On The Voice UK, 76-year-old Scottish grandmother Bette Reynolds made history as the oldest contestant on the show, leaving judges and viewers in awe with her performance of Rapper’s Delight. Bette, originally from Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, now living in Ontario, Canada, shocked everyone by choosing the classic hip-hop song by The Sugarhill Gang. Her flawless delivery of the rapid-fire lyrics quickly captivated the audience, who cheered and applauded in excitement. The judges, visibly impressed, grinned and turned their chairs, eager to see more.
Bette was chosen to join Team Tom and Dan after judges Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones from McFly were so impressed that they turned their chairs for her. When asked about her song choice, Bette explained, “My grandchildren are into rap, and I thought I’d give it a shot.” She added that they picked some of their favorite rappers for her to try.
Bette’s performance is especially inspiring considering her long journey to the stage. Although she received classical vocal training at age five, she had not performed since 1966, as she focused on raising a family and being a wife. Recently, she had been caring for her husband Stewart, who had dementia. After his passing in January, just a few months before her audition, Bette decided to honor him by returning to music and taking a chance on The Voice UK.
Reflecting on the challenging year, Bette shared, “It’s been a tough year. My husband passed away recently, although I took care of him for a long time. But I knew we had to continue because he was such a happy person. It’s simply amazing—a true boon.”
Her lively personality won over the judges. Sir Tom Jones commented on how young her voice sounded, while LeAnn Rimes praised the audience’s enthusiastic response. Will.i.am, deeply moved by her performance, rushed onstage to give her a hug and joined her for an impromptu duet of I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas, which further energized the crowd.
Bette had already built a following on social media, where she shared humorous music videos such as “I’m Your Granny” and “I’m on the Bus Y’all,” gaining over 60,000 fans. The producers of The Voice UK took notice and invited her to audition.
Fans were quick to express their joy online after her audition. One YouTube user wrote, “I was having a really sad day UNTIL I heard Bette! She made me incredibly happy!” Another declared, “This is the best audition EVER!”
Now, Bette moves on to the next round of the competition, where she will face off against other contestants in one-on-one battles. With the support of her family and the memory of her late husband, fans are eagerly awaiting her next performance.
