Meet the Four Bruins on This Season of ‘The Voice’

Four students and alumni bring distinct sounds — and shared Belmont roots — to one of music’s biggest platforms

This season of “The Voice” featured four Belmont students and alumni, each bringing their own sound and story to the national spotlight.  

From first-year performers stepping onto a major stage for the first time to alumni building careers on the road, their journeys reflect the many ways Belmont artists grow and show up in the industry. 

Here’s a closer look at the Belmont voices who made their mark this season. 

Abigayle Oakley 

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada 
Degree: Songwriting, Class of 2022 
Team: Team Kelly 
Blind Audition Song: “Call Your Girlfriend” by Robyn 
Sound: Existential indie folk 

Abigayle Oakley’s journey to “The Voice” wasn’t a sudden moment. It was years in the making. 

“Being on the show felt like the culmination of all my music experiences coming together,” she said. “I’ve been playing since I was a kid and moved to Nashville to pursue this. I was just proud to represent my community, my mentors and all the people who helped me along the way.” 

That sense of arrival hit her the moment all three coaches turned their chairs. 

“I was like, ‘wait, I’ve seen you all on my TV, and now we’re in the same room,’” she said. “I remember thinking, I hope I keep singing my song because I’m freaking out.” 

A graduate of Belmont’s songwriting program, Oakley credits her time on campus with shaping both her artistry and her confidence. 

“Belmont really helped me find my voice as a songwriter,” she said. “What I learned about the craft and the music business gave me so much confidence to keep evolving and trying new things.” 

She describes her sound as “existential indie folk,” drawing inspiration from artists like Joni Mitchell and Big Thief, with a focus on story-driven lyrics. 

“You practice your songs, of course — but even more, it takes a ton of inner work,” she said. “I’ve never journaled and meditated so much in my life. You really have to take care of your body and your mind.” 

Now, Oakley is releasing music and touring across the country on a bigger level, thanks to this platform.  

“In order to be the noun, you have to do the verb,” she said. “I wanted to be a songwriter, so I wrote songs. I wanted to be a touring musician, so I figured out how to get on the road. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. You have the power to make your own path.” 

Ashley Marina Yankello 

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 
Major/Class: Commercial Voice, Freshman (Class of 2029) 
Team: Team Legend 
Blind Audition Song: “Tonight I Want to Cry” by Keith Urban 
Sound: Folk-country pop singer-songwriter 

Notables: 

• Youngest all-chair turn artist on “The Voice” Season 29  

• Only Pennsylvania artist to appear on both “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent”  

Ashley Marina Yankello is just getting started, but her time on “The Voice” already marks a major milestone in her journey as an artist. 

“This experience has literally been the most incredible,” she said. “Just the people that I’ve met and how I grew as an artist by working with the ‘Voice’ team — I don’t know how else I would experience something like that.” 

For Ashley, the moment it all became real came just before stepping on stage for her blind audition. 

“I was backstage listening to the audience, and it just clicked — like, whoa, this is happening,” she said. “I’m about to perform for Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Adam Levine.” 

While she joined Belmont after filming, she said her growth as an artist has accelerated since landing on campus this past fall.  

“I’m finishing out my semester at Belmont, but I’m also playing a lot of shows this summer — kind of doing a mini tour,” she said. “I’m really excited to perform for audiences again, especially after the show.” 

As she looks ahead, Ashley is grounded in the support system that got her here. 

“I owe my entire music journey to my parents and my family,” she said. “They never gave up on me. I’ve dreamed of being a musician since I was a little girl, and here I am.” 

Grace Humphries 

Hometown: Dripping Springs, Texas 
Major/Class: Commercial Voice, Freshman 
Team: Team Legend 
Blind Audition Song: “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell 
Sound: Country pop (with a love for traditional country) 

Grace Humphries’ time on “The Voice” has already shaped her confidence as a performer. 

“It’s meant the world to me,” she said. "My confidence just skyrocketed — I don’t really get nervous performing anymore.” 

A student in Belmont’s commercial voice program, Humphries took a gap semester to film the show and is now in her first semester on campus. She said that experience continues to build with each performance. 

“Every performance I do here just adds to what I experienced in L.A.,” she said. “It’s helped me keep growing and gaining confidence.” 

Like her fellow contestants, she says some of the most meaningful parts of the experience happened off camera. 

“You make really close friendships,” she said. “We’d play ping pong, Uno, go out to dinner — it was just a blast. That’s something people don’t really get to see.” 

Now, she’s turning her focus to what’s ahead — including new music and potential next steps in the industry. “I love traditional country,” she said. “I think there’s a place for it right now, and I definitely see myself moving more in that direction. I’ve been working on songs I’m really proud of and recording them.” 

Her advice for others chasing a similar dream is simple. 

“Never give up,” she said. “There are going to be a lot of ‘no’s,’ but you never know when you’re going to get that ‘yes.’ The only way to get there is to keep going.” 

Blaire Elbert 

Hometown: Lubbock, Texas 
Degree: Music Business, Class of 2019 
Team: Team Kelly 
Blind Audition Song: “Wide Rolling Plains” by Rosalie Allen 
Sound: Pop-country with classic country and yodeling influences 

Blaire Elbert’s journey to “The Voice” has been years in the making, rooted in a lifelong love of music and shaped during her time at Belmont. 

“I’ve been doing music my entire life,” she said. “But coming to Belmont really helped me step into my solo artist career and gain confidence in who I am as an artist.” 

That confidence was put to the test in one of the most high-pressure moments of her career: stepping onto the stage for her blind audition. 

“I’d been trying to play it cool, but the nerves definitely hit right before I walked out,” she said. 

Performing a yodeling classic — a distinctive part of her artistry — paid off when Kelly Clarkson turned her chair. 

“I was just so thankful for that moment,” she said. “It was a whirlwind.” 

Before Belmont, Elbert spent years performing in a vocal group and traveling, experiences that laid the foundation for her career. At Belmont, she refined her sound and began carving out her identity as a solo artist. 

“I spent a lot of time focusing on songwriting and figuring out what I wanted my sound to be,” she said. “I wanted everything I put out to really mean something.” 

Today, that sound blends pop-country with elements of classic country — including her signature yodeling style. 

“My music has a pop-country vibe, but I’ve been leaning more into that classic country sound and making it modern,” she said. 

Now, she’s building on that momentum with new music and a busy performance schedule. 

“I’ve been in the studio a lot and hitting the road with my band,” she said. “I’ve got more shows coming up and new music on the way.” 

As she reflects on her journey, Elbert encourages current students to stay the course. 

“Just keep following your dreams,” she said. “Work hard, find what you love and go for it — you don’t want to look back with regrets.” 

There’s no single path to the stage — and that’s exactly the point. At Belmont, artists are encouraged to find their voice, take creative risks and step into opportunities when they come. For these four Bruins, “The Voice” is just one step in a much larger journey still unfolding.