The Voice 2022: Easley's Ansley Burns reflects on experience working with Blake Shelton

Ansley Burns said she learned a great deal from working with singer Blake Shelton on this season of NBC's The Voice.

And while the 16-year-old Easley native was eliminated during the Oct. 18 episode, she has no plans of slowing down in her pursuit of a professional music career.

Before her elimination, Burns appeared in the Oct. 3 episode.

At that time, Shelton selected her for his team after she performed LeAnn Rimes' cover of "Unchained Melody." Burns also attracted the attention of Shelton's wife and The Voice judge, Gwen Stefani. But Shelton blocked Stefani and got Burns for his team.

"He (Shelton) really taught me to break out of my shell and to perform more," Burns said. "Even when I'm taking risks, to be confident with it. He really taught me how to gain control of my lower notes when I sing in lower keys. I definitely took his advice and have been using it now."

Music has been in Ansley Burns' family for generations

Burns plans to continue focusing on her music career in the future by attending a college that specializes in music.

"That's definitely my goal, I would love to make a career out of it," Burns said. "We've been actually looking at some colleges for music. It's what I'm good at."

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Her family's love and talent for music go back generations.

"I really started singing when I was about 3 or 4 and started taking voice lessons when I was 9 or 10," Burns said. "I was always singing. My grandma and me would always sing together. She really influenced me."

Burns' great-grandfather was a lover of country music and sang with Hank Williams Sr. in the 1940s, Burns said during a segment of the show. He died before Burns was born, but her grandmother was around to teach her how to sing and introduced her to country music.

Will Ansley Burns audition for another television singing reality competition?

Burns is no stranger to televised competitions. She advanced to the semifinal round of America's Got Talent in 2019 at the age of 13. She said The Voice and America's Got Talent are very different shows.

"Both shows have been different," Burns said. "On America's Got Talent, there were a ton of different talents. With The Voice, it's one art form. I really enjoyed being on The Voice, it was a great experience and a great opportunity. He [Shelton] was amazing. I've always looked up to him because he's a country legend."

Shelton felt the same way when he secured Burns a spot on his team. On her audition for The Voice, Shelton told Stefani that "he's not pushing his button anymore that day," but changed his mind and prevented Stefani from gaining Burns on her team.

Burns said she's been considering auditioning for more shows similar to The Voice.

"It would be really cool to be on a third one, but I'm really happy with the opportunities I've had so far," Burns said. "I would love to perform more and really entertain the audience. I would love to get some more music out there and get some new, original songs together. I really want to be a good role model for young girls my age, and just let them know that they can do this, too."

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: The Voice: Ansley Burns shares experience working with Blake Shelton