A Unique Voice from the Swamps
After 28 seasons, you'd think The Voice would have seen and heard it all. But that's the beauty of music: there's always something new to discover. During the October 6 episode of Blind Auditions, a performer arrived with a fresh and distinctive talent that earned him a 4-Chair Turn and widespread admiration from the Coaches.
Dustin Dale Gaspard is a 33-year-old Cajun singer from Cow Island, Louisiana, an area known for its population of both people and alligators—what Gaspard affectionately calls "swamp puppies." He plays what he refers to as "swamp pup music," a blend of rhythm-and-blues New Orleans-style music mixed with country western influences and traditional Cajun elements. Gaspard is fluent in Cajun French and lives in his car to travel from gig to gig, with The Voice being the most significant opportunity of his career.
Gaspard's Blind Audition marked a historic moment, as it was the first time Cajun French had been sung on The Voice. Here’s how his performance unfolded:
A Performance That Stunned the Coaches
With a guitar in hand, Gaspard stepped up to the microphone with confidence. However, he began his song, Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me," not with his voice but with another instrument. "He's playing the harmonica already?" asked Coach Michael Bublé. The performance featured the harmonica, guitar, English, and Cajun French, and it earned Gaspard chair turns from all four Coaches!
Calling him "proper unique," Coach Niall Horan said he would've listened to Gaspard sing "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and begged, "Please pick me, I love you." Reba McEntire added, "I’m from southeastern Oklahoma, so not far from where you are. You’re different. You’re unusual. You’re refreshing. And you can sing and play." Bublé praised the artist's authenticity, while Snoop Dogg referenced his own Southern roots and sang back to him, "If you ever change your mind and think about leaving, leaving me behind, pick me, bring it on over to me."
Ultimately, Gaspard chose Team Niall. In a December 2022 interview, Horan shared his excitement about finding new talent, saying, "I love finding new talent online and things, so I really wanted to get involved and find a new crop of talent that we can nurture." This definitely described the latest addition to his team.
Niall Horan and Blake Shelton's Friendship
In a 2023 interview, when both Horan and Blake Shelton were Coaches on The Voice, Horan expressed his deep respect for Shelton, calling him "like a dad to me." He mentioned that Shelton had helped him during the show and that he enjoyed his company. "Me and the cowboy became good friends very quick. We realized we're very similar people. For the good and the bad. He's so funny — from the minute we met him."
Shelton felt the same way, telling producers, "I feel like Niall is going to take my seat on the show… I'm passing the baton on to my son."
Get Your Team Merch
Fans of The Voice have a chance to win merchandise from Season 28. Head to the show's Instagram page to learn how you can snag a #TeamNiall hoodie, #TeamSnoop chain, #TeamBuble jersey, or #TeamReba shirt. Whether you're a fan of Niall, Snoop, Bublé, or Reba, there's something for everyone.
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