How JaRae Womack Got a 4-Chair Turn With Her “Standout,” “Soul-Touching” Audition

When all four Coaches attempted to get JaRae Womack to join their team after her The Voice audition, which resulted in a 4-Chair Turn, the word “soul” came up a lot. That’s fitting, because the 35-year-old West Palm Beach, Florida, resident isn’t just a soul singer — it’s “in her blood and her lineage.” 

As Womack, who has been singing since she was 4, explained ahead of her audition, her grandfather Cecil Womack was a soul singer who was part of a group called The Valentinos and whose career got a star thanks to the legendary Sam Cooke. Cecil Womack also wrote the song Love TKO, which as performed by Teddy Pendergrass, reached No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. Cecil’s brother (and JaRae’s uncle) Bobby Womack was also a famous musician, as he was part of the Valentinos along with Cecil and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

So, Womack clearly has a musical heritage, but it remained to be seen whether she herself had the musical chops, especially because she had paused on performing music since 2016 when her son was born. 

Soul Singer JaRae Womack sings Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black"

Jarae Womack performs on The Voice during "The Blind Auditions Part 5" Episode 2405. Photo: Tyler Golden/NBC

“This is for him,” she said of her performance before stepping on the stage. “I stopped my music career, but now this is my moment and I can’t wait.”

Womack sang a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” and it didn’t take long before all four Coaches slammed their buttons. 

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“On big songs like this with such character voices, people tend to try to follow whoever that artist may be, but you completely made it your own,” said Niall Horan, getting down on his knees to plead that Womack join his Team. “So believable. Standout performance.”

Reba McEntire didn’t know the song, but she still praised Womack’s performance, saying “it touched my soul.” “I am so honored and blessed to be in your presence and to get yo be here to hear you sing,” McEntire continued. 

Gwen Stefani was effusive in praise, too, but it was John Legend who made the winning pitch. 

“I couldn’t tell if you were a soul singer, necessarily, but I could tell you were a soulful singer, which means something about it is authentic and true and passionate,” Legend said.

After much deliberation, Womack went with Legend.

“Another 4-Chair Turn coming to Team Legend,” Legend gloated afterward, as he’d already snagged another 4-Chair Turn performer. 

But how far will Roar go? Find out by watching The Voice Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock.