Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Flanked by coach Kelly Clarkson, Chevel Shepherd answers questions during a post-victory Voice press conference. (NBC Photo)

About 45 minutes into Tuesday’s Season 15 finale on The Voice, Chevel Shepherd had a that-could-be-me moment.

The moment came when Season 14 champ Brynn Cartelli took the stage to sing her new single, “Last Night’s Mascara,” with Voice coach Kelly Clarkson cheering her on from her big red chair.

“It’s really cool watching Brynn follow her dreams and knowing Kelly has stuck behind her this whole way through since she won the show,” Chevel, 16, said during a post-show press conference Tuesday.

“Seeing her (Brynn) doing that, knowing I can do that to and having someone like Kelly behind me — it’s just great knowing Ihave great person behind me.”

A little more than an hour later, the that-could-be-me moment became reality when Chevel was named Season 15 winner of The Voice, beating out Kennedy Holmes of Team Jennifer Hudson and Kirk Jay and Chris Kroeze of Team Blake Shelton.

And, yep, Kelly sounded ready to stand behind the gal she dubbed her Country Tinker Bell, just as she’s stood behind Brynn, who is now managed by her husband, is signed to the same label as Kelly (Atlantic Records) and is about to embark on her first national tour as an opening act for Kelly.

Asked about Chevel touring with her, Kelly said the first step is to ensure that the new Voice champ gets to make the kind of classic country album she’d like.

The original American Idol reminded the press that she knows something about having to fight for albums that are a true representation of one’s artistry.

“There’s totally a way we can make her sound work nowadays,” Kelly said of Chevel. “I want to thank Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and other people for bringing back that old vibe of country music, enabling us to do that. I want to make sure she makes the record she wants to make before she goes out on the road.”

Minutes after her victory, Chevel said she was “still hyperventilating” over the outcome.

But she also said she felt super blessed, for the opportunity The Voice presented, for having Kelly watch over her and for that outcome.

The teen from Farmington, N.M., said the best pieces of advice Kelly gave her were to stay true to herself and to have fun during her journey on the show.

The country music she sang — including an original song called “Broken Hearts” that’s still number one on iTunes — well, that came naturally.

“I’ve been listening to country music since I was tiny … Well, I’m still tiny, but since I was tinier,” said Chevel, who stands 4-foot-11. “I love the story behind (the music) and it always has so much heart.”

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