Turning Heads and Spinning Chairs
Written by Paige Feikert
Turning Heads and Spinning Chairs
Jaelen Johnston, Derby Native, Lands Second Place on “The Voice”
Written by Paige Feikert
It’s the second episode of blind auditions for the 27th season of the singing competition show “The Voice,” and with the four coaches’ chairs facing away from the stage, a deep, smooth, twangy voice starts singing the lyrics of Luke Combs’ “Where the Wild Things Are.” The lights rise to reveal 21-year-old Jaelen Johnston wearing a cowboy hat and playing the guitar. He hasn’t even reached the chorus before Adam Levine turns his chair around — indicating his interest in the country singer. By the end of the performance, three of the four coaches will turn their chairs around, a sign that Jaelen Johnston will stick around on the show to compete for the grand prize of $100,000 and a recording contract.
Johnston finishes his performance, and the coaches make their respective pitches, asking Johnston to trust them to guide him to success. Ultimately, he chooses country superstar Kelsea Ballerini to lead him through the show — a journey that will take him all the way to the finale and unlock a new stardom for the up-and-comer.
“I love all kinds of music, but I am die-hard country music,” Ballerini said. I’ve had ten years of putting out music in that genre and your voice is unreal — and in range, you’re not just a singer, you’re an artist.”
Just weeks earlier Johnston had been laying concrete in the Derby area where he’s from, but on this night he’s capturing the interest of top names in the music industry, and when the episode airs in February, he gains millions of new fans, many in the heart of the country.
“How Derby rode for me throughout the whole process was one of the most insane things I’ve ever seen,” Johnston said. “For (the Derby community) to come together and step up and throw watch parties and support me was the best thing. The support from them has been great.”
Zoom Audition for ‘The Voice’
Johnston didn’t necessarily plan on auditioning for “The Voice.” While he’s been singing, writing and making music since he was a teenager, Johnston was still trying to break through in the industry. That is, until his mom signed him up for an audition with “The Voice.”
“She asked, ‘What are you doing after work?’ and I said I’m probably coming home and she said, ‘Okay, you have an audition, so be ready for that,’ ” Johnston said.
He first auditioned through a series of Zoom calls, which interested the producers of the show who asked Johnston to fly out to Hollywood where the show is filmed. That brings us to that blind audition at the beginning of the story.
“What’s your end goal?” Ballerini asked Johnston.
“Up until today it was a chair turn,” Johnston replied.
‘You’re not just a singer, you’re an artist.’ — “The Voice” Coach Kelsea Ballerini
From there, Johnston’s presence on the show became consistent. He advanced to the top 20 finalists but was eliminated when the group was cut to the top eight. Then, the show introduced a twist, called a “super save” where Johnston and three other contestants were brought back to round out a field of 12 remaining finalists. Johnston continued to win support and finished the show as the runner-up.
Following his new stardom, Johnston is now able to pursue music as a full-time job.
“It’s been the craziest whirlwind of experiences,” Johnston said. “I thought music was going to be more of a side deal, and then I realized as soon as “The Voice” started and as soon as I started getting more attendance at my shows, I figured out that music was the life path I wanted to take where I could afford to do that full-time.”
It’s a far cry from where he started — playing at local bars to grow a fanbase.
Johnston’s Grandfather a “Musical Rock”
“I’ve been cutting my teeth since I was 15 years old,” Johnston said. “I’ve been singing at every open mic night at any bar imaginable. I was playing three- to four-hour shows for a long time.”
Johnston describes his sound as country blues with a touch of red-dirt outlaw country mixed with rock and a little bit of everything. To his family, Johnston’s talent is no surprise — the now 22-year-old received his first Taylor guitar as a gift from his grandparents when he was just 16 years old. Johnston’s grandfather was himself an entertainer in Canada for many years, and taught Johnston his first cords on the guitar before suffering an aneurysm and a stroke.
“He’s definitely been a musical rock throughout my life,” Johnston said. “Before the aneurysm, he’d come to all of my shows, he’d come to the open mics, he’d work 60 to 70 hours a week and still come home and watch me practice. He’s always been there and that was really something nice to have, that support system.”
Despite his memory loss, Johnston’s grandfather continues to support Johnston. In fact, his entire family consistently showed up to support him during his journey on “The Voice,” often seen cheering him on in the audience.
“They’ve believed in me since day one, and it’s pushed me in the right direction of continuing all of this,” Johnston said.
Since that first chair turn, Johnston’s swoony, rich voice has become unmistakable to audiences across the country. The rising star is now traveling around the region performing for growing audiences, including Wichita’s own Riverfest, with the hope of signing a record deal of his own in the coming months. Something he’s keeping his energy fully focused on.
“It’s definitely a 24/7 thought,” Johnston said.
Jaelen Johnston on “The Voice”
