‘The Voice’ Winner Chevel Shepherd: From the Rodeo to the Big Stage
Tyler Golden/NBC Reading Time: 3 minutes
Team Kelly member Chevel Shepherd dominated during her time on Season 15 of The Voice. The young singer was only 16 years old when she stunned viewers every week with her powerful voice. Her blind audition of the Perry Band song “If I Die Young” turned three chairs. the singer was mature for her age and handled her new found fame like a season’s vet.
Chevel Auditioned for The Voice Twice
The singer auditioned when she was 13 years old but did not make it through. When Season 15 was casting, Chevel was invited to a private audition. For her audition Chevel’s rendition of “If I Die Young” managed to get a three chair turn around from coaches Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Blake Shelton. Clarkson enjoyed the singer’s old school country sound as opposed to how the country genre has changed over the years. Chevel ultimately decided to join Team Kelly.
Chevel Performed Mostly Oldies on ‘The Voice’
Oldies but goodies. Many thought that the 16 year old country singer would perform more current hits during her time on the show, but Chevel stuck to her old school country roots. She won the hearts of viewers with her renditions of songs such as George Strait’s “You Look So Good in Love,” The Chicks’s “Travelin’ Soldier, and Loretta Lynn’s “You’re Lookin’ at country.”
Chevel Makes ‘The Voice’ History
We are sure Clarkson is equally proud of this achievement. Chevel made The Voice history when she became the first country winner of the show that was not on Team Blake. It took fifteen seasons, but Team Kelly made it happen. Shelton had previously won with country singers such as Season 4 winner Danielle Bradbery and Season 11 winner Sundance Head.
Country Roots
The singer was born in New Mexico and fell in love with country music alongside her family. Chevel would perform with her mother and sister at rodeos growing up. Her youth performances is how Chevel perfected her music craft. When she first began to sing, Chevel’s favorite song to perform was American Idol alum Carrie Underwood’s “Cupid’s Got A Shotgun.”
Queen of Christmas
The Voice champion may be coming after Mariah Carey’s queen of Christmas title. Chevel released an album filled with Christmas covers during the height of Covid-19. A Good Ol’ Country Christmas was released in December of 2020. Staying true to form Chevel stuck to older lesser known country Christmas classics for the album.
Music Journey
Since winning The Voice, Chevel has released multiple singles including “Just Like the Circus, which was written by Kacey Musgraves, and “Southern Boy.” Now at 18 years old the singer recently debuted her first EP Everybody’s Got a Story. The seven track title was recorded in Nashville and includes most of Chevel’s singles that she has put out over the years. Before the pandemic the singer continued to perform at live shows and country music festivals. She is currently working on a full length album.
