Cori Kennedy Earns Two-Chair Turn on The Voice with Judds Classic
From softball champion to aspiring country star, Cori Kennedy has taken a leap of faith that’s already paying off. The 28-year-old Minnesota native, who once played championship softball at Minnesota State University, swapped bats for guitars and stunned the coaches during her Blind Audition on The Voice.
From the Field to the Stage
Kennedy admits that music was always her dream, but after college she found herself working as a furniture salesperson. Just as she was leaning into her career offstage, fate intervened.
“I hit this point where I thought, maybe this is just a hobby … Then the very next week a talent scout reached out from The Voice. I took it as a big sign that I was supposed to chase this,” Kennedy told Country Rebel.
So she dropped everything and set her sights on the big stage.
A Judds Classic & A Surprise Twist
On Monday night (September 29), Kennedy walked onto The Voice stage with her guitar in hand and delivered a heartfelt rendition of The Judds’ 1984 hit “Why Not Me.”
Her warm, powerful tone quickly won over Reba McEntire, who spun her red chair, followed closely by Michael Bublé.
Then came a surprise: after her performance, Kennedy asked the coaches if she could sing an original song she had written about them. The playful verses gave shoutouts to Snoop, Reba, Niall, and Bublé, drawing laughs and applause across the room.
Snoop Dogg encouraged her boldness, telling her, “Next time you come on The Voice, come out with an original song. That bangs!”
Coaches React
Reba grew emotional after hearing Kennedy sing.
“I’m just so thrilled to be back on The Voice and to hear your voice on that stage singing. It just took me back to Tennessee. Makes me homesick. Your voice is wonderful, such power,” Reba said, visibly choking up.
Michael Bublé added that Kennedy was “country with a touch of Stevie Nicks.”
But it was Reba’s heartfelt pitch that sealed the deal. When it came time to choose, Kennedy proudly joined Team Reba.
Big Dreams Ahead
Reba praised her new team member as a “spectacular, strong country singer” who wasn’t afraid to take on a Judds classic:
“If you’re gonna tackle a song that Wynonna Judd made famous, girl, you better have your big panties on because that is a tough pair of shoes to follow.”
As for Kennedy, she hopes The Voice is only the beginning.
“More than anything, I want to stand on stage and see people connect with the stories I’ve written. That’s what keeps me moving forward, even when it feels scary. It’s knowing that music has the power to make people feel a little less alone, and that’s what I want to give,” she told Country Rebel.
With her mix of talent, charm, and courage, Cori Kennedy may just have what it takes to go the distance on The Voice—and beyond.