Derby singer gets second chance on ‘The Voice.’ We’ll find out tonight how long it lasts.
Two weeks ago, it looked like Derby cowboy Jaelen Johnston had reached the end of the trail on the NBC singing competition “The Voice.”
Then, the internet turned on Kelsea Ballerini.
On Monday night’s episode of the show, Johnston — a 22-year-old member of the Derby High School class of 2021 — was one of four previously eliminated singers brought back by a twist called the “Super Save.”
Each of the four celebrity judges — Ballerini, Michael Buble, John Legend and Adam Levine — was able to choose one singer who’d failed to make it to the finals and bring him or her back. Ballerini chose Johnston, who is now one of the 12 finalists who has a chance to win the show on the May 20 finale.
“I’m so glad that now we can let America know,” said Ballerini, who on May 5 chose another contestant over Johnston to move on to the show’s Live Rounds. “I was getting demolished. They’re like, ‘Chelsea, you fool.’ And I’m like, ‘Guys, I know.’”
But Johnston’s return will last only if people called in votes for him before 6 a.m. CST on Tuesday morning. The show is whittling the pool of 12 finalists down to five based on America’s votes, and the top five will be named on Tuesday night’s show.
After he was announced as one of the saved contestants on Monday night, Johnston got another chance to perform. The competition’s only remaining country singer, Johnston sang a rendition of Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck.”
“I’m excited for America to vote,” Ballerini said on the show. “People are really invested in their favorite artists, and clearly Jaelen is a favorite.”
Tuesday night’s show, when the top five singers will be announced, starts at 8 p.m. on NBC.
This story was originally published May 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM.
.jpg)