Nashville's Sarah Potenza wows 'The Voice' coaches

NBC's "The Voice" doesn't start a new season with an unremarkable singer.

If you want to convince viewers that you've got a good roster of talent lined up for the months ahead, you make sure that the first vocalist to take the stage leaves an impression.

On Monday, that first singer was 34-year-old East Nashville resident Sarah Potenza, who had coaches Adam Levine and Pharrell Williams out of their seats for her take on The Faces' "Stay with Me."

Potenza's powerhouse belting eventually made all four coaches turn their chairs around during her "blind audition."

"This is weirdest day that I've ever had," she said as she faced Levine, Williams and fellow coaches Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton. She ultimately decided to join Shelton's "Team Blake" — perhaps a sage choice, considering Shelton coached another Nashville singer (Craig Wayne Boyd) to a first-place finish last year.

Potenza has released several albums, performed at the Bluebird Cafe and Music City Roots and has toured and performed with Todd Snider, Elizabeth Cook, Jim Lauderdale and others. East Nashvillians also might know her from her time waiting tables at neighborhood haunt The Family Wash.

Another familiar face popped up during Monday's episode: Meghan Linsey, former singer for country duo Steel Magnolia. She easily made it through with her rendition of "Love Hurts" by Nazareth. Shelton was the only coach not to turn his chair around during her audition, but immediately recognized her afterward.

"Blake, now I bet you feel extra bad, huh?" Levine asked him.

"Actually, no I don't," he said. "Because if she hadn't picked me, I'd have been really (ticked) off."

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesday at 7 p.m. on NBC.