Reba McEntire has said again and again, while coaching The Voice this season, the way to win her over is to make her feel something.
On Monday’s episode, which marked the beginning of the Knockouts round of the competition, someone really did. Singer Aubrey Nicole, who’s part of the country singer’s team, pulled at her heartstrings when she performed Martina McBride’s song “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.”
The contestant explained she dedicated the heartbreaking ballad, which is about a cancer patient’s journey, to her cancer-survivor dad.
When it came time for the “Does He Love You” singer to provide feedback to Nicole, she took about 10 seconds to collect herself before speaking.
“I do know this song,” McEntire said. “Martina’s a good friend of mine.”
She stopped midway through to thank her fellow coach Snoop Dogg for bringing her tissues.
“I lost my oldest son, because he did not win with cancer,” McEntire said, as her voice broke. “So that was a real reminder that life goes on, and we sing songs about it, so we can remember the ones that are around us that we love so much and that we lean on at times like this.”
McEntire’s stepson, Brandon Blackstock, was the son of ex-husband Narvel Blackstock, whom she married in 1989 and divorced in 2015, died in August. Brandon had struggled with cancer for more than three years before his death at 48, his family said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
McEntire paid tribute on social media: “Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God’s presence. There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family.”
Blackstock was also the ex-husband of singer Kelly Clarkson, with whom he shared two children: River Rose, 11, and Remy Alexander, who’s 9.
On The Voice, Nicole cried along with McEntire, which made for an all-around touching moment.
“Reba, I need my tissue back,” Snoop quipped.
She told the other coaches in between performers, “This is supposed to be a fun show, I know. But boy, that’s what country music does, it just brings out all the emotions and the stories, and it’ll grab you.”
On the episode, there was an announcement that, while coaches don’t have Saves or Steals during this round of the competition, they have a new tool: a Mic Drop. Coaches McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan, and Michael Bublé will choose one of their team members for the designation, and from there, the audience votes to send one of those artists to appear in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
