Fourteen-year-old Vinya Chhabra surprised judges on NBC's "The Voice" with powerhouse vocals on Part 5 of the "Blind Auditions" which aired on Oct. 6.
With a voice beyond her years, Vinya, of East Brunswick, performed "Ironic” by Alanis Morissette and eyebrows of all four Season 28 judges − Reba McEntire, Michael Buble, Snoop Dogg and Niall Horan − shot up as soon as Vinya started to sing.
She received a three-chair turn from McEntire, Buble? and Snoop Dogg, with Horan saying he was "kicking himself" for not turning around for her.
McEntire said that she and Buble? were whispering to each other before they turned their chairs, saying they thought the singer was "young" but "what a powerhouse."
"I absolutely loved your voice and your attitude," McEntire said. "And I'd love to have you on my team. I think we'd have a blast."
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Buble? tried his home country connection with Morissette to sway Vinya to choose him as coach. The crooner said he had to turn for a song by his fellow Canadian. He then told Vinya that he was harmonizing with her during the audition. Buble? and Horan then began singing the song again, harmonizing, and Vinya quickly joined in and took the lead.
Once again impressed, Buble? told the young singer that “a great man − Carson Daly − once said, 'We need more rock on this show!'”
"And here it is," Buble? said as he closed his pitch.
Noting he, too, was “rockin' out," Snoop Dogg said Vinya had "superstar quality" and appreciated her rock dedication.
"I’m from the era of rock, rap, alternative all being meshed together," Snoop Dogg said. "You give me the spirit − I was like, 'Man, she sounds young, but that voice sounds powerful.' Then when I turned around and seen you said you’re 14 years old? You pack a powerful punch at your age!"
Snoop Dogg also commended Vinya on her stage presence.
"The way you handle this − like you’re not nervous, you’re not afraid," he said. "You’re just taking it in. That’s superstar quality. You need to be on my team − I'm gonna rock out with you."
Horan then told Vinya that he cannot "believe the power that you have," and alluded to his own audition on "The X Factor" in the U.K. when he was 16 years old.
"I was a nervous wreck," the One Direction star said. "And you’re the complete opposite!"
After discussing the decision with her parents − a move suggested by Buble? − Vinya had a chat with them and received a quick kiss from mom. She then told the judges that she chose McEntire as her coach, saying, "I'm gonna go Team Reba."
It was a choice that surprised the country legend, who quickly ran onto the stage to meet up with Vinya and give her a "Team Reba" sweatshirt.
McEntire said she was "thrilled to pieces."
"Vinya really had great range, great tone," McEntire said. "The young contestants on this show are like sponges. They really want to learn. They really want to grow. And she chose me."
Vinya has been classically trained, learning music since she was 5. She also starred in multiple local theater productions, including the roles of Matilda in "Matilda Jr − The Musical," Jojo in "Seussical Jr. − The Musical" and Amy in "Sleepy Hollow, A Musical Tale" and performs regularly at events around East Brunswick.
Vinya also sings lead vocals with School of Rock All Stars and can play piano, guitar, drums, bass guitar, ukulele and cello, per Backstage.
Serious about music and clearly a rocker, the East Brunswick High School sophomore told producers before her audition that she thinks, "there needs to be more women in rock."
"This opportunity is so insane to have," Vinya said. "I hope to inspire young girls that want to be rockers."
You can watch "The Voice" on Monday and Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC, with episodes available to stream on Peacock the next day.
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for, part of the USA Today Network. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.