Last year, St. Louisans watched with anticipation as Florissant native Kennedy Holmes rose to the fourth spot on NBC’s singing competition show The Voice. This season, we might have another star to cheer on to the finale.
On the Monday premiere of the show’s Season 18, St. Louis–based singer and songwriter Joanna Serenko, age 18, auditioned with a soulful rendition of “All My Loving” by The Beatles. First, Kelly Clarkson hit her button, with John Legend seconds behind her. Then, Nick Jonas (a new judge this season) hit his, leaving just Blake Shelton, who hit his button a few notes later. “I’ve been here for five seasons now and I haven’t heard anyone sing like that,” Clarkson told Serenko. Ultimately Jonas put up a fight after the judges gave their initial comments on Serenko’s performance. He stopped Serenko as she was about to choose her coach. “I want you on my team. I believe we can do this,” he told her. “I know I’m not the logical choice, but I also have something to prove, and I want to fight for you today, so let’s do this.” She ended up choosing Jonas.
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A Kirkwood High School graduate, Serenko has played at local venues such as Blueberry Hill, The Ready Room, and So Far Sounds St. Louis. She released a single called “Best of Me” in 2019, and in April of that year, she placed first in the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition at Fox Theatre.
As first reported by KSDK, Serenko and her family gathered at the Des Peres Movie Theatre to watch her performance and debut on Monday night.
Watch her audition below:
