Stee’s Upbeat ‘The Voice’ Audition Is a Tribute to His Late Cousin

A vibrant 34-year-old set off a coaches battle on The Voice with his cover of Maroon 5‘s hit, “Sugar.” During the latest round of blind auditions, the singer known as Stee took the stage with upbeat energy and a bubbly stage presence, his performance including fancy footwork and some impressive high notes.

John Legend was the first to turn his chair, soon followed by Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan, the latter of whom was blocked by Legend. New coach Reba McEntire also pressed her button, earning Stee a four-chair turn. Stee ended the performance on a strong note with plenty of personality and charisma that also earned him a standing ovation from the coaches.

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“You got the whole package,” McEntire raved of the Bluffton, South Carolina, native who’s been singing professionally since he was 14. Stee is a member of the Stee & The Ear Candy Band with his sister and one of his best friends. The band formed in 2015 and frequently performs at Kind of Blue in Hilton Head, South Carolina, covering songs by Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson among many other popular artists.

“This makes me so upset,” a stressed-out Horan said, looking defeated in his big red chair. “More than anything, I love your character, that uplifting heart that you have, your energy,” Stefani praised, adding that she can help him transition from being in a band to being a solo artist like she did with No Doubt. “You’re so gifted.”

While all the coaches made compelling arguments for Stee to be on their team, the singer has a special connection to Legend, telling him that his music had a deep impact on his late cousin, Matthew, who died three weeks before the audition. “He is your biggest fan,” Stee told Legend. “I dedicate this entire thing to him. I just want to thank you so much for giving so much to Matthew. You really helped him get through some tough times.”

“We’re all so moved by you just being here and the fact that you’re as talented as you are and then on top of that seem to be such a lovely human being, we’re excited to have you on the show,” Legend professed. When it came down to deciding his fate on the show, Stee went with his heart and chose Legend as his coach.

Photo by Greg Gayne/NBC