Every one of the top 12 competitors on “The Voice” gave top-notch performances on Monday night.
At this point in the competition, knockout performances are a virtual necessity: Two artists are set to go home Tuesday night, whittling down the number of contestants from 12 to 10.
But the audience made one thing abundantly clear: The male contestants hit an entirely new level.
Team Pharrell’s Sawyer Fredericks earned huge cheers for his performance of “Imagine” by John Lennon — even though Fredericks’ voice seemed to stall for a moment.
“You make everything you do seem right,” coach Blake Shelton told the young singer.
Rob Taylor of Team Xtina belted out a hair-raising performance of “I Put a Spell on You,” written by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in 1956 and popularized in famous covers by artists like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Nina Simone and Annie Lennox.
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“That was a masterful performance,” coach Pharrell Williams said. “You made the stage yours. You made the show yours.”
And Corey Kent White — an Oklahoman like special guest advisor and two-time Grammy winner Reba McEntire — sang “Why” by Jason Aldean.
“If you can keep those eyes open a little bit more and look those girls in the eye, then you’ve got ‘em right there,” McEntire told him.
And judging by his performance, he did.
“I can sure tell you got that girl vote going for you,” coach Christina Aguilera told him.
But the ladies turned in a few outstanding performances as well.
Team Blake’s Hannah Kirby opened the show with a flinty performance of the hard-edged Stevie Nicks classic “Edge of Seventeen.”
Singing her own arrangement of “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson, Team Pharrell’s Koryn Hawthorne wowed the crowd — and McEntire, who is Clarkson’s mother-in-law.
And Team Xtina’s Kimberly Nichole brought down the house with her finale performance, growling through the American soul classic “House of the Rising Sun.”
“There are no words to describe what you’ve just done,” coach Pharrell Williams told the dynamic singer.
Brian Johnson: “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” by Sting
India Carney: “Take Me to Church” by Hozier
Mia Z: “Miss You” by the Rolling Stones
Deanna Johnson: “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United
Joshua Davis: “America” by Simon and Garfunkel
Meghan Linsey: “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town
Don’t miss “The Voice” on Tuesday at 8 ET / 9 CT, as America’s votes are tallied and the top 12 becomes the top 10.