Jaukeem Fortson, the phenomenal 14-year-old singer currently competing on Season 26 of “The Voice,” continued to wow audiences across the country and received high praise from judge Snoop Dogg.
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During his Blind Audition, Fortson received a three-chair turn from judges Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, and Snoop Dogg. Gwen Stefani, the only judge who didn’t turn her chair around, told the young singer that she had “major regret” for not doing so. “I’m so excited for you because you have so much potential,” Stefani said.
The Elberton, Georgia, native told the judges that he has been singing since he began singing in church at the age of two.
Fortson chose McEntire to be his coach.
On Monday, a month after his Blind Audition, Fortson competed against Reba teammates Adam Bohanan and Cassidy Lee in the Knockouts Round. Fortson chose to sing “God Only Knows” by Grammy Award-winning Christian group for KING + COUNTRY.
“God really knows, and I know if you just let him step into your life, he can do the miraculous,” Fortson told McEntire and mentor Jennifer Hudson during rehearsals.
“This song talks about how if you’re in a hard time, or if you’re struggling with something, that God could meet you where you’re at,” he added. Fortson shared that for KING + COUNTRY’s song has helped him during this year’s school year. The ninth grader explained that when his school work overwhelms him, “God Only Knows” has been instrumental in helping him “feel more calm.”
Fortson’s rehearsal brought Hudson to tears and got her to throw her shoe at him, an expression of extreme appreciation for singing ability. “You got an instrument on you young man,” she told him.
When it came time for him to sing in the Knockout Round, the 14-year-old’s performance got Snoop Dogg out of his chair and raising his hands in worship.
Following Fortson’s performance, Snoop Dogg told Fortson, “When you started singing, I looked [Reba] dead in the barrel of her eyes, and I said, ‘Father, God, help Reba see what I see.’” While referencing who he’d pick to go on to the next round, Snoop Dogg urged McEntire, “I would go with the youngster.”
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