“The Voice” Knockouts continued on the NBC singing competition Monday, and with the live shows only one week away, the stakes are higher than ever.
As if there weren’t enough pressure already, singer Lauren Hall decided to sing Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway.”
“Lauren is going to be singing a Kelly Clarkson song in front of Kelly Clarkson. … Kelly is going to be staring at her when she’s singing this,” said Blake Shelton, who stole Hall from Clarkson.
Taylor Swift added, “I thought it’s funny that you stole her from Kelly and now she’s singing ‘Breakaway’ by Kelly Clarkson.”
Last week on ‘The Voice’: Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani celebrate shocking steal with a ‘group hug’
Clarkson was impressed with Hall’s effort. “When you started, you sing that better than I do, really. Especially, when I recorded that I was very young and didn’t … grasp what I was singing,” she said. But Clarkson wanted to “hear more of (Hall) and less of the song.”
Ultimately, Hall’s risk didn’t pay off. She lost to Kat Hammock, who blew the judges away with her originality on Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me.”
The pairings didn’t get any easier. “I literally sent my team to Blake to help me pair because … my heart will hurt …and he didn’t even respond to my text,” Gwen Stefani joked.
Team Clarkson’s Hello Sunday went head-to-head with Alex Guthrie.
The young duo picked Ariana Grande’s “Almost Is Never Enough.” Myla Finks, 13, and Chelsea Grover, 14, brought Taylor Swift to tears with their mature vocal range and harmony.
“I’m crying. I promise I’m OK in my personal life,” Swift said. “I was so completely shattered by it. I fully fell apart, it was that good.”
Last week on ‘The Voice’: ‘Mega Mentor’ Taylor Swift has no critique for this double-steal-worthy song
Guthrie had his work cut out for him, but he held his own on Sam Smith’s “I’m Not the Only One.”
“I haven’t seen you perform this well yet and it was thoroughly great,” John Legend said. Shelton added, “That surprised me, to sing the song the way you did. Your problem right now is Hello Sunday.”
Clarkson dubbed Hello Sunday the winner, but it wasn’t over for Guthrie because Legend used his steal on the soulful singer.
“In the Knockouts, (Guthrie) really came with his A-game,” Legend said. “I think he’s great for Team Legend.”
Shelton is the only coach left with a steal in the Knockouts, which wrap Tuesday at 8 EST/PST on NBC.
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