Auditioning for The Voice with a song made popular by one of the judges is a gutsy move, but it paid off for Saralyn Matla.
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On the final night of the blind auditions of The Voice Australia on Sunday, and with one space left in the competition, regional NSW country star Saralyn Matla wowed the judges.
Only judge Ronan Keating had a place left on his team, and when Saralyn stepped onto the stage singing his song If Tomorrow Never Comes, it was fate.
Ms Matla, who hails from the Hunter region township of Paterson, said the song held a special place in her heart as it made her think of her daughters.
"The journey I had singing that song, I was like wow, I really was thinking about my kids and my family, and especially my girls," she said.
"Will they know how much I love them if I don't wake up tomorrow?
"They were along for the whole journey, I just want them to know that no matter how hard it is don't give up, keep pushing, keep trying."
On Sunday's episode of the Seven Network show, she sang for coaches Kate Miller-Heidke, Spice Girl Melanie C, Ronan Keating and Richard Marx.
Before Ms Matla began singing, Keating was crossing his fingers and said "please be good".
His wish was answered.
But going into the audition Ms Matla didn't know the other teams had been filled, so she was wondering why no one was turning a chair.
"Going in I didn't know everyone else's teams had been filled, as you know in the audition he turned a bit later in the song, there must have been 10 seconds of the song left from memory, and I honestly thought in that moment I'm not turning a chair, I felt the doubt creep in," she said.
"And then I saw his chair turn and I was like no way, I was honestly shocked and then I was singing his song so that obviously adds this... you really want to do a good job.
"He's sung this song for the last 20 years at all of his shows and this song means a lot to him so I knew I had a bit of a job ahead of me, but him turning his chair I was so stoked.
"I instantly felt relieved and like oh wow, all the hard work paid off in that moment. "
Ms Matla said the song was a great fit, being country and also having a strong connection to Keating.
"It's just a beautful song because it helps you to appreciate everything that you have in your life like family and it instantly makes you feel something," she said.
"That's what I wanted to share on stage, a song that made you feel something."
