Beaconsfield native wins spot on The Voice

BEACONSFIELD – Brittany Kennell is making history on The Voice.

Monday evening, the 27-year-old became the first Canadian ever to audition on the American reality singing competition.

She dominated the stage singing Sheryl Crow’s Strong Enough and immediately caught the attention of judge Blake Shelton.

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Just as her performance was coming to an end, Pharrell Williams turned around too – and just like that, the judges were fighting over her.

Kennell ultimately chose #TeamBlake.

“He’s hilarious,” Kennell told Global News.

“He’s really great with just being one on one and he makes fun of me a lot for smiling too much, but I can’t help it, I’m hanging out with you, I’m gonna be smiling.”

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During the show, friends and family gathered at The Club West Island in Beaconsfield to cheer her on.

“She is the first Canadian girl to be on The Voice,” said Theresa Valentine, Kennell’s mother.

“She’s an amazing artist and an amazing writer.”

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Kennell is a Beaconsfield native.

“I went to Saint-Paul Elementary and then went to Saint-Thomas High School and that’s kind of when music started happening for me,” she told Global News.

After attending John Abbott College, she left her home eight years ago to study songwriting at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

She then went on to Nashville to pursue her music career.

“I’m so happy for her, it’s awesome,” said her sister, Lindsay Kennell.

“She’s put so much work and effort into this, it’s so inspiring.”

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Now that Kennell has made it through the blind auditions, the next step is the battle rounds.

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Kennell and her family are hoping she’ll get through and make it to the live performance.

“I hope everyone stays tuned in to The Voice, votes for her and cheers her on,” said Valentine.

Kennell said the support has been incredible.

“It’s not easy being away from home,” she said.

“It’s not easy being away from the family and there’s been some really tough days when I’m just about ready to pack up and go home and so this is just giving me a connection to home, this is giving me you know, a piece of home.”