Carly Pearce Recounts Moment Shared with Kelly Clarkson After Making Her Debut Stage on The Voice with ’29’

Last December 7, Carly Pearce made her stunning debut performance on the stage of The Voice as she kicked off Season 21’s semifinals episode.

Introduced by host Carson Daly, the 2021 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year captivated the audience with her dressed in a floor-length dusty blue gown sitting on a brown leather couch in a living room-styled stage set. She channeled her heartfelt hit song “29” from her third studio album, 29: Written In Stone, accompanied by a band of acoustic musicians. And after her performance, the singer, 31, received a standing ovation from the coaches.

Ahead of her big performance, Carly Pearce shared with ET that she couldn’t wait to show a new performance of ’29’ with fans, especially as her first appearance on The Voice. But aside from fans, she also hoped that fellow country singer Kelly Clarkson would feel every hit of emotion there was in the track.

Recalling the 2020 headlines, Clarkson divorced her husband, Brandon Blackstock, after seven years of marriage. Almost at the same time, Pearce also filed for divorce from her husband of eight months and fellow country singer, Michael Ray.

In a special Christmas-themed episode of Country Faith Radio on Apple Music Country with Hillary Scott, Carly Pearce revealed that as she sat as the clocks went down ready to sing her song in one of the biggest TV shows, she remembered thinking if Clarkson would really listen to the lyrics of the song. She felt like there were very few people who experienced something so public, and she wondered if Clarkson would feel that.

And while finally singing the emotional track on stage, Pearce shared that she and the country singer kind of locked in a few times, and she had to look elsewhere because she knew that Clarkson did feel the lyrics of the song. Afterward, Clarkson got off stage, walked over to her, and gave her a hug. The “Since U Been Gone” singer also thanked Pearce and added that they needed to talk.

Pearce definitely appreciated that moment, and she felt that they both knew what each other felt.

Tune in and listen to the full catch-up episode with Carly Pearce this Sunday, December 19, at 8 am PT / 10 am CT / 11 am ET or anytime on-demand at apple.co/_CountryFaith.

In awe of @carlypearce's stunning performance on #TheVoice. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/PRxSqHV0Sc

— The Voice (@NBCTheVoice) December 8, 2021