The Voice Recap: Josie Jones and Kat Hammock Battle for Spot on Blake Shelton’s Team
Tammy Ragusa
It doesn’t seem possible, yet season 17 of NBC’s The Voiceis 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
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.”