Hear Why RLETTO’s “Powerhouse” Runs Sparked a Chance-Reba Face-Off
The Artist's shimmering pop cover of “Golden Hour” by JVKE got all four Coaches in the groove.
Reggie Lett knows how to make anything cool: As the self-proclaimed pop specialist puts it, you’ve “just gotta add the ‘O!’” Under his performing name RLETTO (an elision of his first and last names, with a dash of “O” thrown in for that added extra-cool factor), the 27-year-old Artist hit the stage for his Season 25 Blind Audition on The Voice with charisma to spare — not to mention a set of pipes that spun Chance the Rapper around only moments into the set.
RLETTO’s dynamic cover of “Golden Hour” by JVKE got a Two-Chair Turn from Chance and Reba McEntire, while just barely missing out on making it a complete four-chair sweep. Dan + Shay stayed on the sidelines but had nothing but love for RLETTO’s smooth vocal runs (plus his “awesome” red leather outfit), while John Legend admitted he came this close to hitting the big red button.
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Watch RLETTO’s Blind Audition on The Voice Season 25
“That was a such a cool performance!” Legend said afterward, with perhaps just a twitch of too-late regret. “I was right on the brink, but I feel like you have so many gifts that you’re, like, still honing and just need a little bit more tightening. But you’re already on The Voice — so that’s exciting!”
Chance, though, had zero misgivings about RLETTO’s confident and composed vocal delivery. “I was the first to turn — sorry, Reba!” he teased in an early bid to win the Artist over to his team. “You’re a powerhouse vocalist. All the runs, to me, felt extremely intentional. I didn’t really see a point where you lost control. I like doing big songs, so if I can be that Coach for you — I wanna be that!”
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McEntire was right on the same page when it came to RLETTO’s smooth style. “I loved your runs; I loved your vocals,” she said. “It was a wonderful performance and I would love to have you on Team Reba!”
RLETTO’s pop sensibilities definitely turned the heads of Dan + Shay, even if the two-for-one Coaches’ duo didn’t quite decide to turn their chairs in the nick of time. “That was phenomenal! I loved your tone,” said Shay Mooney. “And you look freakin’ awesome! That outfit’s sick.”
“When you hit that chorus, that was the sweet spot of your voice,” agreed Dan Smyers. “Incredible, man!”
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In the end, it was Chance who got the win, with RLETTO squadding up on Team Chance to start his Season 25 journey alongside a mentor who, as Chance put it, “reminds me a lot of myself. I’m very into the performance, galvanizing a crowd and getting them wrapped up in the emotion. He seems to be a real performer; a star!”
RLETTO’s cool red costume — matched by his infectious audience appeal — probably didn’t hurt, either: “He looks like Michael Jackson in the ‘Thriller’ video!” said Chance.
