Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Chevel Shepherd and Sarah Grace listen to feedback following their knockout round match on The Voice Season 15. (NBC Photo)

Kelly Clarkson once again pitted friends against one another in the knockout round on The Voice when she had Chevel Shepherd square off against fellow teen Sarah Grace.

In this case, it worked out for both artists.

Kelly declared Chevel the winner after her moving performance of The Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier.”

She rewarded Sarah with a well-deserved save following her soulful rendition of “I’d Rather Go Blind.”

Of course, Sarah suspected it might work out that way.

“Honestly, we both felt very secure going into this knockout round because we knew that Kelly had kept her save for us,” she told Voice Views. “And we were both knew that we were going to put on beautiful performances.”

Chevel, 16 when she auditioned and from Farmington, N.M., picked “Travelin’ Soldier” in honor of an older brother who served in the military. She said it’s a song she sang often with her mom and sister, but never in public before.

Sarah said she picked “I’d Rather Go Blind” because it’s the song that “ignited my interest in the blues.” Just 15 when she auditioned, she fronts her own blues band — Sarah Grace and The Soul — back home in the Houston, Texas, area.

Now both advance to the live playoffs Monday night where they will sing for fans’ votes for the first time.

In the live playoffs, two singers from each team advance based on those votes; each coach will save a third singer. The other three team members head home.

Sarah said she’s hoping to show that she’s not just a singer, but a well-rounded musician.

“I play both the trumpet and the Hammond B3 (organ),” she said. “And those would both be firsts on the show.”

As for Chevel’s goal in the live playoffs and beyond …

“I really want everyone to hear how powerful my voice is,” she told Voice Views. “They’ve only seen a little bit. I have many surprises that I can’t wait to show my fans. I also want them to hear a little more of my yodel.”

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