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Kelly Clarkson has been a regular trainer on The voice since 2018 – never sitting still for a season and becoming such a crucial player (and a threat to Blake Shelton) that she ultimately ended up sitting in the chair of original coach Adam Levine. But for the first time in her Voice tenure, Kelly was a no-show on Monday… when the Season 20 battle rounds began and that chair was shockingly occupied by country star Kelsea Ballerini.
At the top of the show, host Carson Daly explained that Kelly isn’t feeling well, and even though she did not have tested for COVID-19, she was staying home as a precaution, watching the Battle Rounds from a distance. But Kelly surprisingly granted Kelsea, his temporary replacement, full authority in his absence. Even when Kelsea called Kelly – like some Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? candidate using a lifeline to phone a friend – to ask which singer should be proclaimed winner of Monday’s Team Kelly Battle, Kelly passed the responsibility, asking Kelsea to make that executive decision.
Kelsea was not a suit Voice newbie, mind you, so she was up to the task. In Season 16, she was Kelly’s team advisor, and the previous season she was the fifth official coach, mentoring six candidates rejected for the short-lived round and now missing from the “Comeback Stage” (or whatever. I used to call the series “Island of Misfit Toys”). Maybe that’s why Blake first told Kelsea, “I already like this show better with you here instead of Kelly” – but quickly realized that she too was a fierce rival. .
“Just know Blake is going to try and play mind games with you,” coach Nick Jonas warned Kelsea as they settled into their chair. “If I can give you some advice, it’s not trusting Blake,” Kelly also told Kelsea over the phone. But Kelsea didn’t seem intimidated, admitting that Kelly had also ordered her to “maintain the rivalry” with Blake. And Kelsea did just that, getting so used to her powerful new position, that in fact, at the end of the episode, she even used Kelly’s robbery to poach a Team Blake competitor.
It looks like Kelly won’t be coming back The voice put until this season’s knockout rounds. But we got to see her this week in pre-recorded rehearsal footage, in which she was accompanied by her Season 20 team advisor Luis Fonsi. (The other advisers for the evening were Dan + Shay for Team Blake, Brandy for Team Legend and Darren Criss for Team Jonas.) It didn’t seem quite fair to his competitors, Gean Garcia and Ryleigh Modig, that Kelly – after having spent all of this time observing their preparation for their very seamless and harmoniously vocally blended performance of Ariana Grande’s “POV” – would leave their fate in Kelsea’s hands. But as Blake joked, “If Kelly was here I’d say, ‘Why did you pair these two together?’ It’s horrible. What is she doing? Maybe that’s why she isn’t here after all. Maybe she realized what a horrible mistake she made and didn’t want to face the decision. Even Kelsea thought, “I think Blake is on to something – that she just didn’t want to have to choose.”
In the end, Kelsea chose the more eccentric and intriguing Ryleigh – a wise move that proved Kelly was right to trust him. But Nick Jonas and John Legend both attempted to steal Gean (with John succeeding), so it all worked out, and Kelsea didn’t have to feel guilty on his first day on the job. We’ll see if she keeps making good decisions as the fighting continues next Monday, but until then, here’s how the other battles this week have gone:
TEAM BLAKE: Aaron Konzelman vs. Connor Christian, “I Ain’t Livin ‘Long Like This”
This Waylon Jennings classic was much more in the comfort zone of Aaron, the warbler of roots music, and on stage, Aaron’s curvy voice definitely cut and dominated Connor. (John said Aaron’s voice was “more electric.”) Even though Connor looked and acted like a star, Aaron looked more like his sideman, and although Connor’s performance gained momentum in the end , I still predicted that Connor was going to disappear – because I had assumed that Blake had chosen a country song to favor Aaron. But then Blake threw a curve ball, “If I’m being honest with myself it’s a little more in Aaron’s wheelhouse, but Connor, I know how much work you put in that.” I have to leave it to Connor, ”Blake explained.
WINNER: Connor Christian
TEAM LEGEND: Dana Monique vs. Devan Blake Jones, “Stuck With U”
It was another close competition. Diva Dana was an undeniable power, an unstoppable force, but Devan, despite some height issues, was no slouch, flaunting her artistry and a characteristic falsetto that Kelsea described as “magical.” After watching this battle, Nick retorted, “I feel like I mismanaged this pairing, and I blame myself.” But Nick had a way to right his stupid mistake – by choosing Dana, but using his unique Save on Devan. “I wasn’t saying goodbye to you today,” he assured Devan. “I have great confidence in you. I gave you a really tough competitor in this battle, and I think you showed up and pulled it off. And I want to continue working with you. “
WINNER: Dana Monique / SAVED: Devan Blake Jones
TEAM LEGEND: Christine Cain vs. Pia Renee, “Baby”
Christine and Pia were commissioned to rehearse a song by Brandy in front of brandy, but these “charismatic and cool women” have mostly handled the pressure like the pros. “I knew they would bring individuality to any song they did, so I chose a Brandy song,” John said with a shrug. On stage, they made me vibrate LaBelle / En Vogue, and I thought if they could just smooth out their harmonies a bit, they could be a great recording duo. That battle ended with a less surprising verdict, however: John opted for the more ‘explosive’ and ‘electric’ Pia, who really entered the ring prepared for battle, above the more ‘laid back Christine. “.
WINNER: Pia Renee
TEAM NICK: Awari vs. José Figueroa Jr., “You Say”
It was another battle in which the choice of song obviously seemed to favor one candidate over the other: Lauren Daigle is a contemporary Christian artist, and José is a singer and church pastor. But Awari had a deep connection to ‘You Say’, explaining, “It’s literally the soundtrack for a season of my life. I was in the process of getting a divorce. I became a single father. And it says all the words my heart wanted to say but couldn’t say. I think it translated on stage, with Awari’s husky tone and raw emotion transforming the often-covered empowerment hymn into something totally his own. José was way too skillful and predictable for me – but not, apparently, for Pastor Nick’s little one. “José, you have the ability to hit your runs with precision,” Nick said. “You’re here swinging for the fences, and I love that ambition, that passion.”
WINNER: José Figueroa Jr.
TEAM BLAKE: Avery Roberson vs. Ethan Lively, “Just Got Started Lovin ‘You”
These two country contestants are only 20 and 17, respectively, but they sang like adults, with red blood, hairy breasts. Men. High school student Ethan claimed he couldn’t even relate to James Otto’s lyrics due to his lack of life / romantic experience, but he needs an Emmy for Best Dramatic Performance now because he was certainly believable on stage – so much so that he actually won that battle. on Avery, one of my favorites from Season 20 and someone I had ranked as a favorite. Well, clearly, Kelsea had Avery as someone to watch out for. She eagerly flew Avery (“It was my first flight, and it felt good!” She proclaimed), and Blake looked good with it, pointing out, “That’s what thefts are made for. ” I’m sure Kelly was thrilled with this development as well, as Kelsea later revealed, “I’m here texting Kelly and she’s like, ‘You gotta have it for me!’ And I was like, ‘I’ll do my best.’ I can’t wait to see Avery and Kelly work together on his return to the Knockouts, but in the meantime, Kelsea is clearly doing a job.
WINNER: Ethan Lively / STOLEN: Avery Roberson joins Team Kelly
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