Riley Green Says The Voice Contestant Everett Bounds Could Become A “Household Name”

A raspy country voice and an Eddie Rabbitt classic were enough to make Riley Green turn his chair — and the The Voice coach now believes Everett Bounds could have a much bigger future ahead of him.

The 23-year-old singer from Hesperia, California, impressed the coaches during his Blind Audition with a spirited rendition of Rabbitt’s 1980 hit “Drivin’ My Life Away.” Bounds brought a distinctly country sound, a wide vocal range and plenty of energy to the performance.

For Bounds, the audition was about more than putting his own spin on a familiar song. The lyrics about life on the highway and chasing something better also reflected his own ambition to build a career as a singer.

Riley Green Turns His Chair

Green appeared to be sold on Bounds almost immediately.

Before Bounds had even finished the chorus, Green turned his chair. The other coaches — Kelly Clarkson, Queen Latifah and Adam Levine — could be seen enjoying the performance, but none ultimately followed Green. That meant Bounds automatically earned a spot on Team Riley.

Levine later joked that the coaches already knew where Bounds would end up as soon as Green made his move.

Clarkson admitted she had been singing along with Bounds throughout the performance and loved both his voice and song choice. But she also acknowledged that taking on Green for a country singer had become difficult.

“It’s hard to beat him with country,” Clarkson said, adding that she had “lost every single time” she had tried.

Queen Latifah also praised Bounds, calling it a “wonderful performance.” Although she could not see him clearly from her chair, she could hear the energy he was bringing to the stage. She even jokingly asked the audience how he looked before adding a compliment about his mustache.

Green Hears More Than Just Country

Green had plenty of fun with Bounds’ appearance, joking that he could “hear the mustache” in his singing.

But beneath the humor was a serious assessment of what made Bounds stand out.

Green praised the song choice and said he could hear “a little soul” in the performance. He also pointed to the singer’s versatility, saying he believed Bounds could do “a million different things.”

As a playful welcome to his new team member, Green even pulled out a pair of bib overalls — a fitting gesture for the country singer who had just joined his team.

Later, Green explained that Bounds brought a particular kind of energy he felt had been missing from his team. He also described the 23-year-old as having a “radio voice.”

And then came his biggest prediction.

“He’s one of those guys that you give him the right song, I can see him being a household name,” Green said.

Everett Bounds’ Voice Journey Continues

Bounds now moves forward with Team Riley as Season 30’s Blind Auditions continue. His distinctive country sound and versatility have already given Green a clear reason to believe there is more to discover from the young singer.

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC, with new episodes available the following day on Peacock.