The Voice Finale Part 2: Hold Your Breath And Count To Ten

WOW! After several months of auditions, battles, playoffs, Stupid Twitter Saves, team performances and duets, the Season 14 winner has been crowned on The Voice. First time coach Kelly Clarkson walked (or most likely danced) away victoriously tonight as 15 year old Brynn Cartelli beat Britton Buchanan, Spensha Baker, and Kyla Jade(!) for the title, the tears, and the confetti shower. Here are the highlights...

Bring Backs:
-- Britton teamed up with Jackie F, Christiana, Mia, and WILKES for a group effort on "In the Air Tonight." This performance was the show opener and quite haunting, so it's not like we kicked things off with a bang this evening.

-- Kyla was joined by Rayshun, Sharane, and Johnny for a mass explosion of energy and also a performance of "Killer/Papa Was a Rolling Stone." All jokes aside, the vocals here were insane.

-- If Spensha and Brynn were able to bring anyone back, I missed it. I guess all of the guest stars and filler videos of how corny and fun the coaches are were more important than all of the Final Four getting in a group number.

Guest Stars:
-- Dua Lipa took the stage to perform her sassy single "IDGAF." Truthfully, I've never heard of her or the song but she had me with the title.

-- Alicia Keys joined James Bay to do a duet version of his song "Us." I'm embarrassed to say I've never heard this song either, but damn did these two sound amazing together. AMAZING. I actually needed to watch the performance twice before I could move on with the rest of the finale.

-- Season 13 winner Chloe Kohanski returned to The Voice to debut her new single "Come This Far," which is a tune that could have time traveled from the 1980s (not complaining). It's nice to see that Chloe has an even stronger stage presence now than the last time we saw her...and generally it's just nice to see a former winner pop up again. Anyone have news on Chris Blue's album?

-- Florence + the Machine performed "Hunger" tonight, a song I'm happy to say I do know, and I'm a huge fan of this band. I can never take my eyes off of Florence Welch when she's on my TV and I loved this performance.

-- Halsey and Big Sean joined forces to throw down with "Alone." There were SO many dancers on that stage I thought for a second we might be getting ready for the next season of SYTYCD...but then I realized we were on the wrong network.

-- Jason Aldean then sloooooooowed down the night considerably with his performance of "Drowns the Whiskey." I love Jason Aldean but I was nodding off a bit here.


Final Four Duets:
-- Spensha kicked off the duets with Kane Brown, singing "What Ifs" and smiling up a storm. The verses is this performance were painful but the two seemed to fare much better in the choruses.

-- Brynn's duet partner was Julia Michaels which was fun for a couple of reasons. 1) Julia wrote Brynn's original song "Walk My Way and 2) Their voices were made to collaborate. Seriously. Their renditions of "Issues" and "Jump" were gorgeous.

-- Britton was paired with Ryan Adams for a pleasant but snoozy rendition of "To Be Without You." I get why these guys were duet partners...I was just bummed because Britton has totally come out of his shell in the past few weeks and I was hoping he'd have more of an opportunity to let loose tonight.

-- Kyla rounded out the duets as she and J-Hud brought the house down with "I Know Where I've Been." This. Blew. My. Mind. I'm just going to post a link for you to watch because nothing I can say can do this duet justice.


Results!
Spensha finished in 4th place, as expected, and coming in 3rd was....KYLA. Color me shocked when this announcement happened. It all came down to Britton and Brynn and as the show was about to end, Carson put us out of our "pause, now pause some more, okay just one more pause" misery and crowned Brynn the Season 14 winner. Brynn cried a little, Kelly cried a little, and I cried a little. The show ended before the kid could sing her "Walk My Way" victory single, but I was so thrilled for her...and even more thrilled for Kelly. I remember Kelly singing "I could win with youuuu" when she turned her chair around for Brynn during the blind auditions, and KC has had a hell of a first season on this show. Congrats to Team Kelly, here's hoping Kyla Jade gets to make an album, keeping my fingers crossed that Alicia continues to mentor Britton, and Spensha? Thanks for all the smiles and stuff.

The Voice returns for Season 15 in the fall with resident coaches Adam and Blake, as well as the return of Kelly AND J-Hud. I think the Kelly/J-Hud combo is going to be very exciting....and I need to be excited about something because I feel like the next KC tour just keeps getting more and more delayed. I also always miss Alicia when she's gone, but no one on this show has thrown shoes in a while so it's probably about time for the next rotation anyway. Until then, I wish you all a safe and happy summer!

The Voice Finale Part 1: This Is The End

Well here we are! Season 14 of The Voice will come to a close this week and we're looking at either Britton, Brynn, Kyla, or Spensha as the victor. Adam is just hanging out tonight as all of his artists have been eliminated, while the rest of our coaches sit in anticipation of what their contestants might accomplish this evening. The Final Four will sing 3 songs each: a cover song, an original song that would be their first single, and a duet with their coach. Who stands above the rest? Let's get to the performances... 

Artist: Kyla Jade

Team: Blake

Song: "With a Little Help From My Friends" by The Beatles (but closer to Joe Cocker's version)

Of course my brain always goes back to The Wonder Years when I hear this song (fantastic show) and and I'm half hoping to see Fred Savage and Danica McKellar swaying in the audience when the performance starts. While I don't get that wish granted, I do get some major vocals from Kyla Jade. Major. She gets really screamy at times (paying homage to Pryor? Rayshun?) which grates on my nerves, but I do appreciate the way Kyla interacts with her backup singers, especially since she is a backup singer herself who is now stepping into the spotlight. Overall I like the arrangement and I think this is a great way to kick off the show. 

Coaches Say: Alicia stands and dances well before the performance ends and the other 3 coaches are on their feet when Kyla holds her last note. Kelly says the best part of the performance was the way Kyla included everyone behind her (great minds think alike!). Blake looks right at his contestant and says: "Kyla, if you don't win The Voice, I don't know why we call this show The Voice."

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Artist: Britton Buchanan

Team: Alicia

Song: "Where You Come From" (original song)

Britton penned his would be first single himself, so unlike other artists on these shows who have to do the best with what they've been given, Britton has the automatic connection to his original song. And by the way - it's a really good song. Sometimes the lyrics get lost in his lower register, but other than wanting to push Britton about an inch away from the microphone while he's singing, I really enjoy this performance. Well done, kid.

Coaches Say: All 4 coaches stand (it's going to be that kind of night) and Adam says he is Team Britton all day long. Alicia thinks this moment is so important because Britton wrote the song himself and he executed his own vision. 

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Artist: Spensha Baker 

Team: Blake

Song: "Merry Go 'Round" by Kacey Musgraves

After a stellar semi-finals performance show last week, Spensha hopes to continue reaching her peak tonight since her spot in the Final Four was a surprise to many people. Many. Especially Pryor and Jackie. Anyway, I can't say I'm totally behind this song choice. I get that Spensha wants to tell a story, but there are so many better stories in country music. Vocally, Spensha does a really good job here and the staging is gorgeous. She's also gorgeous. I might be in the minority, but I just don't think this performance was finale material. 

Coaches Say: Blake is the only one who stands (so I guess it's not going to be that kind of night) and we go right to him. Blake says Spensha is incredible and can be the next big country superstar. Oy... 

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Artist: Kyla Jade

Team: Blake

Song: "The Last Tear" (original song)

You know how I mentioned some artists are at a disadvantage when we get to original song time? Kyla is not one of them. This tune is a wonderful match for Kyla and during the rehearsal package she tells us "The Last Tear" reminds her of what she has been learning about herself through this process. Unlike the opening of the show, Kyla scales back her vocals in this performance and still manages to bring down the house for the second time tonight. I personally like non-screamy Kyla better than "With a Little Help From My Friends" Kyla, but either way this woman is a freaking powerhouse. 

Coaches Say: Only Blake and Alicia stand, and Kelly says Kyla is a songwriter's dream. Blake re-iterates that the show was designed for someone like Kyla. We get it buddy.

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Artist: Brynn Cartelli

Team: Kelly

Song: "Walk My Way" (original song)

Brynn's original song was written by Julia Michaels (love her) and it's incredibly catchy...to the point where it will be lodged in my brain tonight when I try to go to sleep. Some of the low notes get lost in the shuffle throughout the performance, but the song and artist are paired perfectly here. And can we talk about the fact that Kelly was standing and singing along during the whole performance? She's seriously going to be front and center at this kid's first concert. I need to figure out how to also get front and center tickets at that concert.... Anyway, please excuse me while I immediately go add this to my iTunes collection. 

Coaches Say: Adam mentions Brynn's young age and tells her she is amazing and great every time she is on stage. Kelly stands again and says a whole bunch of stuff about Brynn, but mainly that she is incredible. 

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Artist: Britton Buchanan

Team: Alicia

Song: "Good Lovin'" by The Young Rascals

Holy hell! Britton goes all out with showmanship in this performance and since we don't have Rayshun's "I'm everywhere at once giving you everything I've got!" style tonight, I do enjoy Britton's energy here. I think his vocals suffer at times from his enthusiastic stage travel, but dude is giving the performance of his life. I did NOT expect Britton to command the stage the way he's doing right now and I want someone to run up there and give him a high five...and maybe a doctor when the song is over. Great job. 

Coaches Say: Of course everyone is on their feet! The crowd goes insane for a good minute and we go right to Alicia who is still standing. She says Britton is totally in his element and he set the whole place on fire. 

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Artist: Spensha Baker 

Team: Blake

Song: "Old Soul" (original song)

We're now 4 for 4 tonight on the original songs and thank goodness for that. "Old Soul" isn't as catchy as Brynn's tune, or as powerful as Kyla's, or as awesome at storytelling as Britton's, but for Spensha, I think the song is perfectly suited for her. She gets the country music vibe that she excels in (sometimes), she gets a melody and lyrics she seems very comfortable singing, and she gets to end the evening on an incredibly strong note. Again, I never called Spensha to be in the Final Four, but she's had two pretty great weeks in her attempt to win the competition. 

Coaches Say: We go right to Blake who tells his contestant that she is ready to step off The Voice stage and onto stages like the Grand Ole Opry. Double oy...

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Artist: Brynn Cartelli

Team: Kelly

Song: "Skyfall" by Adele

Yesssssssssss! Normally I would let out a resounding "NOOOO!" when someone decides to cover Adele on these shows, but this particular Adele song is not so big that Brynn gets swallowed up in it. In fact, she does a hell of a job performing it. Brynn's rendition is almost vocal perfection (sorry - the actual perfection is going to be Adele every time) and I'm mesmerized by her performance from start to finish. The way she handles the range and tone of this song is well beyond her years and out of the many performances we've seen tonight, Brynn deserved the closing spot. But will this fantastic, kick-ass performance put her ahead of Kyla? 

Coaches Say: Only the ladies seem to be standing, which is crazy to me, and we are almost out of time. Kelly says she is lucky to be coaching Brynn and she's just a cheerleader for the kid because Brynn makes all of her own choices. 

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The coaches and artists duets tonight were mostly solid and entertaining, but not what I would consider a determining factor in who should win this thing. Brynn and Kelly harmonized beautifully in Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" and I swayed happily on my couch. Britton and Alicia kept the ballads going by doing a piano/acoustic guitar version of Avicii's "Wake Me Up." This was a lovely performance as well, but made all the more sad by Avicii's recent passing. Spensha and Blake attempted and for the most part succeeded at a fun performance with "Tell Me About It" by Tanya Tucker. I don't see a Spensha album including this kind of tune, but hey, she was smiling up a storm. Kyla and Blake rounded out the duets with a their rendition of  Wynonna's "Only Love." It took Kyla and Blake a little while to decide who's going overboard and when and whether they should go overboard together, and really this just seemed like a Kyla performance that was accompanied by Blake...not that I'm complaining. 

And there you have it. The Final Four have done all they can do to win America's votes because there is NO Stupid Twitter Save tomorrow. I still think Kyla is the clear front-runner here but the other contestants are not to be counted out. I'm all in for Team Kelly, and young Brynn has been turning heads all season. The kid has a hell of a voice and crazy control over it and her Adele cover was amazing. Britton is the epitome of "artist" in this competition and he's grown leaps and bounds since the show started. His "Where You Come From" should also be popular on iTunes tonight. Spensha pretty much came out of nowhere and ousted contestants that were finale shoe-ins all season, and she also had a strong finish tonight. Will tomorrow's announcement contain any surprises? Will Kelly get her first win in her first season on The Voice? Will Alicia claim her second title? Or will the cowboy emerge with yet another victory as Season 14 comes to an end? All will be revealed during part 2 of the finale tomorrow. Til then!

The Voice Semi-Finals Elimination: Can I Get A Hallelujah?

Tonight as I prepared for the inexplicable way we determine the Final Four on The Voice, I re-watched the performances from the semi-finals one more time (okay, well, the performances I liked one more time) and wished these artists had a another chance to face off again before half of them go home. Alas, this evening's elimination episode saw 4 contestants leave the competition and the Final Four were finally revealed after an hour of long pauses with more long pauses. Was any one team destroyed in this slaughter? Here are the highlights from the semi-finals elimination...

Kane Brown took the stage tonight to perform "Heaven," and I can't say that I enjoyed the song or performance outside of the choruses. Panic! at the Disco (I love that name so much) also showed up and they treated us to their catchy single "Say Amen (Saturday Night)." Blake rounded out the non-Stupid Twitter Save performances with "I Lived It" and I'm always a big fan of the cowboy's personality on stage. With all of the anxiety people must be feeling tonight about the eliminations, dude was cool as a cucumber.

Results! The first person to make it into next week's finale was Spensha. Yes. Spensha. The first person to make it through. To the finale. Was Spensha. Now I can't really say that I'm angry - after all, this young lady had a hell of a night last night. She just wasn't one of my Final Four picks. The next name announced was Brynn (yay!), and she was eventually followed by Kyla (double yay!). We then got to that awkward part of the show where the 2 people with the lowest number of votes don't get to sing for the Stupid Twitter Save at all and the not quite bottom 3 do sing for the Stupid Twitter Save. Rayshun and Jackie  (nooooo) were eliminated immediately and Pryor, Kaleb, and Britton appealed to social media for a spot in The Voice finale...which still just blows my mind. 

Pryor was up first with "Soulshine" and it was a screamfest. Kaleb took the stage next with "Simple Man," and while I really like the guy...and really love Team Kelly, I had to root for Britton at that point. Kaleb gave us a pretty solid rendition of "Simple Man" but Britton slayyyyed "Dancing On My Own." He did one of those for real "make it your own" things with this song,  his vocals were awesome, and he deserved that last spot in the Final Four. In the end, Britton did win the Stupid Twitter Save and our Season 14 finale match-up was set. 

Next week Britton, Brynn, Spensha and Kyla will give it one last go for the title, confetti, strange trophy, and shot at stardom that may hopefully last beyond the Season 15 finale. Seriously - Chloe Kohanski gave us an update on her life tonight and I had forgotten all about her. Team Adam has been completely eliminated now and Kelly and Alicia both have one representative left in the competition. Blake goes into the finale 2 strong and he is at this point in time the coach with the most number of wins on the show. Does Kyla have it in the bag? Will the youngsters of the voting world cancel out Brynn and Britton? Does Spensha have a shot at winning this thing next week? And if she does, can she borrow Jackie's fog machine? I'd be so bummed not to see it featured in the finale. We'll find out who emerges victorious after the two part extravaganza starting next Monday. Til then!  

The Voice Semi-Finals Performances: The Lonely Street of Dreams

Tonight the remaining artists on The Voice participate in the inexplicable 8 person semi-finals. Blake goes into the evening with a full team, Kelly and Alicia have 2 team members left, and Adam (by default) has all of his eggs in the Rayshun basket. Will any of the teams have a clear advantage going into tomorrow's elimination? Let's get to the performances and find out...

Artist: Brynn Cartelli

Team: Kelly

Song: "What the World Needs Now" by Jackie DeShannon (but Andra Day's version)

Last week's closer kicks off the night with one of the best "stop whatever you're doing, sway, and smile" songs I can think of. I know a lot of people (myself included) keep focusing on how young Brynn is, but I really do feel like most girls singing this song at her age could come off very pageant-y. Brynn keeps it scaled back though and doesn't put us through teenage dramatics to try to get the message across. She does a lovely job with the song and keeps me totally engaged even though "What the World Needs Now" is very, very repetitive. Pleeeeeease let this kid be in the final four. 

Coaches Say: Kelly is standing as Brynn goes into the final chorus and Alicia, Blake, and Adam join her when the song is over. Blake says Brynn is a master of mastering whatever the song she chooses/is given each week. Kelly thinks Brynn's performances are epic, and beautiful, and tasteful. She calls her contestant "a true artist."

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Artist: Jackie Foster

Team: Alicia

Song: "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake

Oh how I enjoyed ballad Jackie last week, but rock star Jackie takes the stage tonight and completely switches gears from the group hug vibe Brynn just gave us. Jackie wants this song to be her anthem and she feels so close to her dreams at this point in the competition. Jackie doesn't perform this song like she's covering a tune for a competition. She performs "Here I Go Again" as if she were bringing down the house at the end of a concert tour she is headlining. Sure, I thought last week's rendition of "Gravity" was better (really because it was incredibly moving), but Jackie attacks this performance like a seasoned pro and I can't imagine a finale without her and her fog machine. 

Coaches Say: Kelly and Alicia stand and Adam says seeing Jackie let loose and have fun was really important in this moment. Alicia tells Jackie she owned the performance, and she made it hers, and also smashed it...all which are good things. 

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Artist: Rayshun LaMarr

Team: Adam

Song: "Imagine" by John Lennon

Sigh. You know why I've always loved this song? Because it's beautiful in a very simple way. This arrangement is jazzy and Rayshun puts his Rayshun spin on it, and for me, ruins the tune entirely. While I have no doubt Rayshun connects with the lyrics and the message, I just don't feel like "Imagine" was meant to be happily and energetically screamed at us in a competition. Next.

Coaches Say: Adam stands for the majority of the performance and the rest of the coaches stand as well when the performance is over. Kelly thinks Rayshun carries so much joy that the world needs right now, and he allows the audience to escape in that joy. Adam says the performance was inspiring and believes John Lennon would be proud of Rayshun's rendition of "Imagine." Ok.   

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Artist: Spensha Baker

Team: Blake

Song: "My Church" by Maren Morris

While Spensha may have struggled a bit while out of her comfort zone last week, she finds a song right in her wheelhouse this week with "My Church."  She digs deep and lays all of her cards out on the table in this performance and I LOVE IT. If there's ever been a time for this girl to stand out, it's tonight and she soars from the first "hallelujah" to the last "amen." This is Spensha's best performance all season and I'm pretty sure she knows it. I also really like the new hair. Just sayin.'

Coaches Say: Blake is giving us a lot of "yeah!" yells as he stands and claps and Carson goes right to him for commentary. Blake says the dam just broke on everything Spensha has been holding back this season. He thinks she just had "a moment" and will be surprised if she is not in the finale. 

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Artist: Kyla Jade

Team: Blake

Song: "Let It Be" by The Beatles

See, this is how you tackle a simple song with a great message. Yes, Kyla takes "Let It Be" to church (shout out to that amazing choir), and yes she does get super loud at times. Like, way loud. But to me she's not here as an entertainer tonight...she's here to share something a little more profound. Kyla stands in one spot behind a mic stand to command our attention and though I can hear the choir, I can't take my eyes off of Kyla. This performance is moving and inspiring and I watch it a few times with tears in my eyes before I can continue with the rest of the show. Best of the night. Easily. 

Coaches Say: Everyone is on their feet! Alicia thinks Kyla embodied magnificence tonight and loves the confidence that is rising in Kyla. She also tells Kyla "this was a superstar iconic performance." Blake has never been more honored to be associated with a human being in 14 seasons of The Voice. He also adds she may have won the competition already. 

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Artist: Kaleb Lee

Team: Kelly

Song: "It Is Well With My Soul" by Audrey Assad

While Kaleb has improved little by little each week in showing personality, we've been waiting for him to really show emotion in his performances. Tonight he accomplishes that. Kaleb has never sounded better and this is the most connected he's been to a song all season. This is my favorite Kaleb performance and I'm so happy that he gave us such a strong showing tonight. I'm not sure that he will break through to the final four tomorrow, but he should be SO proud of what he's done on The Voice. Also, can we talk about how adorable Kaleb's family is? His son in that cowboy hat? My heart melted.

Coaches Say: We go right to Kelly as we are starting to run out of time on this live show. Kelly says Kaleb has grown so much since the blind auditions and calls music his "purpose." 

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Artist: Pryor Baird

Team: Blake

Song: "Change the World" by Eric Clapton

In the rehearsal package Pryor tells us this is his favorite song he's done on the show. I can say with confidence that this is my least favorite song he's done on the show. Maybe Pryor's sound just isn't for me. Maybe I read a review that compared his voice to Eric Cartman's from South Park and haven't been able to hear him any other way since then.  Maybe I'm bummed that he and Kaleb have probably been fighting for the same votes and I like Kaleb sooooo much better. Dunno. But I'm ready for Britton to take the stage pretty much as soon as this song starts.

Coaches Say: Kelly thinks Pryor sounds like he is constantly in "this cool state of plea-ing" and Blake says no matter what happens, Pryor really is "the guy next door." I had thought this was kind of Blake's way of saying "My money is on Kyla and Spensha" but then the cowboy follows up with "I'll see you in the finale." Hmmm.  

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Artist: Britton Buchanan

Team: Alicia

Song: "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen

Britton continues his slow and steady climb to the finale with a big song by Bruce Springsteen. Britton has been wanting to take on the Boss for a while now and this performance is well timed. There have been several super strong performances this evening but I'm really happy Britton got the closing spot. The kid has really come into his own, he looks confident, he sounds great, he owns this song, and I really hope to see him next week. The moments when he raises his arms with his eyes closed while the choir sings behind him alone say "confetti shower contender." I think I'll be downloading this tune tonight. 

Coaches Say: Alicia is incredibly excited and "woohoos" repeatedly. She tells Britton that when he comes onstage she sees another side of him. She's so proud of her contestant and she closes her critique with: "This rising that you're talking about? This place that we can all go? I'm coming with you man!"

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The Top 8 each had a duet tonight as well, with Pryor and Kaleb taking on a "Hillbilly Bone/Hillbilly Deluxe" mashup to start. In my humble opinion, Kaleb came out on top here...but that could just be because Pryor tends to annoy me anyway. Kyla and Spensha performed the best mashup of the night as they collaborated on a "What's Going On/Rise Up" duet. Kyla was the dominating force here but Spensha really held her own and shined...never mind the fact that the woman sounded fantastic together. This, hands down, was one of my favorite duets on this show in any season. Brynn and Britton had an odd pairing of "FourFiveSeconds/You Can't Always Get What You Want." It's not that the two youngins sang together that was odd - that was a great idea. I just think their songs could have suited the pairing a little better...and what was with the couch? Jackie and Rayshun rounded out the duets with a "Believer/Radioactive" mashup. This was an explosion of energy, as expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

Tomorrow night is the semi-finals slaughter where the Top 8 are chopped in half to reveal the last men and/or women standing in the finale. I can't believe the season is almost over! Will Rayshun sail through or have to sing for a spot in safety once again? Will Spensha's breakout night ultimately make her one of the finalists? Will any of the teams be completely eliminated before the finale (what a blow that would be for Team Blake)? Will my personal picks of Brynn, Kyla, Britton and Jackie emerge from the elimination hour as the Final Four? We'll find out tomorrow when Carson puts us through the most agonizing pauses on TV. Til then!

The Voice Top 10 Elimination: Anytime She Goes Away

Tonight's episode of The Voice featured a double elimination, with the remaining 8 contestants moving on to next week's semi-finals.  Adam and Kelly went into this hour hoping their teams of 2 would not be wiped out this evening, and Blake and Alicia were looking to head into the semi-finals still 3 strong. Which of these teams suffered a loss tonight? Here are the highlights.

Charlie Puth took the stage to perform his song "Done For Me," and I enjoyed that Carson was nice enough to point out that Charlie is a nominee for the Billboard Music Awards. We were also treated to 5 Seconds of Summer and their performance of "Youngblood." I only recently discovered their music and I have to say I'm a fan of these guys. 

Results! Kyla was the first artist to make it into the semi-finals and she was joined by Britton and Brynn soon after. Jackie F and Pryor were called next, giving each coach a contender in the Top 8 and allowing them a brief moment of relief before the bottom 3 were revealed. Kaleb and Spensha were the last ones sent to safety, leaving Christiana, Jackie V, and Rayshun singing for the Stupid Twitter Save. 

Christiana chose "Unchain My Heart" as her "save me" song and while her lower register was AMAZING last night, we didn't quite have the same situation tonight. Don't get me wrong - it was a good performance, but it just didn't have that wow factor "Ain't No Sunshine" had. Jackie went with "I Told You So" and she started out beautifully...but then there were some pitch problems...and then the poor girl was crying by the end of the performance...and then I felt awful for her. Rayshun rounded out the performances with "Let's Get It On" and he gave us an "everything but the kitchen sink" spectacle. For me it was a little much, but dude was singing for a spot in the semi-finals and I wouldn't expect anything less. Just based on last night's performances, I wanted to see Christiana make it to next week. In the end though, Rayshun won the Stupid Twitter Save and both Adam and Alicia had to say goodbye to their contestants.  

Next week we reach what I like to call the Semi-Finals slaughter, where the Top 8 suddenly gets chopped in half to get to the finale. Will Rayshun make the most of his second Stupid Twitter Save? Will Britton continue his upward climb toward the finale? Will Kyla, Brynn and Jackie (my personal picks) join him there? And who else is beyond excited that J-Hud will be back next season with Kelly Clarkson in the coaches chairs? Take THAT American Idol.  In terms of this season though, we're thisclose to finding out who will wear the coveted confetti shower, and we'll see who the final confetti shower contenders are when the Top 8 face off again next week. Til then! 

The Voice Top 10 Performances: I Make No Apologies

Tonight's episode of The Voice gives the remaining hopefuls a chance to win a spot in next week's inexplicable 8 person "semi-finals." Blake and Alicia have full teams going into this performance show and are both guaranteed a competitor in the semi-finals, but Kelly and Adam's teams face complete elimination tomorrow if they can't excel this evening. Which contestants leave it all out on the stage tonight? Let's get to the performances and find out... 

Artist: Kyla Jade

Team: Blake

Song: "This Is Me" by Keala Settle (from The Greatest Showman)

Before I get to Kyla's performance, let me direct you to two videos of Keala Settle singing this song live and making me ugly snot cry. The first one is from back when they were trying to get the studio to make The Greatest Showman, and the other is from the Oscars this year. The woman is amazing. All of that being said, Kyla has quite an emotional connection to this song and also probably caused a lot of people to ugly snot cry tonight. She's always had some insecurities, and she's fallen victim to the internet trolls that have nothing better to do than comment on her looks. In this performance Kyla loses herself in the song...she is the song...she's freeing herself of the BS and letting us know she's glorious. Kyla loses herself in a way that she's unable to sing at one point and I hope she gets 100 hugs immediately when she goes backstage. What a performance!

Coaches Say: Standing ovation from everyone! I should hope so! Alicia uses the words stunning, riveting, masterful and magnificent to describe Kyla and says Kyla comes onstage and shows everyone what's possible. Blake thinks everyone at home and in the room felt Kyla's message and he's sure she just punched her ticket to the semi-finals. Indeed!

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Artist: Kaleb Lee

Team: Kelly

Song: "Boondocks" by Little Big Town

Kaleb continues his quest to show personality this week and this is certainly the song to get the job done. After the performance Kyla just gave, it's hard for me to get too excited about what Kaleb is doing here. Taking the stage without the guitar is a smart choice and he sounds great. I also think he's gaining a little more momentum each week and connecting with the audience and (I hope) the voters more and more.  This is a solid performance....I'm just still thinking about Kyla getting hugs. 

Coaches Say: It looks like Kaleb also gets a standing ovation from everyone and I'm not completely sure why. Adam says the performance was phenomenal and he's proud of Kaleb for how much he has grown in the competition. Kelly hasn't been able to sit down since the performance ended and she tells Kaleb he is a great dude, a solid singer, and an amazing performer. 

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Artist: Jackie Verna

Team: Adam

Song: "Love Triangle" by RaeLynn

Jackie takes on a tune by a former contestant on The Voice and she calls RaeLynn a "trailblazer" during the rehearsal package. I'm going to leave that one alone. Jackie has the challenge of singing about a situation she's never been in since the song is about parents getting divorced and Jackie's parents are still together. She is hoping to be able to tell the story anyway and do the song justice. She totally does. Jackie sounds lovely on her stool surrounded by bright colors with flowers and butterflies. By the time she stands up for the last chorus, her voice is pretty much flawless. I imagine she will be getting quite the shout out from RaeLynn this evening. 

Coaches Say: Blake says Jackie's delivery was incredible and Adam thinks Jackie found her sweet spot tonight. He goes on to say a perfect vocal can get lost in the shuffle and hopes America rewards Jackie for her performance. 

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Artist: Rayshun LaMarr

Team: Adam

Song: "Mr. Jukes" by Grant Green and Charles Bradley

Okay, so I've never heard this song before. Even if I had, I'm pretty sure Rayshun would be distracting me from anything I may know about the original. I'm digging it. I try my best to do the same rhythmic sway as the backup singers are doing but I am totally unsuccessful. Rayshun continues to be Rayshun and brings crazy energy and a crazy voice. I don't know how anyone could watch this performance and not smile (or make failed attempts at dancing). 

Coaches Say: Kelly says she's never had that much fun watching anyone else. She tells Rayshun he lights up everyone in the room. Adam feels like Rayshun separated himself from the pack today in a way that was really profound. I don't know about all that, but I do think this guy needs to be in the semi-finals. 

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Artist: Spensha Baker

Team: Blake

Song: "Red" by Taylor Swift

Spensha is a little nervous about switching things up and going the country/pop route. Apparently this is completely out of her comfort zone, but Blake tells Spensha to swing for the fence. I think Spensha does an okay job with the song considering her concerns, but I agree that the pop side of country should not be her career focus. Here's hoping she gets another chance at traditional country before the competition is done. 

Coaches Say: Adam thinks some people can sing every note possible and not connect to a song and other people, like Spensha, can scale it back and connect to lyrics. See, I feel like she hard a tough time connecting to the song, but what do I know? Blake thinks this was Spensha's best performance so far and says she is going to make country music history. Excuse me while I go make a confused puppy dog face through the next commercial break. 

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Artist: Jackie Foster

Team: Alicia

Song: "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles

This is a song that is close to tipping over the "songs we've heard too many times in singing competitions" fence, but Jackie does such an amazing job here I don't really care. Jackie wants to show her softer side this evening, which is a great move, and she sets aside her rock star persona to deliver a super vulnerable, super haunting, super mesmerizing performance. If this doesn't get her to the semi-finals...and even the finale...I don't know what will. And because I can't help myself, here's a version KC did during the Stronger World Tour. 

Coaches Say: Jackie does not get a standing ovation from everyone and I have no idea why. We go right to Alicia and she thinks Jackie chose the perfect moment for this song and for America to see her in such a tender place. Alicia goes on to say she was totally riveted and taken into Jackie's world tonight.  

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Artist: Britton Buchanan

Team: Alicia

Song: "What's Love Got to Do With It" by Tina Turner

Wow! Britton takes on the 80s tonight and performs a stripped down, brilliant version of this Tina Turner classic. Britton is someone I typically enjoy hearing each week but not someone I assumed would be in this competition for the long haul. His vocals are soft and smooth during the verses and he knocks the choruses out of the park. This is my favorite Britton performance to date and I think he absolutely just had a "moment."

Coaches Say: Alicia and Adam stand and Alicia does a dance by her chair that makes me so happy. Adam believes Britton is so special and incredible and Alicia tells Britton, "you are swaggin' so hard right now" and I laugh out loud. Britton might be blushing just a little. Alicia believes he smashed that performance and hopes America joins her in recognizing his growth on the show.  

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Artist: Christiana Danielle

Team: Alicia

Song: "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers

Fresh off the bottom 2 Stupid Twitter Save last week, Christiana shows up with something to prove tonight. When this song choice was announced, I worried that we would get the whispery/whiny Christiana style that has been showing itself lately. Instead, Christiana unleashes her voice and slayyyyyyyyys this song. I like this version of Christiana and hope she finds herself a spot in the semi-finals. 

Coaches Say: Kelly and Alicia stand (where are the guys?) and Kelly says Christiana's body is like a moving orchestra and it's a beautiful thing to watch. Alicia tells us that Christiana is one of the most unique, special beings she has ever met. "You are also discovering who you are daily and weekly on this show and your instincts are spectacular. There's nobody like you."

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Artist: Pryor Baird

Team: Blake

Song: "My Town" by Montgomery Gentry

Pryor goes back to his country music roots tonight with a song that seems like it would be right up his alley. When he's not screaming at me during the choruses, I kinda/sorta enjoy what Pryor is doing. He's really screaming at me a lot though. Not my favorite performance of his and when it's over, my ears are very thankful.

Coaches Say: Adam's favorite thing about Pryor's performance was how much range he showed. Blake thinks the reason Pryor is seeing his momentum build is because of how rare his voice is. Okay, next.

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Artist: Brynn Cartelli 

Team: Kelly

Song: "Fix You" by Coldplay

Shamelessly, I'm going to suggest you check out Kelly's cover of "Fix You." And then I'm going to suggest that The Voice did a good job spacing out the showstoppers tonight. Just as Kyla gave us an emotional opening to the show, Brynn closes out the Top 10 performances with a tear-jerker. "Fix You" hits home for Brynn given her mom's recent health problems and she is "all in" on this song. Brynn's delivery doesn't completely wipe me out the way Kyla's did, and there are a few pitch issues throughout the performance, but what the kid does here is genuine, moving, and beautiful. I love it. 

Coaches Say: We're running out of time and Kelly is fighting back tears. She says it's amazing to see someone so young deliver that kind of message. She adds that Brynn was born to sing and born to be on stage. Oh how I hope Brynn sails through tomorrow. 

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Kelly also took the stage tonight to perform her newest single, "I Don't Think About You." That dress. Those NOTES. Even the chandeliers had me captivated. She just makes it look so easy... I could go on. You know I could.

Tomorrow night the bottom 2 becomes the bottom 3 as The Voice will send home two of the remaining artists. Tonight's performances were so much stronger than last week's and I think America has some tough choices on their hands this evening. Will Rayshun and Christiana avoid singing for the save this week? Will Spensha's T-Swift cover cost her a shot in the semi-finals? Will the voting audience hold all of Pryor's yelling against him tonight? Will the two Jackies continue to distinguish themselves through another round? AND will we see any team disappear completely by the time the Top 8 are revealed? We'll find out during the elimination hour. Til then!

The Voice Top 11 Elimination: It's A Little Too Late

First things first. Some of you have asked whether there will be American Idol posts and I'm sad to say I am not blogging American Idol this season. I haven't been enjoying the reboot, I think it was way too soon for a reboot, and I prefer to pretend that perfect sendoff Fox did two years ago was truly the last episode. Maybe it will grow on me and I'll change my mind if there is another season next year, but for now, on with The Voice! Tonight's elimination hour didn't send us any surprises as the bottom 2 contestants both had a rough night last night. We had some guest performers in this hour, some team performances, and some of the longest pauses in the history of TV before the Top 10 were finally revealed. Here are the highlights. 

Janelle Monae was in the house tonight performing (and I do mean performing) "Make Me Feel," which is a song I had never heard but quite enjoyed. I seriously hope the contestants were taking notes. Adam joined his team for an interesting but entertaining rendition of "The Scientist" and Alicia collaborated with her team on "Gimme Shelter." I was up and clapping for this performance - the four of them were having so much fun and they sounded great both on their own and together. And Alicia's notes? Insane!

Results! Pryor was the first contestant to be announced in the Top 10 and he was soon followed by Britton and Rayshun. Brynn was sent to safety next, giving all four coaches a temporary sigh of relief as they waited to hear the fate of the rest of their teams. Spensha's name was the next one announced and the two Jackies followed here shortly thereafter. Kyla and Kaleb were the last contestants to be called, leaving Sharane and Christiana in the bottom 2. 

Sharane chose "If I Were a Boy" for her "save me" song and boy was this rough. I know she was nervous, but I think I may have actually preferred last night's "Hero" mess to this one. You'd think Christiana would have it in the bag now regardless of song choice, but her rendition of "A Thousand Years" wasn't much better. Really I don't know how the hell social media users chose between these two ladies. In the end though, Christiana did win the Stupid Twitter Save and Sharane was the casualty of "fans pick the songs" week...two things that shouldn't even be things on this show. Sigh.  

Next week the teams will face off again with Kelly and Adam down to 2 contestants and Alicia and Blake holding strong with 3. Will Christiana bounce back from the "Umbrella" monsoon? Will Brynn be back to her old/young self again when the song choice is back in Team Kelly's control? And can we please get someone to take Rayshun's blood pressure immediately after his next performance? I'm just curious as to whether or not he'll break the machine. We'll see how our Top 10 fare during next week's performance show. Til then!

The Voice Top 11 Perform: When You Feel Like Hope Is Gone

Tonight the remaining 11 hopefuls take the stage again on The Voice as Team Kelly went down a member last week and the other teams are working to stay in tact. The theme this evening is "songs picked by the fans" which almost always seems like a bad idea to me. Taking the choice out of the coaches/contestants' hands could pretty much sabotage any one of these guys and there's nothing they can do about it. Will any of the Top 11 power through with the perfect song match? Let's get to the performances and find out. 

Artist: Pryor Baird

Team: Blake

Song:  "Night Moves" by Bob Seger

The fans have chosen a song that Pryor has sung many times before, so tonight's first performer gets lucky with the week's theme. This is actually a great song choice for Pryor and during the rehearsal package, Blake is almost kicking himself for not realizing how similar Pryor's voice is to Bob Seger's. Sometimes I wonder if it would kill Pryor to enunciate a little, but the a cappella section of this performance is so good....it makes me forget about the parts where I don't understand what he's singing. 

Coaches Say: Kelly's favorite thing about Pryor is how comfortable he is on stage and how well he connects to the audience. Blake felt the softer side of Pryor tonight and he tells Pryor his momentum builds each week. 

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Artist: Sharane Calister

Team:  Adam

Song: "Hero" by Mariah Carey

Oh dear. This song is way too big for Sharane and it's a damn shame. The kid dedicates this song to her sister and she really does her best here, but the fans didn't do Sharane any favors in choosing this tune. There are parts of the performance that sound lovely...but then there are other parts where Sharane can't quite manage her breath...and then there are parts where her voice gets lost completely...and then some of the notes...well, maybe the fans that chose this song have a hell of a campaign going tonight to get her votes.  They owe her that. 

Coaches Say: Alicia tells Sharane she is blooming before our eyes and thinks she is really finding her footing now. Adam admits to being afraid about the song but says he's very proud of Sharane for tackling the song in her way. 

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Artist: Kaleb Lee

Team: Kelly

Song:  "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" by Travis Tritt

Okay, I can get behind this song/artist pairing. Kelly is excited that Kaleb gets to do a "personality song" and she's looking for him to come alive on stage tonight. While Kaleb doesn't necessarily go nuts with this song (in a good way) the way he could have, this is definitely the most personality we've seen from him all season and I'm loving it. Shout out to the band and backup singers though - this performance was seriously a group effort. 

Coaches Say: Blake says he wanted to run up on stage and jam with Kaleb during the performance. He thinks the song was perfect for Kaleb's voice. Kelly loves that Kaleb can be sweet and sincere in a ballad but he can also rock out like he did tonight. She tells Kaleb he nailed it. 

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Artist: Jackie Foster

Team: Alicia

Song: "Love Reign O'er Me" by The Who

Woohoo! Another good pick! Because Jackie's dad is a huge classic rock fan, Jackie feels like she is going back to her roots with this song. She loves that her fans want to see her sing this kind of song and I love that her fans chose this tune for her. Jackie wails when she needs to, keeps it subtle when it matters most, and she works the stage in a way that doesn't say "holy sh*t, I'm taking on The Who tonight" like many contestants would be. Her attitude is more like "The Who? I've got this. I'm making this my own tonight." I know we're barely at the midway point of the show, but this performance is best of the night so far. 

Coaches Say: All four coaches stand and rightfully so! Adam is so happy Jackie made the song her own and tells her the performance was perfect. Alicia does some sound effects before saying, "let the horns blow, let the trumpets blare," and I just love Alicia. She calls the performance sick before making more sound effects. 

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Artist: Jackie Verna

Team:  Adam

Song: "Strawberry Wine" by Deana Carter

Did we really need to have the two Jackies performing back to back when there are 11 contestants left in the competition? Luckily for Jackie V, her song is drastically different from The Who and is also in her wheelhouse. I was not digging the Avril Lavigne vibe last week so thank goodness the fans went country for Jackie tonight. No, she doesn't bring the house down like her predecessor, and no, she doesn't propel herself to front runner status with this tune, but she does give us a lovely, solid performance and looks totally in her element doing so. 

Coaches Say: Blake says the song was perfect for Jackie's voice and thinks the fans are totally in tune with her. See what he did there? Adam believes Jackie is one of the best singers on the show and he calls her performance flawless. 

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Artist: Kyla Jade

Team: Blake

Song: "Sweet Baby Sweet Baby (Since You've Been Gone)" by Aretha Franklin

Kyla is for real giving the other contestants a run for their money...or the money they hope to make someday. I tend to wince when someone says they are covering Aretha Franklin, for the obvious reason, but I am loving what Kyla has going on here. That dress! That hair! That attitude! That voice! There aren't many people in this world that can make tackling the Queen of Soul look easy, but lordy Kyla has done it tonight. If Jennifer Hudson was in the house, she would have thrown her entire closet on stage. 

Coaches Say: The coaches start standing long before Kyla is done singing and most of them stay standing as the critiques start. Alicia tells Kyla she is phenomenal and says she is inspiring so many people right now. Kelly throws an adorable hissy fit because Kyla is on Blake's team, and our resident cowboy thinks Kyla is dominating this show. He is totally right.  

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Artist: Christiana Danielle

Team: Alicia

Song:  "Umbrella" by Rihanna

Alicia had to get permission to use this song from her buddy, Jay-Z, and maybe this would have been a better night for Christiana if he had said "no." I can see why the fans would give Christiana a Rihanna song, but of all the Rihanna songs they picked the one that made me think my radio was broken the first time I heard it. Christiana's performance starts off very shaky and she seems to know it. Not sure if it's a timing issue with the piano or if she needed to be in a key higher pretty much the whole time. She has a fairly strong finish but not strong enough to for me to get past what happened during the rest of the song. 

Coaches Say: We go right to Alicia who says Christiana is incredibly loveable. Alicia tells America to buy this version of "Umbrella" because you can play it in your car, your crib, or while you're taking a bath.

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Artist: Brynn Cartelli

Team: Kelly

Song: "You and I" by Lady Gaga

Really? We really gave the 15 year old a song about sitting in a bar, making love on a couch, and kissing a man with a whiskey taste? This is the best we could do for this kid? Color me confused...and a little angry. Brynn's voice soars when she gets to the "youuuuuu and iiiiii" parts of the song but otherwise this was not one of her best. Here's hoping she gets a pass on this one because Team Kelly aside (my bias is showing?), Brynn deserves to be in the finale. 

Coaches Say: Carson has the nerve to say this was a perfect song for Brynn before going to Kelly for comments. KC says Brynn is confident and comfortable in her skin and she calls her young contestant "captivating."  

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Artist: Rayshun LaMarr

Team:  Adam

Song: "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding

Rayshun doesn't seem too phased about his time in the bottom 2 last week. If anything, dude has even more energy if you can believe it. Like, he took what I thought was Rayshun on overdrive and put a cement block on the accelerator. As always, I'm entertained throughout Rayshun's performance - I think he's trying to take us to a lot of places tonight, but he definitely succeeds in taking us to church. This performance is fun and full of joy, and really, Rayshun's voice is so crazy good I almost think he is from another planet at times. I hope he doesn't find himself back in the bottom 2 tomorrow. I think he has earned a spot in the Top 10.  

Coaches Say: Well of course everyone is on their feet. How could they stay in their seats with what just happened on stage? We go right to Adam who points out that Rayshun was in the bottom 2 last week, but then adds that tonight Rayshun is number 1. He then says something about this being the first time on the show where all four coaches were standing before the song was over, and there's no way that's a true thing. Zero chance.  

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Artist: Britton Buchanan

Team: Alicia

Song:  "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran

Well I will totally admit to letting out a loud "awwwww" when we learned that Britton and Livia Faith are a couple now. Young love at the blind auditions. Britton dedicates this song to Livia and she is in the audience tonight...probably smart that he skipped over the "to carry love, to carry children of our own" lyrics. Britton seems a bit nervous and loses his breath quite a bit throughout the song (one could argue Livia takes his breath away?). Maybe the song wasn't "perfect" for him (can't help myself) but the performance is heartfelt and I think the kid will be just fine making it through to next week.

Coaches Say: Alicia says there are no bells and whistles to Britton's performance and thinks he has power in his "quietness."

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Artist: Spensha Baker

Team: Blake

Song: "Better Man" by Little Big Town

Spensha closes out the night with a performance that is not a pimp slot, bring down the house performance at all. The choruses are strong and Spensha is really invested in the song, but for me there are some pitch problems and closing the show with Britton followed by this performance is just super anti-climatic. But at the risk of pulling a Paula Abdul I will say that Spensha looked gorgeous tonight. 

Coaches Say: Kelly thinks Spensha's voice is big and beautiful and says Spensha brings soul to country music. Blake tells Spensha she is important to country music and she's doing what she's meant to do. 

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Maybe I'm all alone in my feelings, but I don't think this was an overall great night on The Voice. I hope the show runners look into giving "audience assignment" week the boot, right after they do away with the Stupid Twitter Save and stop the semi-finals slaughter. I honestly couldn't predict tomorrow's elimination because the performances were so uneven. Will Rayshun stay out of the bottom 2? Will Brynn get a pass because of the song she was given? Will Sharane sail through despite her "Hero" troubles? Will Christiana's fans pull through for her after the song they stuck her with? We'll find out during the elimination hour. Til then!

The Voice Top 12 Eliminations: I Will Go Down With This Ship

Tonight on The Voice the Top 11 were revealed and one contestant was sent packing. While I am a little bummed with the results, and incredibly bummed that the Stupid Twitter Save is still a thing, I can't say I was super surprised with how everything played out. Here are the highlights from the hour: 

Birthday girl Kelly Clarkson took the stage with her team to perform "Don't Take the Money" and though maybe Kaleb, Brynn, and D.R. might not all sound like perfection together, any time KC is on stage is a good time for me. Maroon 5 performed as well, treating us to their new single "Wait." The cast of Rise also joined us tonight with their version of "Scars To Your Beautiful" and this is actually the first I've heard of Rise. Maybe I've been missing out? Fast forwarding through too many commercials? Blake rounded out the performances with his team and a very rousing rendition of "I Thank You," which definitely had me dancing in my living room. 

Results! Britton was sent to safety first and he was followed by Brynn and Sharane. Pryor's name was announced next, and Christiana and Spensha joined him in the Top 11 soon after. We endured some commercials and filler before Kaleb was able to breathe a sigh of relief, and Jackie V and Kyla heard their names called as we got down to the wire. Jackie F was the final person to make it through, leaving D.R. and Rayshun to sing for the Stupid Twitter Save. 

D.R. was up first and he chose "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" as his "save me" song. Unfortunately this performance reminded me of last nights...starting out strong but then kind of going all over the place. Rayshun, on the other hand, slayed his performance of "I Can't Stand the Rain" and ultimately won the Stupid Twitter Save. Not a great birthday for KC, but as long as Brynn keeps doing what she's doing, Team Kelly will be just fine. 

Next week the Top 11 will duke it out again and we'll see which team takes a hit (or perhaps another hit) as the Top 10 are revealed. Will Rayshun keep himself out of the bottom 2? Will the two Jackies bounce back from their...not best performances? And finally, can young Claire Crosby (who did some stellar interviews tonight) take over hosting duties from Carson? Maybe part time? Wishful thinking? We'll see if any of these things are possible next week. Til then!

The Voice Top 12 Perform: Take Me Somewhere New

It's finally here! We are live tonight in Season 14 of  The Voice and it's time for the Top 12 to take the stage and compete for America's votes. It's also Kelly Clarkson's first time as a coach and as a huge KC fan, I forewarned you all in November that I might be insufferable when the show returned, so I'm pretty much just keeping my word. I've definitely enjoyed the season so far and I think each team has at least one heavy hitter going into the Top 12. Which of these hopefuls will stand out with "songs that are very personal to them?" Let's get to the performances and find out. 

Artist: Rayshun LaMarr

Team: Adam

Song: "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland

Rayshun chose this song because when he's on stage, it's like something just takes over him. The rehearsal package is a bit rough though and Adam tells Rayshun he has a tendency to be sharp when he gets super excited. For Rayshun's sake, I go into the next few minutes hoping this is one of those "the rehearsal wasn't great but look how awesome the performance is!" situations. It's not...well, not exactly. Though dude has a happy energy that is beyond infectious and I smile the entire time he performs, Rayshun's sharpness issues remain throughout the song. His passion for what he does is wonderful though so I can't say this was a bad way to kick off the night.

Coaches Say: All four coaches are on their feet so I'm already not off to a good start. Alicia says there's something about Rayshun that is electric and Adam thinks Rayshun amps it up more and more each time he performs. He says Rayshun just became the front runner because he's "the best performer in this group so far." Adam. Cool it. He's the first person to sing tonight. 

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Artist: Kaleb Lee

Team: Kelly

Song: "Amazed" by Lonestar

I feel like we've heard this tune enough now, but it's all about what the contestants pick as a "personal song" tonight, right? Kaleb chose "Amazed" because he thought it was his wedding song...turns out it was not his wedding song at all and he doesn't remember what his wedding song was. I get a good chuckle out of this. Kaleb decides not to play his guitar during to performance to be more vulnerable and he seems a little uncomfortable when the song starts. Halfway through the first chorus when the full band and backup singers jump in, Kaleb looks much more confident and his vocals are strong. I think he could have lost himself a little more, but man his wife is one lucky lady. 

Coaches Say: Blake says the performance was amazing (see what he did there?) and Kelly loves that Kaleb's sound is like the country music she grew up with. She mentions that Kaleb had some pitch problems because he was emotional but she also loves that Kaleb was authentically Kaleb. 

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Artist: Jackie Foster

Team: Alicia

Song: "Toxic" by Britney Spears

I mean, why not follow "Amazed" with "Toxic?" Jackie takes this pop tune and turns it into a rock song much like the rendition she did with her band back in the day. Apparently that version was "big" for them...but here we are. I want to like this performance. I do. And I try. I can't hear her during the verses though and she spends a lot of time touching hands with the audience and not looking up. The last chorus is probably the best part of the performance for me, but I reallllllly thought this was going to be better. 

Coaches Say: Both of the female coaches stand and Kelly calls herself dumb for being Jackie's former coach and not current coach. Kelly then she says the performance was sexy and cool before complimenting Jackie's boots. Alicia loves the song choice because it gave Jackie the chance to show everyone who she is as an artist. Alicia tells Jackie it was a killer performance and she nailed it. 

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Artist: Spensha Baker

Team:  Blake

Song: "Down On My Knees" by Trisha Yearwood

Oh how I love this song, and Spensha picked it because it represents how she feels about music. Spensha's voice is so lovely and smooth and calming...and she really makes all of this look very easy. She is so invested in what she's singing and by the time Spensha starts to get emotional at the end, I'm clapping and yelling from my couch. I know her nerves sometimes get the best of her, but I'm so glad she was able to work through them tonight.

Coaches Say: All four coaches stand for Spensha and Adam tells her she sings on key and with intention. He calls her irreplaceable and Blake says Spensha is doing exactly what she is meant to do in singing country music. 

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Artist: Christiana Danielle

Team: Alicia

Song: "Say Something" by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera

Sometimes I really do miss Xtina...the hair...the attitude...the magical dresses that somehow always just barely avoided wardrobe malfunctions. It would be nice to see her on this show again, but I've read that she's never coming back to The Voice. Anyway, on to Christiana's haunting, beautiful performance. I love the way Christiana switches things up with the song and doesn't sing note for note to match the original. I am totally buying her as a heartbroken lover on the verge of giving up. There's a desperation and vulnerability in her voice tonight that makes me so glad Alicia kept her in the competition. Well done. 

Coaches Say: Kelly and Alicia stand and KC says the low tones in Christiana's voice are magical. Alicia continues to be taken by Christiana and she tells her contestant "there's not another person, not only on this stage but in the world, that sounds like you or feels like you in any capacity." WOW.  

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Artist: D.R. King

Team: Kelly

Song: "White Flag" by Dido

Hmmmm. Not in a million years did I think D.R. would be singing this song tonight, but he says "White Flag" means so much to him in terms of where he is in his life right now. I get that Kelly was hoping D.R. would bring something new and different to this song, and he does try. The opening slow a capella chorus is wonderful. When the music starts though, we get everything but the kitchen sink and if I didn't know the words to this song already, I wouldn't know what D.R. is singing about. I like the guy and I hope he sticks around (Team KC!) but I think he should have gone with a different song. 

Coaches Say: Blake thinks there are many different sounds to D.R.'s voice and says that tonight he displayed all of them. Accurate...but not necessarily a compliment. Kelly wants America to vote for D.R. because she wants to hear his album someday. "Y'all, he makes stuff that's really hard look easy."

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Artist: Sharane Calister

Team: Adam

Song: "In My Blood" by Shawn Mendes

Sharane chose this tune because of the "I'm not giving up" message it sends and her stage presence tonight is just that. Her voice is very powerful in this song and she owns it. There are times when I feel like Sharane is yelling directly at me and I want to verbally make sure she has my support, but she's got some fight in her with this performance and it's wonderful to see.

Coaches Say: Everyone stands but Blake. Well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad. Sharane's former coach, Alicia compliments the beautiful resilience in her voice and says she is really rooting for her in both the competition and in life. Adam thinks Sharane has an ability to make people believe she is telling the truth when she is singing. "As far as I'm concerned, you have it all. It's perfect."

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Artist: Pryor Baird

Team: Blake

Song: "Pickin' Wildflowers" by Keith Anderson

Pryor is really missing his girlfriend these days, and in thinking of her and thinking of the little town in California where he grew up, he chose "Pickin' Wildflowers" as his song tonight. The tune suits his bluesy/country/rock vibe and he is totally in his element here. Pryor plays the guitar, makes good use of the stage, and sings the hell out of the song. He's also not bad to look at. Not at all.

Coaches Say: Everybody stands! Kelly has to wait for the crown to die down before she can start talking. She alludes to wanting to have a good time with her man every time she hears Pryor sing and I laugh out loud. Blake says, "Pryor is to a song is like a bulldozer is to trees." He tells his contestant that he loves seeing Pryor in the moment when he's on stage.  

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Artist: Brynn Cartelli

Team: Kelly

Song: "Up to the Mountain" by Patty Griffin

Um, I obviously have to post a link to KC's version of this song before I continue. I can't imagine being on Kelly's team, singing THIS song, and knowing that Kelly and so many others have delivered incredible renditions over the years. That being said, Brynn gives an amazing performance. Amazing. She's subtle when she needs to be, she's slaying power notes when the time comes, and she's musically wise beyond her years. Brynn is the ringer on Kelly's team and I hope she goes all the way.  

Coaches Say: Everybody stands again! Alicia feels that Brynn has a capacity about her that's from another planet. She's very interested to know more about who Brynn is. Kelly says Brynn's eclectic taste in music is blessing and she nails all styles. I totally agree (of course I do). 

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Artist: Jackie Verna

Team: Adam

Song: "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne

In the rehearsal package, Adam tells Jackie that he knows she wants to do country music, but he thinks this Avril song is the right choice because....it's kind of a country song....because Cassadee Pope sang it that one time. By the time I'm done shaking my head in confusion the performance has begun. I'd love to know what Jackie's song choice would have been instead of this one. Something is off in the beginning - not sure if it's just the arrangement or whether Jackie wasn't in time with the band, but the performance is a little strange. Jackie his some nice notes and some really not nice notes, and overall she doesn't seem comfortable with the song. But hey, Cassadee Pope won her season so Jackie has that going for her.

Coaches Say: Blake seems to stumble to find the right words for this critique (I would too) and he ends up saying Jackie has such purpose with her performances and she's a great singer. Adam thinks Jackie proved herself tonight in tackling that song. 

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Artist: Britton Buchanan

Team: Alicia

Song: "Small Town" by John Mellencamp

Alicia tells us this is the first time "Small Town" has been performed on this show, so I am immediately thankful for that. We're in Season 14, kids, and there have been do overs to do overs in the past few seasons alone. Britton is from a small town and this is his favorite John Mellencamp song, so it's a win-win, right? For the most part I'd say so, though I was super worried for him when he walked down that first set of stairs. Britton has had stronger performances in the competition so far, but he sounds good, he's enjoying himself, and I think he definitely deserves to make it through to next week.

Coaches Say: We're starting to hand out standing ovations Oprah style now. Kelly calls Britton "the coolest person ever" and thinks he is a next generation John Mellencamp. Alicia tells Britton his destiny is to be here. 

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Artist: Kyla Jade

Team: Blake

Song: "One Night Only" by Jennifer Hudson

Though the standout song in Dreamgirls is "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," this tune is an often overlooked gem that J-Hud delivered in master class form in the movie. Turns out Kyla used to be a backup singer for Jennifer, so it's absolutely time for her to step into the spotlight and shine....and boy does she. Her vocals are INSANE and she more than earns the closing slot tonight and many nights to come. Holy hell. Brynn's performance was my favorite until this moment, but Kyla just nudged the kid aside in a very classy way. I've got my Steven Tyler listening face on and I love every bit of this performance. 

Coaches Say: Duh. They're all on their feet before Kyla's done singing. We're out of time and go right to Blake, who says "welcome to the front of the stage." 

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And there you have it. Tomorrow night we will say goodbye to one of these hopefuls as the Stupid Twitter Save rears its ugly head for the first time in 2018. Will voters still appreciate Rayshun's enthusiasm two hours after the performance when the show is over? Will the Dido attempt D.R. made tonight resonate with his fans? Will Jackie V's country/not country/but country because of Cassadee Pope performance land her in the bottom 2? And finally...and I can't help myself...will America think Jackie F's version of "Toxic" was...toxic? We'll find out who stays and who goes during the elimination hour. Til then!