Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Brynn Cartelli watches as Kelly Clarkson talks about thier victory on The Voice Season 14. (NBC Photo)

During a press conference immediately after Brynn Cartelli’s victory on The Voice, coach Kelly Clarkson said there’s a game plan already in place for the 15-year-old.

Step one was getting a first original that could be a radio hit.

That would be “Walk My Way,” a song co-written by Julia Michaels that Brynn performed Monday night. It soared to number one on the iTunes pop chart and was at number two on the site’s overall singles chart for a time.

Step two is getting that single on the radio so it can serve as a bridge hit until Brynn’s ready to release more original music.

Kelly says she’s ready to fight to make sure “Walk My Way” hits the airwaves. After all, that’s a fight Kelly’s familiar with.

But the original American Idol said she also has an important piece of advice for her protege, a high school freshman who was 14 when she auditioned for the show and just turned 15 a month ago.

“She’s not ignorant,” Kelly said of Brynn. “We know there’s two seasons (of The Voice) a year. We know you have to capitalize on the momentum.

“It’s amazing that she’s already got all these songwriters and producers who are already into her. And it’s amazing that she’s already an amazing songwriter.

“At the same time,” Kelly added, “I always tell her to stop and enjoy it and not get too overwhelmed and not to be miserable. I didn’t have anybody tell me that. So I constantly annoy her with this message. I’m like, ‘It’s not worth it unless you’re having a good time.'”

Brynn seemed to be having a fine time at the winner’s press conference.

After all, Kelly was being Kelly, answering most of the questions and referring to the new Voice winner as “a little lioness” who was largely responsible for her own success. That included Brynn picking nearly every song she sang on the show.

But Brynn said she not only learned from Kelly — one of her own Idols growing up — but the other people she encountered on The Voice.

“I think about that girl that walked into her first private audition in New York City back last February (2017). I was a completely unaware singer. I had an idea. I had songs I’d written. They weren’t that good.”

Inspiration came in form of fellow contestants and people working behind the scenes at The Voice as well as her coach. Brynn said she’d pick up bits and pieces from the people around her and incorporate that into her own music.

That eventually led to writing songs about people she’d met and experiences she had on the show.

“I’ve been thinking about the album I want to create during the filming of battles and knockouts,” the teen from Longmeadow, Mass., said. “Blinds, I was like — ‘We’ll just try it.’ I wasn’t so sure.

“As soon as it started happening, as soon as it started getting realer and realer, I thought more and more about what I want to do. And I remember being home while battles and knockouts were airing, and I would sit in history class, and I had my songs — my originals I really like — and I would list them in the order in the order I want them for my album or EP.

“But I did pay attention in class,” she added quickly.

Kelly assured Brynn she used to do the very same thing.