For country singer-songwriter Kenna Elpers, the journey to national television began long before she stepped onto the stage of NBC’s The Voice. From her early performances in small-town Indiana to studying music business at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Elpers has spent much of her life building a career in country music.
Now based in Nashville, the 23-year-old artist recently introduced her voice to a national audience as a contestant on the show’s 30th season.
Originally from Cynthiana, Indiana, Elpers grew up with a passion for music and began pursuing performing opportunities at an early age. According to her official biography, her love for country music began when she was just 3 years old.
By age 12, she was joining her cousin Andrea Wirth, a member of the acoustic duo The Honey Vines, for performances at Lamasco Bar & Grill in Evansville, Indiana. A year later, she began booking solo performances, singing country covers and original material at venues throughout the region.
Her growing experience eventually led to opportunities to open for established country acts, including Josh Turner, Dylan Scott, Maddie & Tae, and Riley Green.
In a September interview with Evansville Living, Elpers reflected on her early ambitions.
“All through high school, I just wanted to be onstage,” she told the magazine.
Following her graduation from North Posey Senior High School in 2021, Elpers decided to pursue music professionally, moving to Tennessee and enrolling at MTSU in Murfreesboro to study music business.
Her decision brought her closer to Nashville’s music industry while providing an opportunity to learn about the business side of an increasingly competitive profession. For aspiring musicians, Middle Tennessee offers access to recording studios, performance venues, fellow artists and industry professionals. MTSU’s music business program places students near one of the country’s most prominent music centers, allowing them to study the industry while developing connections beyond the classroom.
During her time at MTSU, Elpers would perform at local venues such as Hank’s Honky Tonk and Grindstone Cowboy, developing her sound as an independent country artist, blending traditional country influences with elements of rock and emphasizing personal storytelling in her songwriting.
She has performed at venues including Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe and Busch Stadium in St. Louis, while touring throughout the Midwest and beyond, according to her press kit. Those experiences eventually helped position her for one of the largest opportunities of her career.
In September 2026, Elpers appeared on Season 30 of The Voice, performing Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” during her blind audition.
The show’s blind auditions require contestants to perform while four celebrity coaches face away from the stage. Coaches turn their chairs when they want a singer to join their team.
Kenna Elpers during The Voice Blind Auditions, Episode 3003
Photo by Griffin Nagel / NBC
Elpers’ performance earned chair turns from Queen Latifah and country singer Riley Green, giving her the opportunity to select her coach. She ultimately chose Green, a decision that carried particular significance given their previous professional encounters.
The two first crossed paths at the 2019 Vanderburgh County Fair in Indiana, where Elpers sang the national anthem and Green performed alongside Morgan Wallen. In 2023, Elpers opened for Green at a music festival in Missouri.
Their reunion on The Voice represented a full-circle moment for the young singer. The connection also reflected the importance of relationships developed through years of performing, an aspect of the music business Elpers has continued to navigate since relocating to Tennessee.
Her experience on the show continued into the Battle Rounds, where contestants from the same team compete against one another in duet performances.
During the Oct. 12 episode, Elpers faced fellow Team Riley contestant Joe Henley. The pair performed Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” originally recorded as a duet with Ella Langley.
Green and guest adviser Carly Pearce worked with the performers ahead of their appearance, offering guidance on their harmonies and stage chemistry.
Although the performance received positive feedback from the coaches, Green ultimately selected Henley to advance, ending Elpers’ run in the competition.
According to Parade, Green described the decision as difficult and emphasized that Elpers had not done anything wrong in her performance. He instead pointed to Henley’s distinctive vocal qualities and potential for further development.
Despite her elimination, Elpers’ appearance provided national exposure and an opportunity to work alongside established musicians and fellow emerging artists. For the young artist whose musical journey began in a small Indiana community, the opportunity to appear on television also represented the realization of a childhood ambition.
Growing up, she watched The Voice with her parents and brothers, imagining what it would be like to perform on the program herself.
Although her time on the televised competition has concluded, Elpers plans to continue to develop her career as an independent Nashville-based musician, releasing original material and building on the experience gained from touring and television. And, something to keep in mind: Missing out on first place in major TV talent competitions didn’t block the road to stardom for Kellie Pickler (American Idol) and Miranda Lambert (Nashville Star). Lambert, in fact, is the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history. It’s all about what you do with the exposure and the opportunities, and The Voice has doubtlessly placed Elpers on a promising path.
