Riley Green Turns for Alabama Law School Graduate on The Voice — and Kelly Clarkson Admits She Knew She Couldn’t Compete Once His Chair Spun

Riley Green didn’t need a dramatic coaching battle to land one of the country singers he wanted on The Voice.

During the Season 30 premiere, 25-year-old Caroline Alexis stepped onto the Blind Auditions stage with a Rascal Flatts classic — and several coaches appeared tempted to turn.

Adam Levine came particularly close.

But only Green ultimately pressed his button.

That decision immediately placed Alexis on Team Riley, and once the coaches discovered she was from Alabama just like Green, Kelly Clarkson admitted she was relieved she hadn’t tried to compete.

“I’m so glad I saved myself the embarrassment,” Clarkson joked.

The surprises weren’t finished, however.

Alexis soon revealed that while she had just earned a place on one of television’s biggest singing competitions, music wasn’t the only career occupying her time.

She had recently graduated from law school.

A Rascal Flatts hit catches Riley Green’s attention

Alexis chose “Take Me There” for her Blind Audition.

Released by Rascal Flatts in 2007, the song became a No. 1 country hit and gave Alexis an opportunity to show the coaches exactly where her musical instincts lie.

Several appeared interested as the performance unfolded.

Levine looked ready to press his button at one stage but stopped himself before committing.

Green eventually made the move.

His chair turned while Clarkson, Levine and Queen Latifah remained facing the stage.

With no rival coaches in the running, Alexis automatically became a member of Team Riley.

And Green quickly made it clear he believed she belonged there.

‘I love your tone’

Once the performance ended and Alexis introduced herself, the Alabama connection immediately became part of the conversation.

Green is also from the state, giving the rookie coach another reason to celebrate his latest team member.

“I love your tone, I love the song choice, I love the way you performed it,” he told her.

Clarkson explained why she had resisted turning.

Once she saw Green commit to the country singer, she believed competing against him would have been a losing battle.

Learning that Alexis was also from Alabama only reinforced that feeling.

“I’m so glad I saved myself the embarrassment,” Clarkson said.

But Alexis’ musical background wasn’t the only thing that caught the coaches off guard.

Her other career leaves the coaches surprised

Alexis revealed that she isn’t currently pursuing singing as a full-time profession.

She recently graduated from law school and has been using her downtime to study for the bar exam.

Green couldn’t resist the opening.

“We’re a lot alike, I go to the bar in my downtime too,” he joked.

It was a classic Green response, but the revelation highlighted the unusual position Alexis finds herself in.

While preparing for a possible legal career, she is simultaneously beginning a run on The Voice under one of country’s biggest stars.

Green marked the occasion by presenting her with customized Team Riley Carhartt overalls.

“Well, Caroline, I’m super excited to have you on The Voice and on my team,” he told her.

Green was relieved nobody challenged him

After the audition, Green admitted that he was happy his fellow coaches stayed out of the fight.

Blind Auditions can quickly turn competitive when multiple chairs spin, forcing coaches to sell contestants on why their team offers the best path forward.

Green didn’t have to make that pitch this time.

“She’s somebody that needed to be on my team,” he said in a behind-the-scenes interview.

Alexis joined a growing group of country performers Green secured during his first night as a coach.

He also landed 19-year-old Joe Henley, whose Travis Tritt performance led Green to join him for an impromptu duet, as well as Dollywood sisters Ferryn and Brinkley Wright.

Riley Green is quickly building a country-heavy first team

Season 30 marks Green’s first time sitting in one of The Voice‘s famous red chairs.

He joins fellow newcomer Queen Latifah alongside returning coaches Clarkson and Levine.

And Green wasted little time establishing the kind of team he wants.

Alexis offered another natural fit: a country singer from his home state performing a Rascal Flatts favorite.

The fact that nobody else turned meant there was no suspense over which coach she would choose.

But there is now a very different question hanging over her journey.

Alexis entered the competition while preparing for the bar exam, leaving her with two dramatically different paths developing at exactly the same time.

For now, the law school graduate has traded studying for the stage — and Green seems delighted that nobody else tried to stop him from bringing her onto Team Riley.