“The Voice” fans need to calm down because Taylor Swift is here.
The 10-time Grammy winner joined the NBC singing competition Monday during the first round of Knockouts. And if you think the contestants were star-struck, just imagine how Swift felt returning to “The Voice” as a “mega-mentor.”
“I didn’t realize I was being called a mega-mentor. That’s going to go straight to my head,” Swift said, jokingly snapping her fingers. “I would like a latte right now.”
But Swift didn’t need to offer any advice to John Legend’s first pairing. Max Boyle went head-to-head with Katie Kadan, a true David and Goliath scenario.
Kadan, a four-chair turn who has dominated with her powerful vocals, chose to sing Erma Franklin’s “Piece of My Heart” following her experience with bullying.
Katie Kadan: Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton go head-to-head over four-chair turn
“God, it was so quirky and fun and funny and ballsy,” Swift said during rehearsals, before quickly asking, “Can I say that on TV?” She added, “We were lucky to see it.”
Going up against Kadan seemed like a lost cause, and Legend and Swift appeared to have already counted Boyle out before his turn.
“Max is up after Katie, and … I’m sorry,” Swift said, while Legend added, “I’m sorry you have to go after that.” But the Ohio native delivered big time with an emotional ballad inspired by his breakup.
“You can say he’s the underdog in this situation, ’cause Katie’s so great, but Max is making it as challenging as it can possibly be,” Legend said.
As expected, Kadan blew the coaches away during her performance, but Boyle really surprised everyone with his intimate rendition of Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over.”
“I expected Katie to be Wonder Woman and I didn’t expect you to be Superman,” Kelly Clarkson said. Gwen Stefani added, “You were gorgeous. … It’s rare to be so emotional.”
Ultimately, Legend dubbed Kadan the winner. “I can see her going extremely far in this show, if not carrying away ‘The Voice’ trophy herself,” he said.
But Boyle’s time on the show was not over, because Clarkson and Stefani both hit their steal buttons, the coaches’ only steal for the round.
He chose to join Team Kelly. “I had to steal Max. This performance where he got to pick his song, it was so peaceful and perfect,” Clarkson said. (Stefani has her steal to use on another singer.)
Knockouts on “The Voice” continue Tuesday at 8 EDT/PDT on NBC.
Last week on ‘The Voice’: Blake Shelton made everyone cry with his sweet words about ‘magical’ singer
See our full coverage of entertainment news
