KNOCKOUT PERFORMANCE: Canton singer advances again on NBC’s ‘The Voice’

Described as “a future star in country music” by current superstar Blake Shelton, Canton native Grace (Rembinski) West advanced to the final 20 performers during Monday night’s taped edition of NBC’s “The Voice”, a singing competition that started in early March with 40 of the strongest “undiscovered” vocalists in the country.

Performing Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again”, West wowed Shelton, who chose her to move on to the show’s playoffs round over Monday’s knockout round opponent Neil Salsich.

“We’re down to the best of the best now,” Shelton said, when the time came for him to choose West or Salsich to advance. “I’m going to go out like I want to here, and the winner of this knockout is Grace.

“It was a tough decision. (Grace) has an old-school country voice and all of the potential she has is still out there in front of her.”

Making Canton proud

West, who graduated from Plymouth High School in 2021 before moving to Nashville to work as a singer/songwriter for Mucho Love Music, said she’s been singing the Dolly Parton song she performed Monday “since I could sing; since words started coming from my mouth.

“I picked the song because it was different than the two songs I picked previously,” West told Shelton and country superstar Reba McEntire during a taped rehearsal.

“I love Dolly Parton. She is this amazing, strong woman who has literally done it all. She has inspired me a lot.”

West made an impression on the pair of renowned entertainers during the rehearsal.

“I could listen to that all day,” Shelton said.

“She’ll love you singing her song,” McEntire told West, referring to her good friend Parton.

‘Unbelievable performance’

“The Voice” playoffs begin May 1, with live semifinal rounds scheduled for May 15 and 16. The live finals will air May 22 and 23.

West was praised by coaches/superstar performers Niall Horan and Chance The Rapper following her performance.

“Grace, that was an unbelievable performance,” said Horan, a solo artist who was formerly a member of the boy band One Direction. “You’ve always been one of my favorites and I’m really excited to hear you after this show. You’re one for the future.”

“Grace, your tone was super-cool, with a southern feel to it,” Chance The Rapper added. “And your pitch is always dope.”

During a pre-performance feature, West thanked her parents, Daryl and Jill, who moved from Canton to Nashville with their daughter in June of 2021.

“My parents mean the world to me,” Grace said. “They’ve sacrificed so much for me, so I put everything I have into this.”

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