State High Alumna Picked for Blake Shelton’s Team on ‘The Voice’

A 2006 State College Area High School graduate will appear on season 22 of NBC’s “The Voice” after being picked by one celebrity coach during the blind auditions that aired on Monday night.

Hillary (Ward) Torchiana earned a chair turn from country singer Blake Shelton, who picked her for his team after her performance of Adele’s 2021 hit “Easy on Me.”

“I did detect some twang in your voice,” Shelton said to Torchiana, who now resides in West Chester. “It was there and it was enough that I thought ‘You know what? I’m not exactly sure where this girl’s coming from but I want to be a part of it.’ So welcome to Team Blake.

Shelton’s wife and fellow coach, Gwen Stefani, joked that she didn’t turn for Torchiana because she felt sorry for her husband.

“If I would have turned probably you were going to choose me so I just wanted to go ahead and let him have a chance,” Stefani said.

Torchiana replied that Stefani wasn’t wrong, having once choreographed a dance to the pop star’s “Hollaback Girl.”

The 34-year-old also noted a connection to another coach. At the time the auditions were recorded, her marriage to her now-husband, Joe, was just weeks away and they were planning for their first dance to be to John Legend’s “Never Break.”

“I’m very happy for you both and excited that I’ll be a little part of your wedding,” Legend said.

During her State College days, Torchiana was a member of State High Thespians, performed with State College Community Theater and the Phyrst Phamily, and was voted among her senior classmates most likely to appear on Broadway.

“The Voice” airs at 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC. Blind audition rounds continue through Oct. 10 as coaches Shelton, Stefani, Legend and Camila Cabello build their teams, then it will be on to the competition rounds.