide-range of her vocals as they floated through the room with stunning control and emotion.
Their voices wove together in a chilling way, as they painted a picture of two broken souls on same paths to a tragic end. The weight of the lyrics that center around a lost love and a pain buried so deep in sorrow that it can’t be outrun, hit especially hard in such a raw, stripped-down setting.
Amid the soulful guitar plucks, the artists, who have no both gained a reputation for their powerful storytelling, effortlessly won over the hearts of the rest of the coaching panel as well as the audience.
They sang, “He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger/ And finally drank away her memory/ Life is short, but this time it was bigger/ Than the strength he had to get up off his knees/ We found him with his face down in the pillow/ With a note that said, “I’ll love her ’til I die”/ And when we buried him beneath the willow/ The angels sang a whiskey lullaby.”
This was a full-circle performance as Johnston has spent his entire journey on The Voice under the guidance of Team Kelsea.
He made his way all the way to the end, where he earned the title of runner-up being the Season 27 winner, Adam David. In fifth place was Jadyn Cree (Team Bublé), in fourth place was Lucia Flores-Wiseman (Team Adam) and in third, Renzo (Team Legend).
This was an impressive feat for Jaelen Johnston, one that he never would have had if his mom hadn’t secretly submitted his application on his behalf. This led him to the blind auditions where he won over coach Kelsea Ballerini with his rendition of Luke Combs’ “Where The Wild Things Are.”
He continued to win America’s votes throughout the competition with performances of songs like “Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn, “I Drive Your Truck,” by Lee Brice, “If You’re Reading This” by Tim McGraw and more.
His most recent performance with Ballerini took place amid a lineup of star-studded collaborations and guest appearances. Other acts who took the stage during part two of the Live finale was Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Joe Jonas, and Chance The Rapper.
Fans won’t have to wait too long before a new round of contestants take the stage as The Voice season 28 is scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2025. The upcoming coemption will welcome a new panel of returning coach that will include Niall Horan, Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé.
The post Kelsea Ballerini And Jaelen Johnston Team Up For Haunting ‘Whiskey Lullaby’ Duet On ‘The Voice’ Finale appeared first on Country Now.