Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Beth Griffith-Manley, 46, of Detroit, Mich., auditioned with “Until You Come Back to Me” by Aretha Franklin. Midway through the performance, she earned chair turns from John Legend and Kelly Clarkson. Kelly complimented her effortless performance and the fact that she nailed an Aretha Franklin song. Noting the similarity of the rasp in their voices, Beth picked Team Kelly.

About Beth …

* Beth grew up around music. Her father, Johnny Griffith, was a member of the famed Motown band The Funk Brothers. He was also Aretha’s first piano player, which explains her blind audition song choice.

* Her job as a receptionist at Harmonie Park Studios eventually led to voice-over work, singing on demos and the job we heard about on the show, singing background for Grammy Award winner Anita Baker.

* Beth says she started that role in 2007. She told Voice Views it was the “most amazing experiences in my life. Working with this iconic singer molded and shaped me so much. I was able to travel the world doing my favorite thing, singing!”

* But it’s hardly her sole career highlight. For the last six years, she’s been touring with Motown recording artist KEM.

* She’s also a principle singer on “Dancing with the Stars” where she sang songs by Aretha and Whitney Houston on Icon Night during Season 22. Since Aretha’s death, she’s also been invited to perform at tributes in her honor, including by Aretha’s family.

* Speaking of Whitney, remember the 2012 film “Sparkle” that also starred former American Idol champ Jordin Sparks. In what Beth calls “my favorite experience of all time,” she served as a stand-in and body double for Whitney. “It was amazing and a dream come true meeting and working with her,” Beth says.

* Amidst all that, Beth still found time to release an album of her own, a 10-track project called “Free” as simply Beth that you can check out on her website. The sassy “High Heels” and “Cheater” are among the album’s highlights. You can check out the music video for the title track below. “The music on the album is indicative to the music I would release on a follow-up album,” Beth told Voice Views. “But I’m always open to change and new ideas.

* Beth said The Voice reached out to her about auditioning earlier, but the timing was wrong because of health problems her mother was battling. “Thankfully, the show called back again,” she said. “I was kind of reluctant to audition for the show at first, due to my age, but I decided to try something different and see what happens. And here I am! Season 16 and Team Kelly!”

* And why Team Kelly? Beth elaborated for Voice Views, saying: “I joined Team Kelly because I love Kelly’s singing and vocal ability. It was a very hard choice between her and John Legend because he’s incredible too … I’m honored that they both turned around for me. They are both where I want to be in my music career. But in the end, my gut said Team Kelly and I went with it.”

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