The Voice: Taylor Swift shares 'go home' advice she got as teenager in Nashville with Kyndal Inskeep

Publish date: 2024-06-04

Taylor Swift was once told to give up any hope of making it in Nashville, she revealed while serving as a 'mega-mentor' on Tuesday's episode of The Voice

The 29-year-old pop star recalled her early struggle to get noticed while advising the show's contestants.

'When I first came to Nashville as a kid, I was doing a lot of live shows in Pennsylvania, where I'm from,' recalled Taylor, who made the move from Reading at age 14.

Mega mentor: Taylor Swift while serving as a 'mega-mentor' Tuesday on The Voice shared the bad advice she received as a teenager in Nashville with a contestant

Mega mentor: Taylor Swift while serving as a 'mega-mentor' Tuesday on The Voice shared the bad advice she received as a teenager in Nashville with a contestant

'Everybody told me at the record labels, ''Go home, you'll be able to play more shows, because you can't book a gig in Nashville unless you're top tier''.'

It was terrible advice, as Taylor was soon signed to Nashville's Big Machine Records, and in 2006 released her eponymous debut album, the longest-charting record of the decade.

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She now owns a home in Nashville, along with those in New York City, Los Angeles, and Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

Taylor shared the story with contestant Kyndal Inskeep, 22, who moved from Los Angeles to Nashville a year ago, and was working several jobs, including one as a waitress, while awaiting her break.

Knockout rounds: Kyndal Inskeep was told by Taylor how record labels told her to leave Nashville after she moved there as a teenager to pursue her music career

Knockout rounds: Kyndal Inskeep was told by Taylor how record labels told her to leave Nashville after she moved there as a teenager to pursue her music career

Kyndal's coach, Gwen Stefani, 50, agreed that Taylor had amassed a lot of experience at a young age, 'being on TV, songwriting and just being magical.'

'She's kind of like a rainbow unicorn cat lover,' Gwen considered.

'Cat lover underlined,' Taylor agreed, before calling Gwen 'a real babe.'

High praise: Gwen Stefani, 50, agreed that Taylor had amassed a lot of experience at a young age, 'being on TV, songwriting and just being magical'

High praise: Gwen Stefani, 50, agreed that Taylor had amassed a lot of experience at a young age, 'being on TV, songwriting and just being magical'

For the show's knockout rounds, Kyndal chose to cover Sia's Elastic Heart, a song that meant a lot to her, as it once helped her deal with severe depression brought on by a family situation. 

Gwen had special insight into the song, too, revealing that Sia had originally sent it to her to do, but she found it too distinctly aligned to a different style of singer, and decided to pass.  

Kyndal's competitor, Jessie Lawrence, 31, appreciated just being on the show, but seeing Taylor floored him.

Starstruck singer:Jessie Lawrence, 31, appreciated just being on the show, but seeing Taylor floored him

Starstruck singer:Jessie Lawrence, 31, appreciated just being on the show, but seeing Taylor floored him

Dancing judge: Kelly Clarkson stood up and danced as Gwen, John Legend and Blake Shelton looked on as the Knockout Rounds continued

Dancing judge: Kelly Clarkson stood up and danced as Gwen, John Legend and Blake Shelton looked on as the Knockout Rounds continued

'Y'all trying to kill me,' he said, when he spotted the mentor 'Y'all trying to give me a heart attack.'

Jessie had grown up in group homes in Newark, NJ, where he experienced an 'unbearable loneliness,' and called music 'an escape.'

He struggled to believe that he was standing in front of Taylor Swift, saying: 'I just got used to trying to sing in front of her,' gesturing at Gwen.

'Come stand closer to us,' Taylor reassured him. 'We're not gonna hurt you.'

Tough decision: Jessie, show host Carson Daly and Kyndal waited to learn who Gwen would name the winner

Tough decision: Jessie, show host Carson Daly and Kyndal waited to learn who Gwen would name the winner

Jessie's version of Dancing with a Stranger, by Sam Smith and Normani, was in the pocket, and Taylor had just one note for him: Give us more.  

In the knockouts, Kyndal's inventive, delicate rendition of Sia's tune beat out Jessie's R&B swagger, with Gwen saying 'she sings from her heart,' and has 'so much style to her voice.'

Coach John Legend, 40, paired two of his most soulful singers for the knockout rounds.

Soul singer: John Legend, 40, paired two of his most soulful singers for the knockout rounds

Soul singer: John Legend, 40, paired two of his most soulful singers for the knockout rounds

James Violet, 20, worked in a warehouse in Syracuse, New York, where he sang to himself in his windowless office.

His 'gorgeous' cover of Post Malone's Stay showed it was time well-spent, but Taylor urged him to stop meandering, both vocally and physically onstage. 

James' competitor Khalea Lynee, 36, 'absolutely nailed' her song, Céline Dion's Because You Loved Me, Taylor added.

Good times: Taylor and John laughed while preparing his singers for the Knockout Rounds

Good times: Taylor and John laughed while preparing his singers for the Knockout Rounds

Cool cover:James Violet, 20,  performed a cover of Post Malone's Stay

Cool cover:James Violet, 20,  performed a cover of Post Malone's Stay

'She's one of those singers that knows her stuff,' she confessed.

John urged Khalea, a St. Petersburg, Florida, resident, to think about someone when she sang, saying it would come through on her face—so she focused on her late mother.

'I don't think I would be a performer if it wasn't for her,' Khalea affirmed.

Onstage, her deeply emotional performance had the coaches exclaiming 'Wow,' and 'My God,' with three of them moved to stand up.

'Khalea, you just made a Céline Dion song sound easy to sing,' coach Kelly Clarkson, 37, pointed out. 'If she heard that, she'd be like, ''Somebody get her out of here''.'

Nailed it: Khalea Lynee, 36,  performed Céline Dion's Because You Loved Me

Nailed it: Khalea Lynee, 36,  performed Céline Dion's Because You Loved Me

Easy singing: Kelly told Khalea that she 'just made a Céline Dion song sound easy to sing'

Easy singing: Kelly told Khalea that she 'just made a Céline Dion song sound easy to sing'

'When you're singing, and you're in the zone, you're as powerful of a human being as there is on the planet,' coach Blake Shelton, 42, agreed.

John loved Khalea's gospel flavor, which reminded him of Whitney Houston, and he picked her.

But James was gracious in his loss, saying: 'There's not really a better person to lose to.'

The last round of the night belonged to Blake, who paired his most 'explosive' performers.

Country star: The last round of the night belonged to Blake, who paired his most 'explosive' performers

Country star: The last round of the night belonged to Blake, who paired his most 'explosive' performers

Miami native Joana Martinez, 15, went toe-to-toe with Ricky Duran, 29, from Austin, Texas.

The teen was thrilled to meet her mentor, and couldn't wait to tell her sibling the news.

'My sister and I always listen to Taylor Swift,' she divulged. 'I actually got to meet Taylor Swift, and now I can't wait to throw it in my sister's face.'

Goofing around: The country star and Taylor enjoyed kidding each other

Goofing around: The country star and Taylor enjoyed kidding each other

The high school student's cover of California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas included notes that Blake said 'literally blew my mind.'

But Taylor suggested that Joana perform to the crowd more, and avoid gesticulating with her hand while singing, which undermined her powerful vocals.

Joana tried again after hearing that, and it stunned Taylor, who said: 'God, you're phenomenal.'

'Taylor Swift calling me ''phenomenal,'' I had no words,' Joana crowed, repeating 'Oh my God.'

Mind blowing: Joana Martinez's cover of California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas included notes that Blake said 'literally blew my mind'

Mind blowing: Joana Martinez's cover of California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas included notes that Blake said 'literally blew my mind'

Her competitor, Ricky, chose The Black Crowes hit She Talks To Angels, his girlfriend's favorite song, which played off his natural tendency to sound like singer Chris Robinson.

'There's something about the way you stand and attack a lyric that kind of reminds me of the way that Springsteen plays,' Taylor told him, suggesting ways for him to carry his guitar.

'Good notes,' a grateful Ricky replied.

'See, she knows what she's doing—that's why she owns Swift Airlines,' Blake offered.

Strong singer: Ricky Duran belted out The Black Crowes hit She Talks To Angels

Strong singer: Ricky Duran belted out The Black Crowes hit She Talks To Angels

'That's a lie,' Taylor insisted, calling him 'Blake Lively.'

'I wish,' Blake noted.

'Me too,' Taylor said. 

At the knockouts, the girl's powerhouse vocals wowed the coaches, with Gwen saying: 'I'm really fascinated by Joana, 'cause I really wanna see what more she's gonna do.'

Decision time: Joana and Ricky stood next to each other as Blake decided their fate

Decision time: Joana and Ricky stood next to each other as Blake decided their fate

Blake agreed, telling Joana: 'I'm continuously blown away by your talent.'

But he saved his vote for Ricky, a four-chair turn during the blind auditions, whom he liked for his rock stylings and openness to being coached.

Joana was then quickly stolen by his girlfriend, Gwen, who'd 'wanted her from the beginning.'

The Voice will return on Monday on NBC. 

Stolen singer: Gwen at the last moment stole Joana from Blake's team

Stolen singer: Gwen at the last moment stole Joana from Blake's team

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