“The Voice” is back on NBC for Season 30, and it includes a Sarasota contestant.
Luke Curran, 31, performed Jim Croce's Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) during blind auditions Oct. 5.
During blind auditions, coaches Kelly Clarkson, Riley Green, Queen Latifah and Adam Levine make decisions based solely on voice and push a button to turn their chairs to select an artist for their team. If no one pushes their button, the artist is eliminated from the competition. If more than one coach pushes the button, the artist gets to choose their team.
Curran got chair turns from Green and Levine.
"I love your voice and I love that you chose that song. I really felt that made me understand you and a lot about your taste and what you want to accomplish,"
Levine said.
Watch 'The Voice' on Peacock
"I would love to be your coach."
After Levine and Green verbally sparred over why Curran should choose them, he picked Team Adam.
"I appreciate you guys so much for turning, but I'm a Day 1 Voice fan; I gotta go Team Adam," Curran said.
Curran joins two other Florida artists who have advanced in the competition.
Who is Luke Curran on Team Adam?
Curran, 31, is a Sarasota, Florida, native currently residing in Norwood, Massachusetts.
He began studying music at five and spent his teenage years fronting rock bands and writing original songs, Warner Bros. wrote in an email. Curran later studied music engineering but followed growing opportunities into software development, eventually working for major technology companies while leaving performance behind for nearly a decade.
Encouraged by his wife, Allison, Curran returned to open mics, songwriting and regular gigs, ultimately releasing an EP and performing ticketed shows with a full band throughout New England.
Music remains a family tradition for Curran, rooted in childhood campfire singalongs and a mother who played guitar and performed.
A self-described nerd fascinated by technology, fantasy worlds and how things work, he brings that same curiosity to his musical craft.
Above all, Curran values authentic, story-driven songwriting. The Voice stage is his opportunity to reopen the door he once closed and prove that his musical dream is still worth pursuing.
See Luke Curran's sing Jim Croce Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) on 'The Voice'
Luke Curran joins Floridian Sophia Liano and Lexi Stephens on 'The Voice' Season 30
Sophia Liano, 22, of Stuart, and Lexi Stephens, 23, who graduated high school in Palm Harbor, advanced to the next round.
Liano joined Team Queen (Latifah) after performing Celine Dion's "I Surrender", while Stephens chose Team Adam after singing "Die on This Hill" by Sienna Spiro.
What's next for Luke Curran on 'The Voice' 2026?
Battle Rounds are next. During the Battle Rounds, two team members compete against each other by singing the same song together. Coaches pick the battle pairings and songs and each has one "steal" to use during the battles.
Blind auditions ended and Battle Rounds started Oct. 6. The matchup of Brandy Neelly vs. Ferryn & Brinkley kicked things off. They performed "Mama's Broken Heart" by Miranda Lambert, with Ferryn & Brinkley advancing.
How to watch 'The Voice' Season 30? When do 2026 episodes air?
Episodes of "The Voice" air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and stream the following day on Peacock.
Kim Luciani is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's Audience team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://heraldtribune.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota's Luke Curran joins 2 Florida singers on 'The Voice' Season 30
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