Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Chevel Shepherd performs during her blind audition on The Voice Season 15. (NBC Photo)

Her dad loves automobiles, so he named her after a Chevy Chevelle. Not only because he loves cars, Chevel added, but also because he thought it sounded “like a rock star name.”

She didn’t get to share the story of her own Chevy Chevelle. At least not until a conference call with the media that next day.

The 16-year-old from Farmington, N.M., says her dad bought a 1972 Chevelle and it was supposed to become her first car.

But there was a tiny problem. Chevel stands just 4-foot-10.

“We had to get rid of it because I couldn’t reach the pedals and I couldn’t see over the steering wheel,” Chevel said with a laugh.

“He bought it and it was just the body. There was no motor in it. We were going to build it together so whenever I drove it, it would be a memory of me and my dad, of us working on it together.”

The story still might have a happy ending. Chevel said she hasn’t gotten a replacement first car, but her dad Robert is hoping to acquire another Chevelle.

“One that’s hopefully more put together so that we can work on it and make it fit me better.”

Her audition for The Voice certainly had a happy ending. Chevel impressed all of the coaches with her version of “If I Die Young” and prompted chair turns from Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.

Though she shocked some fans by deciding to join Team Kelly in spite of her obvious admiration of Blake and the fact that they share a birthday.

Chevel explained that too during the conference call.

“I was pretty much going with my gut and the advice they gave me,” she said. “She (Kelly) gave me advice like I was in my head a lot, and I do agree with her.

“And I like the fact that she’s so versatile and she’s not all country, but she does work with some country artists. (I thought maybe) she could take me on a different path.”

We’ll next see Chevel during The Voice battle rounds, which begin in a couple of weeks. For more on the teen from New Mexico, head here.

The blind auditions continue Monday night.

See also …
After turning four chairs, Sandy Redd talks about her Voice coaching pick
Audri Bartholomew talks about a last-second chair turn and singing with JHUD
Dave Fenley talks about the RNC and ‘Make America Great Again’
Kyberli Joye talks about being blocked on The Voice
Night 3 recap with videos of each performance
Night 4 recap with videos of each performance