‘The Voice’ Standout Jacquie Roar Opens Up About Switching Teams, Connecting with Reba, And Reveals Exciting Plans For The Future
Roar tried out for ‘The Voice’ for nine consecutive years before she made it and says it was “the best experience” she’s ever had.
Jacquie Roar; Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC
From Team Gwen to Team Reba, Jacquie Roar captivated fans of The Voice with her powerhouse vocals, earning herself a four-chair turn, coasting her way to the finale, and ultimately finishing in fourth place on season 24. Serving as an artist who performs the perfect mixture of “rock, country, and classics,” the 37-year-old is truly one-of-a-kind, promising a plethora of new music to come post-show.
In an exclusive interview with Country Now, Jacquie gave those who kept up with her journey on The Voice a glimpse into the future – which includes a single titled “Bad Habit” and a forthcoming collaboration with fellow contestant BIAS – as well as reflected on her journey on the series as a whole.
Switching From Team Gwen to Team Reba
With John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, and Reba McEntire each begging for Jacquie Roar to join their team after she blew the roof off of NBC Studios with her rendition of “Here for the Party” by Gretchen Wilson – earning herself a four-chair turn – the Oregon native had quite the decision to make during the blind auditions.
Admitting that she “grew up listening to Gwen Stefani,” Jacquie naturally had to join the team of one of her biggest inspirations, however, she spilled to Country Now that “there was a missing connection” with Gwen almost instantaneously, before diving into the details.
Competing against fellow country singer BIAS in the battle rounds, Jacquie dished, “Gwen had already made up her mind. She already loved BIAS, so she wasn’t like one hundred percent into me, if that makes sense. Only I would notice it, because I’m a really good judge of character… I knew that she really loved him.”
Unsurprisingly, Gwen chose BIAS after the pair’s bombastic performance of Jelly Roll’s “Need a Favor” during the battle rounds, but Jacquie’s luck did not run out there. With the queen of country herself, Reba McEntire, using her steal on Jacquie Roar – and admitting that she had been wanting her on her team from the very beginning of the beloved competition series – she was swiftly given a second chance.
Jacquie’s connection with Reba was immediately stronger than her connection with Gwen, ultimately revealing in our exclusive interview, “When I walked into the room with Reba, it was almost like she was bragging to Wynonna,” who happened to be the Mega Mentor for season 24 of The Voice.
She continued passionately, “The difference really is how much they wanted to invest in me, and I could tell with Reba that she really wanted to take me all the way.” Lucky for Jacquie, that is exactly what happened, winning her knockout round against Alison Albrecht and Tom Nitti, as well as securing her spot in the live shows after her playoff performance.
Relationship with Reba McEntire
Since serving as a member of the inaugural Team Reba, Jacquie has managed to stay in touch with her coach beyond the beloved competition series, with Reba not only helping her throughout The Voice, but throughout the country music industry as well.
“We’re still communicating, and so she’s still coaching me through this industry… She’s taught me patience. She’s taught me power stance before I perform. Especially like on a ballad, it’s really important to have that moment of power before you start so that you can start strong. She’s taught me how to just be still and sing instead of just be wild, you know, because I’m a wild girl on the stage, and I would say she’s taught me kindness and giving myself grace,” she gushed.
Aside from teaching her loads and loads of tips and tricks to be successful, Reba has also connected Jacquie with some individuals who will help her further her musical career beyond The Voice.
“My manager is actually her old agent… On the 22nd, we’re going to be going and having dinner together all of us, and you know, she’s connected me with some people that are really important to her to kind of get the ball rolling for me outside of the show, and yeah, we’re emailing back and forth still,” Jacquie admitted, revealing that her coach even gave her some insight when it comes to the release of her forthcoming single “Bad Habit.”
Post-Show Plans – Music and Touring
Diving into the details of the soon-to-be smash hit – which Jacqie has been teasing via social media ever since the show wrapped – “Bad Habit” is centered around “liking bad boys. It’s kind of a bad habit, obviously, because you shouldn’t, but you know, those tattoos and that eight-pack! It’s a really great song. It’s a rock country song, and I’m gonna be working with Rob Beckham who is working with The Orchard – who’s a label under Sony – to get this distributed.”
Admitting that “there are talks of getting signed” as well, Jacquie Roar’s dreams are finally coming true.
While she is hesitant to release any information regarding her second single, Jacquie admitted that there is a track coming after “Bad Habit” that will hit all music streaming platforms this April. “I’m not releasing any details to that yet, but it is a banger, and I’ll tease it when the time is right,” she spilled.
Aside from working on some brand-new tunes, the Oregon native revealed that she has been booking shows every day, and one of her forthcoming performances will feature a few familiar faces.
Post-Show Plans – Collaborating With Her Fellow Contestants
Admitting that she was close with individuals like BIAS, Nini Iris, Mara Justine, Huntley, Stee, and more throughout her journey on The Voice, Jacquie shared some thrilling news for fans of the show. She shared with Country Now, “On March 22nd, I am flying out BIAS and Nini to come do a show here in Salem with me, and I’m so excited because I love those two.”
Speaking of BIAS, Jacquie also admitted that she and her battle round partner are working on a duet with one another that is sure to knock anyone’s socks off who tuned into season 24 of The Voice. She teased, “I have a duet coming out with BIAS as well that we recorded… We are very close with each other and we want to support each other in our endeavors, and I think that means partnering up as well. If I’m going to be making it, then I want my friends to make it too.”
Advice for Aspiring Artists
Last but certainly not least, Jacquie gave some words of wisdom to anyone who is thinking about auditioning for The Voice, deeming it to be “the best experience” she’s ever had and a pivotal moment in her musical career.
“If you guys are thinking about auditioning for The Voice and you’re a little scared, do not be scared,” the 37-year-old prefaced, before diving into the details.
“I tried out every year for nine years, and I got told no over and over again, and finally they said yes to me, and it was the best experience I’ve ever had. I’ve made amazing friends. The staff was incredible. Just absolutely respectful. They care about you… And the coaches are incredible. Even though I worked with Gwen and Reba, Niall would come up to me in between sets and talk to me about stuff… The coaches are there for you. It may not look like it or it may be perceived as scripted, but my experience was very organic, my experience was very natural, and I feel very loved and respected by everybody who was involved,” she shared with a beaming smile.
Fans can stream The Voice season 24 via Peacock to watch Jacquie Roar’s journey from the very beginning, and they can connect with the soon-to-be superstar on social media at @jacquieroar for updates on her brand new tunes, as well as any upcoming live performances.
Written by
Melanie Rooten
Originally from Southern California and currently residing in Music City, Melanie graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism before beginning her career as a music and entertainment journalist. Beginning to write for Country Now in August of 2023, she has also contributed to Holler, Music Mayhem, Country Chord, Celeb Secrets, Celeb Secrets Country, We Got This Covered and Decider throughout her career thus far. When she is not writing, Melanie enjoys going to concerts and music festivals, binging her favorite television shows, spending time with her friends and family and cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners (of course).