Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Amanda Mikkel, 31, Los Angeles, Calif., “Moon River” by Andy Williams: Amanda’s wonderful tone enticed almost immediate chair turns from Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson. And Amanda was barely a minute into her performance when she had all four coaches facing in her direction. Adam praised the purity o her vocals and said she has the luxury of having “just a beautiful voice.” He said he connected instantly to the soulfulness and softness of those vocals. Kelly called her tone beautiful, glorious and special. Riley said Amanda’s audition seemed more like a performance. Adam didn’t even give Amanda a chance to choose a coach. He pushed his first-in button to claim her for his team.

Here’s more about Amanda:

* She’s Amanda Mikkel Stollings, from Dayton, Ohio, and now based in Los Angeles.

* She describes herself as an artist, background vocalist, songwriter and creative director on Instagram, where her motto is “say less sing more.”

* And while most of her recorded music is as a background singer or featured vocalists, she’s frequently stepped into the spotlight for live performances.

* In late 2025, she was part of the 100 voices in Harmony choir put together by Jeremy Winston Chorale International. Check out her solo on “For Every Mountain” during a show in Prague below.

* In an Instagram post about the performance, she writes: “I have so much to thank God for. If y’all only knew my story. God has always and is still keeping me. That’s why I praise him.”

* In 2024, Amanda toured with R&B/soul singer Teedra Moses, who was celebrating the 20th anniversary of her acclaimed “Complex Simplicity” album.

* Amanda also sings background on the “Complex Simplicity (Reimagined)” album. Of her experience with Teedra, Amanda writes: “My whole life’s perspective has literally changed and you have reminded me in every area of my life to STAY THE COURSE.”

* Amanda is a featured vocalists on a number of other releases, including “If Only,” a 2025 single from JacQuar 937; and the 2025 live album “Cape town to Cairo” by P.J. Morton and Afro Orleans.

* In her Voice bio segment, Amanda says she’s worked multiple odds jobs because of the cost of living in L.A. and had spent a year and a half living out of her car, with her other property in storage, to keep her dream of pursuing music alive. ‘I could absolutely go home and be comfortable,” she told the show. “but it means so much more that I’m doing what I feel like I’m supposed to be doing.”

Amanda on social media:
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNNovP087