The Voice Recap: Josie Jones and Kat Hammock Battle for Spot on Blake Shelton’s Team

It doesn’t seem possible, yet season 17 of NBC’s The Voice is proving that the pool of talented singers in the United States is seemingly bottomless.

Coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani had one more chance to finish out their teams as the Blind Auditions came to an end and the Battle Rounds began. But first, the teams:

ZOE UPKINS (16), Nashville, Tennessee – “Angel of Mine” by Monica

• Godmother was Christian singer
• CHAIRS: Blake and John simultaneously, then Kelly
• GWEN: “I have other people on my team in a similar lane as you, but they aren’t 16, so I blew it. I was literally just sitting here going I want a young little princess girl that’s from Nashville that sings really awesome Monica songs and then I didn’t press my button. I feel so silly right now, but you’re so talented.”
• JOHN: “You showed so much polish for your age and you still have so much room to grow, but you were really fantastic.”
• BLAKE: “The Voice is hard. It is going to push you and I think it would be smart for you to choose a coach who has been here since day one. I know I don’t seem like, on paper, the coach for you, but I promise you, I’m the right coach for you, Zoe.”
• Picked: TEAM LEGEND — Team Legend is complete

MATTHEW McQUEEN (21), Georgetown, Texas – “Someone You Love” by Lewis Capaldi

• Gold broker
• CHAIRS: Kelly, Blake
• KELLY: “You got better and better, you kept it classy and you kept it tasteful. When you get into that rasp, like, whew! That’s so cool and sexy. I mean, not in a weird way.”
• BLAKE: “I have coached the winner of this show six times and only a handful of those have been country artists. It doesn’t matter what lane your coach is in, it’s what lane your coach can put you in.”
• Picked: TEAM BLAKE — Team Blake is complete

GRACEE SHRIVER (16), Owasso, Oklahoma – “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves

• National Honor Society student, loves Kelsea Ballerini
• CHAIRS: Kelly, then Gwen
• KELLY: “You’re 16? God bless…You have a certain style that is so distinct…I want you to be on my team. I have a really snazzy jacket, she has one, too.”
• GWEN: “Your voice is a character voice. I almost got chills because it was such a unique sound. You know, through this whole boot camp of being on the voice, there’s so many things you can do to stylize even more.”
• BLAKE: “I’m sorry for myself right now that my team is full, but I do want you to know that there is still a great opportunity for you to be in the family.”
• Picked: TEAM KELLY — Team Kelly is complete

TY MAURO (26), Los Angeles, California – “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green

• EMT, influenced by the Rat Pack
• NO CHAIRS
• GWEN: “I was so close to turning. You look nothing like your voice, by the way. Are you sure you were singing?”
• KELLY: “You look like a lawyer, you’re so put together. And your tone is so like maybe you don’t bathe.”
• JOHN: “There was a style and a lot of character to your voice, but sometimes the vibrato got in the way. It’s fixable. It just needs a little bit more polish and then you’ll be fine.”

CAROLINE REILLY (16), Cumming, Georgia – “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane

• Sang in her family band, but is now in a classic rock duo
• CHAIRS: Gwen
• GWEN: “Your voice is way too mature for your
• KELLY: “Our teams are all full
• BLAKE: “I couldn’t be happier for you. I love your coach.”
• Picked: TEAM GWEN (by default) – Team Gwen is complete

Then BATTLE ROUNDS – Day 1

• The coaches can steal one losing artist from another coach’s team and save one losing artist from their own team.
• To advance, contestants have to win their battle or be stolen by another coach.

TEAM LEGEND and USHER

KHALEA LYNEE (36) and ZOE UPKINS (16)

Battle track – “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy and Monica

• GWEN: picked Zoe
• KELLY: couldn’t pick (“If either one of you is up for grabs, I’m going in!”)
• BLAKE: picked Khalea

Winner: KHALEA

• JOHN: “Khalea is one of the most gifted singers in this competition this season, I believe. She has really beautiful riffs and lines. Khalea is just too good for me to not pick her.”

SAVE: John – “Please do not leave me for these lovely ladies!”

STEAL: Kelly and Gwen

ZOE stays with TEAM LEGEND

TEAM BLAKE and DARIUS RUCKER

JOSIE JONES (16) and KAT HAMMOCK (18)

Battle track: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

• JOHN: picked Josie
• GWEN: picked Kat
• KELLY: couldn’t pick

Winner: KAT

• BLAKE: “Kat just has something about her that I can see and hear her making records. And I think she’s got a shot at winning this thing.”

TEAM KELLY and NORMANI (from Fifth Harmony)

Melinda Rodriguez (23) and Shane Q (28)

Battle track: “Too Good at Goodbyes” by Sam Smith

• BLAKE: picked Shane
• JOHN: picked Shane
• GWEN: couldn’t pick

Winner: SHANE

• KELLY: “I love the battles because you actually start figuring out who your artists are. Shane is unexpected. You don’t expect that coming out of his mouth and then he just keeps doing ridiculous stuff that you’re like, ‘Oh cool, you have more.’”

SAVE: Kelly – “I think you’re crazy talented. And regardless if you stick with me or you go somewhere else, you are incredible.”

STEAL: John – “I loved both of your voices, it was clear that both of you deserve to be on this show. It’s also clear that you have an opportunity to upgrade.”

MELINDA stays with TEAM KELLY