Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Rebecca Howell, 18, of Cochran, Ga., performed “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” delivering a solid country vocal. She enticed chair turns from Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend. Rebecca chose Team Kelly, shocking all the judges who expected her to join Team Blake.

About Rebecca:

* We didn’t get to hear much about Rebecca’s background on the show, but her Voice bio says she started entering singing competitions in fifth grade, did well and her late grandmother became her biggest supporter.

* She sings in church and, for about eight months, has been the worship leader at Christ Chapel Cochran.

* Rebecca says most of her performances outside church have been with the Georgia 4-H. She has been singing at the Georgia National Fair every year for the 4-H Variety Show. She was also selected for a premier 4-H vocal group called Clovers and Company for four years.

* Her experience with Clovers and Company led to an opportunity to sing the national anthem at the Georgia National Rodeo. Rebecca said 8,000 to 10,000 people were in attendance, the largest crowd she’d performed for at that point.

* Rebecca said her inspirations include Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Reba, the latter being one reason she chose her audition song. “I grew up listening to this song and it is one of my favorites,” Rebecca told Voice Views. “I really love Reba McEntire and wanted to do a song by her and also thought it would be a really great way to represent Georgia seeing as it is the setting of the song.”

* As for original music, Rebecca said she’s written a few originals with friends, but hasn’t recorded any music yet. She said she’s describe her sound “as a mixture of country, rock and maybe even a little R&B.”

* For someone not used to large performances, Rebecca seemed exceptionally composed on The Voice stage. She credited that to a pre-audition encounter. “Before I stepped on stage I was SO nervous,” she told Voice Views. “There was, however, a moment before I went on stage that someone gave me the best advice I’d ever heard. She said: ‘I know you believe in God and I just want you to know whatever you do on that stage is about Him not you.’ She even told me this little saying to recite before getting on stage, ‘Thank God that they see Thee through me.’ After we talked for a little longer I just had this peace about it and as soon as I stepped on stage I had the best night of my life.”

* As for her somewhat surprising decision to join Team Kelly? “Kelly has had hits in country, so I knew she could help me in that aspect,” Rebecca said. “But she’s also had hits in other genres and I felt like she could help me expand and grow as an artist. I also really love her personality and thought she would be fun to work with.”

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