Kenna Elpers walked onto The Voice stage with one coach already in mind: Riley Green.
The 23-year-old country singer auditioned during Season 30 with hopes of joining Green’s team, and she had a special reason for wanting the country star. Elpers had actually opened for Green at a music festival back in 2023.
The connection did not end there. Green gave Elpers a signed koozie after that performance, and she brought it with her to The Voice as a reminder of their first meeting.
This time, she hoped the same koozie might become a good-luck charm.
Elpers chose Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” for her Blind Audition, and the song did exactly what she needed. Green turned his chair during the performance, while Queen Latifah also decided to compete for the singer.
Both coaches heard some nerves in Elpers’ vocals, but neither questioned her talent.
“You’re amazing,” Queen Latifah told her, explaining that she had turned her chair very quickly.
Green also reassured Elpers that the nerves were something she could overcome as the competition continued.
“You got your nerves out now you’re ready for the rest of this competition,” Latifah added.
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Kenna Elpers chooses Riley Green
Once Elpers revealed her previous connection with Green, her decision became even harder for the other coaches.
Adam Levine jokingly called Green “the better looking Blake Shelton,” while Green joked about putting the compliment on his chair.
Latifah still made her case, reminding Elpers that country music was Green’s “wheelhouse” but saying she also knew a great singer when she heard one.
Then Elpers revealed the detail that seemed to change everything: she had already opened for Green years earlier.
“Well, Queen, it was a nice ride,” Kelly Clarkson joked.
Green appeared just as confident.
“I don’t really know what else we need to talk about,” he said.
Sure enough, Elpers chose Green as her coach.
Latifah later admitted that Green had a major advantage because of his country background and his connection with Elpers.
“Riley is so tough to beat with country, and of course she had a country connection,” Latifah said.
She even joked that contestants might need to start bringing gifts to Green’s concerts.
Green had a simple response.
“I’ve got some bad news for you. I’ve threw out a lot of koozies over the years,” he joked.
For Elpers, though, that one koozie may have been more than enough to help bring her back into Green’s orbit.
The Voice Season 30 continues Mondays on NBC, with episodes streaming the following day on Peacock.
