Mandi Thomas Slays Maren Morris’ ‘My Church’ On ‘The Voice’

The Voice Knockout Rounds returned Monday evening (April 20) with contestants once again going head-to-head for a shot at advancing…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

April 21, 2020

12:04 pm

Mandi Thomas; Photo by Trae Patton/NBC

The Voice Knockout Rounds returned Monday evening (April 20) with contestants once again going head-to-head for a shot at advancing to the next round. The stakes were high when Team Kelly’s Mandi Thomas faced off against Anaya Cheyenne, but Thomas’ soulful cover of Maren Morris’ “My Church” won Kelly Clarkson over.

“That song is rangey, but you took it even higher, you made it even rangier,” Clarkson gushed over her performance, adding, “Which is what?! So crazy good!”

https://youtu.be/uxVwEBFhbVk

Thomas, a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, is a vocal teacher at the Vision Academy of Performing Arts in Cordova, Tenn. According to reports, she tried to land a slot on several singing competitions and never got her chance until now when Clarkson recognized her talent on The Voice.

Before airing the highly anticipated live shows, The Voice will return on April 27 with a recap episode showcasing the current contestants’ journeys from the blind auditions to the live rounds. Live episodes will begin May 4. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live shows will find the coaches and contestants competing remotely.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.