It was like “The Voice†coach Pharrell Williams could see the crowd filling the Railyard in the Haymarket Monday night, braving the not-so-springlike weather to support their favorite contestant on the NBC hit reality show.
“You are doing Nebraska so proud,†he said to wild cheers in the Haymarket after Hannah Huston’s performance of Etta James’ “Something’s Got A Hold On Me.â€
“You’re from Nebraska and you’re killing it,†he said. “You’re inspiring so many people. It’s amazing what you’re doing right now.â€
Huston, 25, the Arnold Elementary preschool teacher who made it through the first several rounds of the show to battle the 12 remaining contestants Monday on the first live round Monday night was the second to last performer to take the stage.
“We were blown away,†said Molly Kuhl, who works at Arnold. “She really is making us so proud, The great thing is, she’s being herself on stage.â€
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Huston’s colleagues at Arnold, who’d outgrown the bar where they’ve held watch parties since Huston snagged an audition for the hit reality TV show, e-mailed the events coordinator to see what she thought of broadcasting “The Voice.â€
One e-mail turned into a flood of e-mails and the answer was ‘yes.’
“Anything that gets people excited to come down here, especially if it’s community related,†said Events and Program Director Rachel Halbmaier.
The Railyard will continue to broadcast “The Voice†shows as long as Huston remains a contestant, she said.
She estimated that about 200 people came to see Huston perform Monday, wrapped in blankets and donning hats, pushing strollers, munching popcorn and sipping beer.
“That’s some awesome dedication,†Halbmaier said.
Lynette Saltzman brought her grandson Elijah Saltzman to watch his preschool teacher on the biggest outdoor screen in the state.
“We listen to her all the time,†she said.
Kent Seevers, who became friends with Huston in college and performed with her on the YouTube video that caught a talent scout’s eye and prompted her to ask Huston to audition, has known she was talented long before the rest of the world did.
“On one hand I’m kinda blown away, on another hand it seemed like it should have happened already,†he said.
David McGee was there, too, to cheer on his friend.
“You never think you’ll know someone who does something like this,†he said. “It’s incredibly fun.â€
America can vote online, by downloading a mobile app or by buying Huston’s performance on i-Tunes. Voting remains open until 11 a.m. Tuesday and the field will be narrowed on Tuesday’s show based on those votes.
Williams, who Huston chose as her coach after turning three of the four celebrity judges chairs on her first performance, had high praise.
“It’s innate. It’s in you. You’re a natural. You have mountain ranges of notes.â€
Adam Levine told her she’d created a new genre of music he called “alien soul.â€
“It’s so weird and cool and messed up and perfect,†he said.
Blake Shelton said it was hard not to get wrapped up in her performances.
“I’m a fan, Hannah, I’m a fan.â€