Cade Mower continued his run on The Voice Monday night (Oct. 26), advancing through the Battle round after taking on the Red Clay Strays’ “Wondering Why” with fellow Team Riley contestant Brayden Howell.
The 35-year-old singer from Bluffdale, Utah, first turned all four chairs during the Blind Auditions with his performance of Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange,” and his latest appearance again drew praise from the coaches.
Mower and 19-year-old Howell were paired by coach Riley Green for the Battle, with Carly Pearce joining Team Riley as a guest adviser.
Ahead of the performance, Mower spoke about the difficulty of being away from his wife, Lindsey, and their two children while filming the competition. “It’s been a massive sacrifice, but if I can go and win this Battle, that’s one step closer towards making this massive sacrifice worth it,” he said.
“She’s not just along for the ride, she’s my biggest fan,” he added of his wife.
The pair then performed “Wondering Why,” the breakout song from Alabama rock band the Red Clay Strays.
Kelly Clarkson, who had been surprised during Mower’s audition to learn that he works full-time as a wealth adviser, again singled out his voice after the performance.
“Your vocals are insane,” Clarkson told him.
Queen Latifah was similarly enthusiastic, telling Mower that his Blind Audition had stuck with her.
“Cade, you have been on my brain since you came on this stage,” the first-time coach said, adding that she wished he had landed on her team.
But Latifah also acknowledged the strength of his opponent.
“I felt like your voice was so unique, but I gotta tell you, Brayden gave you a run for your money today,” she told the pair.
“Amen,” Mower replied.
Green ultimately selected Mower to advance, praising the singer for already having a clear understanding of his musical identity.
“One of the best things about you is that you know what you are and what you do well and what you want to do,” the country star told him.
Mower has spent nearly 15 years pursuing music alongside a full-time career. According to NBC, he began playing guitar at age 12 and started singing shortly before turning 21, later performing regularly at his uncle’s bar in Salt Lake City and playing thousands of shows while living in Austin and Nashville.
His Blind Audition has also emerged as one of Season 30’s most-watched performances, drawing more than 3 million views on The Voice’s official YouTube channel, according to the Deseret News.
Mower’s song choices so far have placed him firmly in the contemporary country and roots-rock lane.
Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange,” which Mower performed during his Blind Audition, became one of Bryan’s breakthrough hits and has remained a fixture on Billboard’s country charts years after its release. “Wondering Why,” meanwhile, helped propel the Red Clay Strays to a wider audience and has logged an extended run across Billboard’s country rankings.
The Battle win sends Mower into the newly introduced Cut Week as one of seven remaining artists on Team Riley.
“One step closer to the end goal,” he said after advancing. “I’m excited.”
