NEW YORK – Nell Simmons, who competed on Season 27 of NBC's "The Voice," is nearly ready to release her debut album. It comes over two decades after she entered a recording studio to start it.
So, what happened in between? The New Orleans native survived Hurricane Katrina, gave birth to a son and got married. But Simmons never gave up on her dream. Grammy-winning artist Trombone Shorty enlisted her to record background vocals on his 2017 album "Parking Lot Symphony." The studio sessions led to a touring gig with Shorty, who was born Troy Andrews in New Orleans. Then, producers from "The Voice" called.
"I'm going to be honest, I wasn't initially interested because I was like, 'I don't have time to do this,'" Simmons, 41, recalls before a performance for USA TODAY Acoustic, a series that provides a stage for notable and rising talent across the USA TODAY Network. "I'm touring already. I also have a home life."
It was Simmons' husband who encouraged her to follow through with the audition. Technical issues with her initial audition tapes delayed Simmons appearance on "The Voice" by a season. But in 2024, the singer was on stage, filming her blind audition round performance. Simmons sang Diana Ross' "Love Hangover." And John Legend's chair turned around. Simmons laughs when recalling the experience.
