‘Goosebumps’: Viewers Pick Their Early ‘Winner’ as Season 27 of ‘The Voice’ Premieres – Video

From the moment the stage lights shone a spotlight on Ethan Eckenroad, it was clear he was about to deliver something special. Armed with his guitar, the Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania resident began strumming effortlessly to Noah Kahan's “Northern Attitude,” immediately catching the attention of the coaches.

Ballerini was the first to react, letting out a delighted, “Oh!” while Legend swayed along and nodded approvingly, saying, “Alright.”

As soon as Eckenroad began singing, it took only seconds for Levine to slam his button, prompting cheers from the audience. He was swiftly followed by Ballerini.

Legend turned his chair next, and, finally, Bublé completed the four-chair turn, solidifying the singer as one of the standout vocalists of the night.

Eckenroad's rich, emotional delivery and commanding stage presence left the coaches transfixed, watching in awe as he poured his heart into every lyric. By the time he finished, all four coaches were on their feet, giving him a well-earned standing ovation.

With the performance over, Eckenroad took a moment to chat with the coaches—each of whom was eager to claim him for their team. Levine wasted no time expressing his admiration, telling the artist, “I have been waiting for you, my friend.”

The Maroon 5 frontman didn't hold back, calling Eckenroad the best voice he had heard during the entire Blind Auditions, adding, “It would be a tragedy if you weren't on my team.”

Legend, however, wasn't about to let Adam Levine have an easy win, teasing him for his persuasive tactics before Ballerini made her own case. She openly gushed over Eckenroad's performance and declared herself a fan.

Then, in a lighthearted attempt to win the contestant over, Michael Bublé played on his love for country music—pulling out an old photo of himself sporting a mullet as proof of his deep-rooted appreciation for the genre.

Legend, determined to make an impression, took things up a notch, bringing out a skilled sign spinner who flipped and twisted a board with the words “Team Legend” boldly displayed.

Following Eckenroad's jaw-dropping performance, online viewers took to social media to share their admiration, with many already predicting his success in the competition.

Netizens were left in awe of his vocal prowess, with one fan raving, “His vocal is clean as a whistle.” Another echoed the sentiment, “So talented!!! Blew me away!!❤️.”

“Wow! He is incredible! His voice is pure goosebumps!! Bravo! 👏” swooned a fellow supporter, while another expressed, “Brought tears to my eyes.”

One admirer asserted, “That deserves a four chair [sic] turn.” Another fan described his talent as “Pure, unique and AMAZING!”

Amid the widespread praise, some were already calling Eckenroad a clear frontrunner for the season. “OMG….And there you have it. The winner. wow [sic]….” wrote one excited viewer. Another confidently predicted, “Ethan will be a finalist this season! Authentic unique vocalist.”

Beyond his show-stopping performance on Season 27 of NBC's “The Voice,” which is streamable on Peacock, Eckenroad has already made a name for himself as a rising talent in the modern folk music scene.

Hailing from the foothills of the Appalachians in Pennsylvania, Eckenroad is a gifted singer-songwriter whose music is deeply rooted in raw, heartfelt storytelling.

His songs—crafted from personal experiences and real-life inspiration—reflect his passion for forging meaningful connections through music.

Before stepping into the spotlight on national television, Eckenroad spent nearly seven years as a music director and worship leader at a local church. However, in 2022, when the church was forced to close its doors, he found himself at a crossroads.

Rather than stepping away from music, he embraced a new path—one that led him to songwriting and a love for creating narrative-driven melodies that resonate with listeners.

Eckenroad's performance preference leans toward intimate venues and theater settings where he can create shared moments with his audience. He values the connection between performer and listener, aiming to craft experiences that are not just performances, but memories.

Despite his growing success, he remains deeply rooted in his hometown, where he lives with his wife and their daughter.

For those eager to hear more of his music beyond his time on “The Voice,” Eckenroad's songs are available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. His official website also features a striking photo gallery showcasing images of him performing—capturing the essence of an artist who is not only talented but deeply passionate about his craft.

While Eckenroad undeniably stole the show with his breathtaking performance, he wasn't the only contestant to leave a lasting impression during the show's Season 27 premiere.

The round of Blind Auditions featured a lineup of talented hopefuls, each bringing their unique artistry to the stage and making for an exciting start to the season.

Among the night's most memorable performances was Grace-Miller Moody of Team Adam, whose rendition of Maroon 5's “Sunday Morning” showcased a dynamic jazz-infused tone that effortlessly shifted from growly to light and playful.

The four-chair turn earned praise for its distinctive quality, with Moody's voice standing out as one of the most interesting of the night.

Renzo, who secured a spot on Team Legend, delivered a stunning take on “Simple Man,” bringing an effortlessly powerful and deeply emotional performance that captivated the room.

His stripped-down yet commanding delivery was so impressive that Legend used his Block to prevent Levine from recruiting him—a strategic move that may pay off as the competition progresses.

Another standout moment came from Iris Herrera, a determined contestant who returned after failing to turn a chair in Season 26. This time, she won over every coach except for Levine with a raw and emotionally charged performance of “You Are My Sunshine.”

Her perseverance and undeniable talent earned her a well-deserved spot on Team Ballerini, setting the stage for what could be an exciting journey ahead.

Over on Team Bublé, Jadyn Cree—who happens to be the daughter of Season 25's Bryan Olesen—tackled Paramore's “Still Into You.” Her “'90s pop voice,” as described by Levine, helped her land a place in the competition.

Darius J, a three-chair turn on Team Levine, brought plenty of charisma and stage presence with his rendition of “Caught Up.”

Another contestant, Angie Rey joined Team Ballerini after singing “Penthouse (Healed Version),” though even her own coach noted her nerves were evident throughout the performance.

Other auditions included Carlos Santiago (Team Bublé), whose dramatic take on “Right Here Waiting” bordered on theatrical pop-opera, and Dan Kiernan (Team Ballerini), whose high-energy performance of “High Hopes” was packed with enthusiasm.

With such a strong mix of vocalists, “The Voice” is already shaping up to be an exciting season—one filled with fierce competition and unforgettable moments.

Praise for Eckenroad's performance comes amid social media users' strong reactions to seeing Levine return to his role as a coach on the show. While some were excited about it, others expressed disappointment, with some stating they may stop watching altogether.

One user shared their frustration, “Watched it, but not real happy with judge choices this year. Sad. I was looking forward to it starting back up. Disappointed!!”

Some viewers expressed disappointment over the absence of former coaches, with one user commenting, “Just not the same without the previous coaches Miss Gwen, Reba, Blake, Snoop and more Not a fan of Adam [sic].”

However, not all reactions were negative. One fan celebrated Levine's return, “I AM SOOOOOO GLAD Adam is back.. They are all amazing but Adam has always been a favorite..”

Others brought up past criticisms of Levine's coaching style. One user recalled a controversial moment from a previous season, “Any contestant with common sense would stay away from picking Adam. My jaw dropped when he told one of his Team members that ‘he had to support his girl.' A team member that was sick and didn't perform that night. Didn't pan out well because she got sent home! But to tell the audience to basically vote for one team member over another….. I lost all respect for Adam [sic].”

Despite the mixed reactions, some fans remained excited about the new season. One user wrote, “Sooo good ! And am so glad Adam is back !!! Love me some Maroon 5 [sic]!!!!”

In a recent interview with People, Levine opened up about why now was the right time for his return to “The Voice.” “I honestly feel like the stars aligned. It was one of those moments where we started talking about it and it felt right… and it hadn't felt right until now,” he said.

Levine had initially stepped away from “The Voice” after Season 16, explaining that he needed a break from being on television.

He described his years on the show as an “interesting and beautiful thing” but admitted that working on “The Voice” non-stop for nearly a decade led to exhaustion. “Doing it for so long, so consistently, for almost eight or nine years of my life, you can definitely start to get burnt,” he noted.

During his time away, Levine refocused on his music and personal life. “I did it for this really long period of time so I started to feel like I was kind of getting away from things that matter to me the most, like making music and playing music,” he explained.

Taking a break allowed him to slow down and appreciate other aspects of his life. “It was so nice to have one job,” he reflected, adding that he is now ready to welcome back a significant part of his life.

Levine also credited his fellow coaches—Ballerini, Bublé, and Legend—for making his return feel right. “I got lucky because I got these guys,” he said, expressing enthusiasm for working alongside them.

Now that he is back, Levine shared that his approach to the show has evolved. “I don't really see it as a competition anymore, and I know they're not going to like that, but that's not what it is,” he added.

He emphasized that the real purpose of the show is to mentor aspiring artists, “It's an opportunity for us to share our experiences with the people on the show. And it always has been that.”

While he acknowledged that competitiveness is still a part of “The Voice,” he believes his primary role is to guide and support contestants. “I think that's really valuable for the people on the show that are needing that experience, or that push, that help. And that's what I think we're there for,” explained the pop star.

Levine's return was officially announced in June 2024. He was an original coach when “The Voice” premiered in 2011 alongside Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green. He remained on the show for 16 seasons until his departure in 2019, later making guest appearances before his full-time return on Season 27.

Back in October 2019, Levine appeared on “The Howard Stern Show” and explained the reason behind his original exit from “The Voice.”

“The real answer is that I was ready to not be doing it anymore… for a little bit,” he admitted. He described the decision as something that happened naturally, “For better or worse, the moment in which we decided to walk away felt really good. This was the right time for me to go.”

Levine had been juggling multiple commitments, including his music career with Maroon 5, for nearly a decade. “For eight-and-a-half years, I was so busy — [I] had the band, [I] had ‘The Voice.' I was beyond fortunate to go through all of it because it was a life-altering experience being on that show,” he shared.

However, as his personal life changed, so did his priorities. “Then it got to the point where I got married, I had two kids, and I wanted to spend time with them,” Levine added.

His break from the show allowed him to focus on his family while continuing his music career. Now, six years after leaving, Levine is stepping back into the red chair with a new outlook and renewed energy.

Season 27 of “The Voice” premiered on Monday, February 3, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. While reactions to Levine's return have been mixed, there is no doubt that his comeback is one of the most talked-about moments of the new season.