The Voice season 1 contestant Kelsey Rey returns to season 26 as Felsmere

The Voice star Felsmere a.k.a kelsey Rey/ Image via @NBC
The Voice star Felsmere a.k.a kelsey Rey/ Image via @NBC

The Voice kicked off another engaging season on NBC on September 23, 2024, and fans can not get enough of the thrilling blind auditions. The show has come with two episodes so far, and contestants are already causing coaches of season 26 to fight for them. Fans of the show got into a frenzy when a season 1 contestant, Kelsey Rey, who advanced to the battle episode during the 2011 season, participated in this season as Felsmere.

Season 1 of the show had Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton as the coaches, and Kelsey joined CeeLo Green's team. Kelsey drew a three-chair turn by performing Estella's American Boy. After more than a decade, Kelsey, like the show, evolved into a better version and came to claim the glory once more.

Felsmere, a.k.a. Kelsey Rey, performed Some Kind of Wonderful during her blind auditions in episode 2, which aired on September 30, 2024. This performance made Gwen and Michale turn their chairs for her. Felsmere impressed the coaches with her jazz-infused vocals, and Gwen was ready to take her in because she believed in her dreams.


Kelsey Rey returns as Felsmere in season 26 of The Voice.

Along with another season, The Voice welcomed an old contestant this year. Felsmere, better recognized by the fans as Kelsey Rey, made a comeback almost after 13 years, and if that is not dedication, then what is? Kelsey adopted a new stage name, Felsmere, for season 26 and came back with more experience, better vocals, and accentuated confidence, making her the first contestant to rejoin the show after being on a team in the previous season.

It is common for artists to return for the blind auditions, but none has returned to the show, advanced through the blind auditions, and made it to a team. Felsmere expressed her prior experience before going on the stage in season 26, episode 2, The Voice, and said:

"In Season 1, I was young and timid. I’m coming in with a new sound, and I hope the Coaches love it."

After her performance, Felsmere told the coaches that she had been on the show in season 1 of The Voice and was eliminated in the battle round after performing from Team CeeLo. Michael Buble was highly fascinated by her jazzy tone and turned the chair first, and Gwen ultimately followed him. Gwen expressed her wish to work with her closely and invited her to join her team. She said:

"I’m always trying to find people who have big dreams that I already lived, that I can Coach and figure out how to find their identity through these songs. I feel like it would be so amazing for me to hang out with you, to figure out who you are, and I’d love to have you on Team Gwen.”

Buble quickly appreciated Felsmere and told her she would do great in the show.

“You have this kind of jazzy thing going. That, to me, means that you can stride between the pop world and the jazz world. You’re perfect with your runs. You have a really sweet tone. Whoever you choose, you’re going to be great on this show,” Michael told Felsmere.

Felsmere, a.k.a Kelsey Rey, ultimately chose Gwen as her coach, and now fans will see her one more time batting with other artists in the arena to win The Voice.


The Voice Season 26 airs fresh episodes on Mondays at 8/7c on NBC. A day after the original broadcast by NBC, the episodes will be available on Peacock to stream.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni