Oklahoma

Reunited Oklahoma pop trio OK3 working with a legend to prepare for battle on ‘The Voice’

Published

4 months ago

March 18, 2024

Press Room

Reunited Oklahoma pop trio OK3 working with a legend to prepare for battle on ‘The Voice’

When Sierra Sikes got married, she got more than one union out of her nuptials.

At her 2021 wedding, the Oklahoma singer reconnected with her girlhood best friends and fellow performers Courtney Hooker and Kenna Fields.

“We all were like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I miss you guys. We should get together and sing again.’ So, we did. We were singing, and we talked about, ‘Did you know that “The Voice” does groups? … That’d be cool to do.’ Then, this opportunity came along, and we were just so excited,” Sikes recalled.

“It just all aligned perfectly, and we really think that it was in the best timing.”

As OK3, the Oklahoma City-based vocal trio immediately emerged as one of the contenders to beat on the latest season of “The Voice.”

Performing a tightly harmonized cover of the Meghan Trainor hit “Made You Look” for their blind audition, the group earned a coveted four-chair turn on the NBC series’ Feb. 26 Season 25 premiere episode, which ended on a cliffhanger as they tried to decide which of the celebrity coaches to choose.

With their pick of the Emmy-winning show’s Season 25 coaches — Oklahoma Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire, EGOT winner John Legend, three-time Grammy winner Chance the Rapper and three-time Grammy-winning country duo and coaching newcomers Dan + Shay — OK3 opted to join Team Legend.

“His style is so close to our style that we love: we’re pop all the way,” Sikes said. “And he’s been great so far.”

Who is OK3?

As the group’s name indicates, OK3 consists of three singers from Oklahoma. They met through their vocal coach, Amanda Earhart, and have been best friends and musical collaborators since they were teenagers, performing together at various shows and competitions.

Their bond is so tight, they said they’re sometimes mistaken for sisters.

“We have been singing for a really, really long time together. … When we were younger, we were together all the time, pretty much six days a week — if not every day — whether or not that would be rehearsing or just hanging out, (having) sleepovers, all of that stuff,” Hooker said in a recent Zoom interview with The Oklahoman.

Sikes, 24, is a University of Central Oklahoma alumnus who earned her bachelor of music degree in musical theater in 2021. She is a teacher at her alma mater, Choctaw High School.

Fields, 22, is a senior at the Academy of Contemporary Music at UCO who is majoring in contemporary music while teaching music classes at School of Rock OKC.

Hooker, 26, is an ACM@UCO graduate who received her bachelor of applied technology in commercial music in 2020. She also earned an associate’s degree from UCO in performance in 2019 and now works as operations manager for a local marketing agency.

How did OK3 prepare their show-stopping ‘The Voice’ blind audition?

OK3 broke up in 2017 because the singers were in different phases of their lives. After not seeing each other for four years, they reconnected at Sikes’ wedding. The trio was inspired by “The Voice” runs for groups like Girl Named Tom and Sorelle to reunite at the Oklahoma Opry and then audition for the NBC music contest.

“We’d all gone separate routes and studied music still. So, we all came back with a more comprehensive, rounded-out knowledge of music and how to arrange songs and harmonies. So, we were throwing every single thing we ever learned at the fan and just seeing, ‘How crazy we can make this performance?’” Fields said. “Our goal was to just put the song on its head … and to set it up for a trio and make it something that people were surprised at.”

Along with arranging the song, working out choreography and practicing relentlessly for their blind audition, the group tried to prepare for every onstage contingency.

“We’d go outside, and we would jog for 30 seconds in the parking lot. We’d put our heels on, and then we’d run through it a couple times, like OK, we need to make sure we’re winded and can still sing this and hit those notes, because we’re gonna be nervous,’” Hooker said with a grin.

“When we did that, people were looking at us like we were crazy. It was so funny,” Sikes added with a laugh.

How are the OK3 singers preparing for their ‘The Voice’ battle?

Their creative methods paid off with a four-chair turn, followed by fierce competition among the coaches to convince OKC 3 to join their team. The trio said the outlandish debate — ranging from Legend deploying a giant inflatable tube man to Reba pulling out one of her Grammys — was flattering but overwhelming.

“John wasn’t our first pick, honestly. We were really interested in Dan + Shay, with them being a group, and obviously, with Reba being from Oklahoma. So, we were trying to go up there with a plan, because we knew it was gonna be chaos. … And we all just had a moment where we were like, ‘It’s John, right?’” Fields said.

With the Season 25 blind auditions completed on the show’s March 12 episode, “The Voice” moves to the next phase: the battles, which will air over the next couple weeks at 7 p.m. Monday, March 18 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 on NBC.

“As far as John goes, he’s been awesome. We’re super excited; we’ve been preparing for the battle,” Hooker said. “Like he said in our blind audition, he’s been arranging for groups forever. That was one of the biggest things that we were so excited about, was to get his feedback and see how he could help with this arrangement going into the battles. So, we’ve been really prepared for it, and (we’re) making it something really cool and special.”

How do the ‘The Voice’ battles work?

Now that all four coaches have assembled a team of 10 artists through the blind auditions, the battles begin on “The Voice.” The coaches pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together.

Both artists are mentored by their coach, but after each battle round, the team’s coach must choose which artist will advance to the next round of competition, the knockouts.

During this season’s battles, each coach will have one steal and one playoff pass. With their steal, coaches can take for their own team artists whose coach has declared them the loser in a battle.

The playoff pass will allow both artists in a battle round to advance: The playoff pass winner gets a big advantage by skipping the knockout rounds, advancing straight to the playoffs and getting one step closer to the live shows.

The coaches leave the battles with six artists per team, with one artist per team bypassing the knockouts with the playoff pass.

Another Oklahoma contestant, AJ Harvey, a Native American singer based in Norman, also will be competing in the battles on Dan + Shay’s team.

For OK3, the battle round will be particularly tricky, since it will involve at least four singers sharing the stage.

“For the solo artist going up against a trio, it is difficult — three against one — but also in the trio’s sense, we don’t just have to sing well. We have to be very coordinated together, our breathing has to be the same, and all of us have to be hitting the exact perfect right notes at the same time,” Fields said.

“There’s a whole lot that goes into that we’ve been trying torque out to make sure we we hold our own.”

How to watch ‘The Voice’

“The Voice” airs at 7 p.m. Mondays and 8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock on-demand. The streaming service offers full episodes from the show’s previous 24 seasons, too.

Source link

Click to comment

Oklahoma

TULLAHASSEE: One of Oklahoma's oldest black towns reopens community center

Published

2 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

TULLAHASSEE: One of Oklahoma's oldest black towns reopens community center

TULLAHASSEE, Okla. — The John Ford Community Center reopened in Tullahassee with a grand ceremony.

After 20 years, people in one of Oklahoma’s oldest black towns walked into the gym where they went to school. The John Ford Community Center reopened in Tullahassee with a grand ceremony.

John Ford Community Center reponed after two decades. Roz Williams says he went to elementary school there.
She said it was a blast from the past when she walked in.

“I can just remember the cheering of the crowd and everyone getting involved,” said Williams.

Tullahassee leaders said the reopening shows promise for one of Oklahoma’s oldest black towns. Williams said the new floors from the renovations could be just as bright as the town’s future.

“I think it’s possible for there to be a resurgence here. We can start with the community center, but I think it may draw more people back,” said Williams.

Town leaders said the space will be used for basketball tournaments and community events. They’ve been working since last year to raise money for renovations. Williams said the building’s name, John Ford, brings back memories.

“Doctor Ford, who was actually superintendent and principal when I attended here, just brought back a lot of memories of love.”
Even though Williams lives in Muskogee, she said she’ll be back for events.

“Oh, absolutely, because this is the foundation of the community right now,” said Williams.

To learn more about Tullahassee, click here.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere —

Source link

Oklahoma

What is Oklahoma State’s Toughest Road Game in 2024?

Published

9 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

What is Oklahoma State’s Toughest Road Game in 2024?

Oklahoma State has been one of the best home teams in the nation in recent years, but some road games have been a cause for concern.

Over the past three seasons, OSU has lost only two games at Boone Pickens Stadium, boasting multiple 10-win seasons and trips to the Big 12 Championship. Despite the team’s overall success, winning away from Stillwater has proved challenging at times for the Cowboys.

Coming off one of those 10-win campaigns, OSU is looking to compete for a Big 12 title and make the College Football Playoff for the first time. Of course, to achieve those goals, the Cowboys will need to play well away from home.

Winning on the road is typically not easy, but the Cowboys’ first matchup away from Stillwater is in Tulsa, so it will still feel a bit like a home game. Considering the Golden Hurricane’s struggles recently, the opponent will not do much to make the game interesting.

While the Cowboys will make a couple of trips to Texas next season to face Baylor and TCU, there are three road games that stand out as the most difficult.

3. BYU

A Friday night under the lights in Provo will be a challenge for OSU. After needing an 18-point comeback to win in double overtime against the Cougars in Stillwater last season, the Cowboys can’t afford to take this matchup lightly. With the Cowboys’ potential to come in as a top 15 team, it could be the rowdiest environment OSU faces all season.

2. Colorado

OSU will get an early kickoff on Black Friday in Boulder. With a short week after a potentially intense matchup with Texas Tech, the Cowboys could experience some hangover in this matchup.

While Colorado’s season could go a few different directions, if it enters the game with a bowl game still in reach, OSU could face a desperate team. Plus, OSU’s past three regular-season finales have all been one-possession games.

1. Kansas State

OSU will open conference play by hosting Utah, but the schedule does not let up after that, as the Cowboys will head to Kansas State a week later. Last season, OSU’s matchup against Kansas State sparked a five-game winning streak and helped turn the season around.

As both teams enter next season as Big 12 contenders, this is projected to be one of the most important conference matchups. Manhattan has also been a tough place for OSU to win, as the Cowboys lost 48-0 in their most recent trip in 2022.

READ MORE: Oklahoma State Set to Host 3-star In-State RB Kenny Golston

Want to join the discussion? Like AllPokes on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

Source link

Oklahoma

Why Vernon Turner’s journey to 2024 Paris Olympics ‘means a lot to everyone’ in Oklahoma

Published

16 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Why Vernon Turner’s journey to 2024 Paris Olympics ‘means a lot to everyone’ in Oklahoma

When he leapt 7 feet and 6 inches into the air, breaking the NFHS high jump record as a senior at Yukon High School, Vernon Turner first began to think the Olympics could be in his future.

He had already earned an invitation to his first Olympic trials. But it rained. And while he executed perfect jumps during warmups, he had a poor showing and ultimately didn’t qualify.

Turner’s mother, Melonie Carpenter, knowing he was disappointed with how he performed, remembers the advice she offered at that moment.

“I’ve always told him,” Carpenter said, “‘Professionals are dedicated, and they put everything into whatever it is that they’re doing. And the ones that don’t put 100% in, or 150%, they don’t get to be in that little, small percentage.’”

When the Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony Friday, Turner will be the lone U.S. Olympian out of 592 athletes to represent Oklahoma. The former OU track and field standout who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but raised in Yukon, is one of the youngest high jumpers in the field.

Turner’s family will make the over 4,800-mile journey to Paris to watch him live out his dreams. While excited, Carpenter said they’re nervous to travel outside the U.S. as they haven’t done so outside of cruises, and she’ll be on the edge of her seat watching her son compete.

More: 2024 Paris Olympics: A look at each competitor with Oklahoma ties

“I’m going to be a nervous wreck, I’ll tell you right now,” Carpenter said. “Vernon said he’s not nervous at all. He’s excited. So I’m glad to hear him say that.”

Turner was originally an avid basketball player who was dunking by his freshman year of high school before his coach forced him to go out for track and field.

Carpenter has seen firsthand how hard her son has worked to cement himself as one of the best in the world.

Turner’s work ethic was instilled in him by Carpenter, who worked night shifts mostly seven days a week throughout his childhood. Turner was forced to grow up fast and developed immense dedication for high jumping during his freshman year of high school.

Turner opened up to The Oklahoman earlier this month about the mental hurdles he faced after finishing dead last at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. For the past year, he’s buckled down and focused on getting himself ready for the leading international sporting event.

“The mental game is tough,” Turner said. “Throughout my whole career, it’s been up and down. … Learning the mental part of it is so huge. You have to mature and just be able to focus on one thing. You can’t let moments be bigger than you.”

More: Mussatto: Imagining Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams on Team USA in 2028 Olympics

The past few weeks before heading abroad, Turner has been entrenched in final preparations and has worked with the Sooners’ vertical jumps coach Jerel Langley in Oklahoma.

“He’s really been working,” Carpenter said. “He’s been doing some different calisthenic things to get his ups going.”

Fans can follow Turner’s Olympic journey on the RIZZ app where he’ll be answering questions and giving updates along the way.

Turner’s family is anxious to get overseas to not only watch him compete on the world stage, but to watch him represent home.

“He’s amazing, he’s worked hard,” Carpenter said. “It means a lot to everyone in Yukon, people that have watched him since he was little because he started here in grade school, he’s been here his whole life. They’ve all kept up with him, it’s amazing.”