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!

The Voice Finale Part 2: You Got It

This is it! After many months of performances, questionable decisions, social media nightmares and shoe throwing, The Voice has crowned its Season 13 winner. Chloe Kohanski emerged victorious in part 2 of the finale, giving Team Blake yet another win and leaving Miley probably a little regretful that she let Chloe go (only to be stolen) earlier in the season. Here are the highlights from the two hour finale...

Guest Performers

• Charlie Puth performed "How Long" and I had no idea this dude could do an uptempo song. This was a very pleasant surprise. 
• Kelly Clarkson took the stage with her incredible voice to perform "Medicine" from her new album and as you know, I just adore her. Love her. Need us to be friends someday. I've met her a couple of times...but somehow she didn't have the same "let's go buy bff necklaces!" idea that I did. Weird. 
• Chris Blue was ready to share his new music with us and he debuted his single "Blue Blood Blues." I had almost forgot how ridiculous his voice is. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about the song, but it was great to see him. 
• Demi Moore Lovato crushed her performance of "Tell Me You Love Me." This was the first time I'd heard the song and she sounded amazing. I loved this so much, I easily forgave her for trying to rhyme "the day" with "happy." I feel like that had to have come from the NSYNC playbook. 
• N.E.R.D. treated us to "Lemon," another song I didn't know, and I must really be getting old. One person did an array of dances that were printed on posters behind her...and I've never heard of any of them. Gone are the days of the Electric Slide and Boot Scootin' Boogie, I guess.  
• Sia rounded out the guest performances with "Snowman." She was in a giant present surrounded by other giant presents, and I was really digging the red and green hair. Maybe if Brooke had rocked that wig yesterday during "O Holy Night" she might have attracted a whole new group of voters and won the competition. 

Contestants Return

• Keisha and Adam joined Bebe Rexha for a rousing rendition of "Meant To Be" complete with an array of backup singers and plenty of bopping up and down near Bebe's fur coat. This thing was so massive I thought another Season 13 artist would just pop out...but alas, we weren't that lucky. 
• Noah collaborated with Bastille on "World Gone Mad" and Noah held his own...even with Dan Smith's crazy good falsetto.  
• Chris Weaver, dressed in his fabulous Nedra Belle drag ensemble, was all sass on stage with Jessie J. They performed "Bang Bang" and while that song was overplayed when it first came out and got a little tiresome, I loved hearing it tonight. So did J-Hud and Miley -- they were working it in the chair area and then there was an abundance of shoe throwing when the song ended. 
• Jessie J returned to the stage later to sing "Not My Ex" with Davon, who struggled a bit in the beginning. He figured it out though and there were times where the combination of their voices had me looking for shoes myself. 

Final Four Duets

• Addison was paired with Norah Jones and their collaboration on "Don't Know Why" was lovely. Normally this is a song that makes me sleepy (at no fault of the artist) but the duet definitely held my attention. 
• Brooke joined Sia and Sia's hair on stage for an AWESOME rendition of "Titanium." The two women complimented each other perfectly and this was my favorite duet of the night for sure. 
• Chloe held on tight to the season long "cover songs from the 1980s" theme as her duet partner was Billy Idol. They performed "White Wedding" and it was great...I just would have loved to see her perform a song from the 2000s with another kickass female performer. 
• Red rounded out the final four duets as he collaborated with Vince Gill on "When I Call Your Name." This was a really good pairing and I swayed with a smile on my face for several minutes. 

Results! Red finished in 4th place and Brooke came in 3rd. Addison and Chloe had to apply an extreme amount of patience as it took Carson forEVER to announce the winner, and ultimately the confetti shower rained down upon Chloe. The show strangely ended there though and we didn't get the usual teary performance of the winner's first single. Maybe if Carson hadn't taken 8 years to declare the winner, we may have gotten to see that. Anyway, I'm very happy with the results and hope Chloe becomes the iconic superstar Blake thinks she is. I'm also hoping that Miley keeps pushing Brooke toward stardom because that powerful voice is something I really want to hear on my radio next year.

The Voice returns in a couple of months (you read that right) and Miley and J-Hud will rotate out while Blake and Adam stay put...again. Man it would be nice to switch it up with those guys. Alicia Keys will return to coach and the show will welcome KELLY CLARKSON to round out the teams. I'll do my best to tone down my inevitable bias toward Team Kelly, but it's going to be a struggle. We'll see how she fares as a first time coach when the show returns in 2018. Til then, happy holidays!