Fresno singer delivers ‘perfect performance’ on ‘The Voice.’ See him wow judges
A Fresno singer finally got his big chance on NBC’s “The Voice” — and it only took 11 tries.
Ralph Edwards, 30, delivered a soulful rendition of “Lights” by Journey on Monday, Sept. 22 that inspired all four judges on the singing competition TV show to turn their chairs around to woo him into working with them, video shows.
Michael Bublé was the first to turn around, followed almost immediately by Niall Horan, Reba McEntire, and finally Snoop Dog as Edwards’ family cheers.
“That is how you audition for ‘The Voice’,” Horan says after Edwards gives his name, age, and where he’s from. “I thought that was absolutely incredible.”
Horan then asks whether he’s a professional singer. Edwards responds saying he’s a full-time musician who plays in bars and is interested in opening up for artists.
“If I walked into a bar and you were playing I’d never leave,” Horan says.
Who is ‘The Voice’ contestant Ralph Edwards? He’s from Fresno
Edwards’ “love for music began at age 3, inspired by his late grandfather, known as Honey Grandpa,” according to a news release obtained by The Fresno Bee.
“After losing his grandfather at age 7, Ralph began finding comfort and inspiration in signs of his presence,” the release says. “Initially focused on sports, the college choir at Fresno City College redirected his path, giving him opportunities to tour France and compete in local talent competitions.”
That’s where his “passion for singing and performing” was cemented, “leading him to a career as a full-time musician,” the release says.
Now he “fronts his own band, VibeCheck, blending genres and earning a strong following, with support from his fiancée, Crystina,” the release says. “Driven to honor his roots and carry forward his grandfather’s legacy, Ralph has long dreamed of ‘The Voice,’ where he’s ready to share his voice, heart and story with the world.”
VibeCheck “plays soulful covers in California,” according to American Songwriter. Edwards has auditioned 11 times, the publication reported.
“Ralph Edwards 11th audition & he put it all on the stage,” singer Robert Anton said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Big vocals, lotta grit, and he was dropping that jaw and letting it all out. Loved the small moment too with so much tenderness. Wanted more of that.”
He was also featured in The Fresno Bee’s video for this year’s Tower Porchfest.
The band shared Edwards’ performance on its Instagram story.
Edwards also shared it on the page for his solo project.
McEntire then introduces herself, telling Edwards he had great tone in both his low and high ranges.
“I never heard an off-pitch,” she said. “It was the perfect performance.”
Bublé then tells him: “Whoever you choose is gonna win ‘The Voice.”
Horan tells Edwards he can see on his face how much it means to him and makes a bid for them to work together, given Horan’s background coming “from a show exactly like this” where he was going through the audition process each week. Horan got his big break on British reality show “The X Factor” with boy band One Direction in 2010.
“It’s a hard thing to navigate, and I feel like I’ve got that experience on my side,” Horan says. “And this is such an exciting audition for us because we know that the voice is the big winner here.”
Snoop Dog jumps in next.
“Now that you’re a part of our ‘Voice’ family, I want to introduce you to my family,” he says as a team of writers, artists, producers and past winners he’s worked with surround him. “This is the type of experience that I wanna give you as far as like — to not try to get you a deal, but give you a deal with the family… I would love to have you on my team. The decision is yours. Love is love.”
Edwards brings his parents and girlfriend up on stage with him as he chooses Snoop Dog, who had presented him with a chain.
“I’ll get that chain Snoop, let’s go,” he said.
The show shared Edwards’ “stunning” performance on its Instagram page.
“You just made the whole Central Valley proud!!” someone said in the comments. “Rooting for you from Delano, as a fellow RFK Thunderbird!”
“I love him!” another person said. “What a soulful and beautiful voice!”
Who else from California’s Central Valley made it on ‘The Voice’?
In 2012, Central Valley resident and country singer Rudy Parris “made a better-than-decent showing” on the show, The Fresno Bee reported.
And in 2022, Fresno singer Alyssa Witrado made it to the show’s top 16 and competed in head-to-head matchups, The Fresno Bee reported.
Another California singer impressed the judges with his rendition of “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant during the Sept. 22 audition, though none of them turned their chairs around.
Ryan Mitchell, a 25-year-old alt-rock singer from Los Angeles, will have another chance to audition with a different song in hopes of securing his chance on the show. It’s the first time in the show’s history a singer will get a Carlson Callback, thanks to host Carlson Daly.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 2:28 PM.
