Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Katherine Ann Mohler interacts with the coaches following her blind audition on The Voice Season 21. (NBC Photo)

After all, she was in the final seconds of her blind audition performance of “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off,” and none of the superstar coaches had turned their chairs.

Then it happened. Almost simultaneously, Ariana Grande and Blake Shelton were facing in her direction.

Katherine Ann opted to join Team Ariana after the newest Voice coach complimented her on having “a phenomenal” voice.

The Voice audition isn’t Katherine Ann’s first time on a televised singing show.

Back in 2016, she was one of 11 members of the Briarcrest Christian School’s One Voice a cappella group to compete on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent.

Here’s what Katherine Ann, 22, from Memphis, Tenn., told Voice Views about her blind audition experience.

Voice Views: How did you wind up auditioning for The Voice?

Katherine Ann: I always had friends and family members and acquaintances tell me in the past to audition for the show. I anticipated auditioning at some point in my life, but it never seemed like the right time. But, funny enough when Covid shut everything down, I had an advertisement pop up on my email for virtual open call auditions and so I went for it! I was in the running for season 20 initially but could not be more grateful to be on this season instead, considering who I snagged as my coach!

Voice Views: Did your previous experience performing for America’s Got Talent help in preparing you for The Voice?

Katherine Ann: My experience with America’s Got Talent did help in preparing for the show. Of course, they are two entirely different shows, but it was incredibly helpful to have a previous understanding of the ways to take care of myself throughout the process of a TV competition show (i.e, mental health, ways to spend my time off set, debriefing, etc.)

Voice Views: Why did you decide to perform “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” for your audition song?

Katherine Ann: I chose to sing this song for my blind audition for a few different reasons. I felt that this song shared a lot of versatility in my voice: range, emotion, control, technique. In addition, my favorite songs to sing show raw emotion and paint an elaborate story or message, and this was another reason I picked, “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off.”

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More about Katherine Ann Mohler

Voice Views: You were almost to the end of the performance when the chairs turned. How would you describe that blind audition experience?

Katherine Ann: I would be lying if I did not say that Blake and Ariana turning their chairs at the last second took me by surprise! By the middle of this song, my nerves had calmed down, and I felt that my performance was the best that I could have given. So I had mentally “patted myself on the back” and given myself credit for even being up there at all; But, I definitely had let go of the idea that anybody would turn their chair. I’m still pinching myself!

Voice Views: Why did you decide to join Team Ariana? Did Blake ever have a chance?

Katherine Ann: The comment I hear the most regarding my blind audition is that Blake never even had a chance. But, that’s actually not true! Before I even left for Los Angeles, I knew that if I had multiple chair turns, I was going to go with the coach who was fighting for me the most.

Of course, Ariana is a huge inspiration to me and I knew I would love an opportunity to work with her, ultimately if I felt like another coach was fighting for me more, I would have gone with that person. Your coach is the one who decides whether or not you continue on in the battles and knockouts. So, no; Blake was never out of the question in my head! It came down to what they both said to me, and I resonated with what Ari said more although she had far more room to speak *HA*