The Voice 26 Recap: Battles 5 Live Blog Results with Videos
The Voice season 26 Battles CONCLUDE tonight alongside new coaches Michael Buble and Snoop Dogg and returning vets Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani. Carson Daly returns as host. We’ll be live blogging all the epic Battle performances and RESULTS right here.
The Top 56 artists are divided into four teams of 14. The coaches pair up their team members and pick a song for a duet. After the performance, the coach declares the winner who will move on to the Knockout round. The loser can be stolen by a fellow coach. Each coach gets two steals. If no steal, the artist leaves the competition. Reba and Michael still have a steal remaining.
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J. Paul vs Kamila Kiehne – Toxic by Britney Spears – Team Buble
NBC previewed this Battle earlier. Watch it HERE. Kamila covered Black Velvet for her Blind Audition. J. Paul reminded Michael that he backed him on stage as part of a choir. He’s a gospel and soul singer. Kamila grew up playing sports in the country, but she also loved pop music. J. Paul grew up singing hymns in his pastor family. But he’s ready to step out of his box. Michael advised them on harmonies and how to arrange the performance.
This cover brings out Kamila’s soulful side. I wasn’t impressed with her old-fashioned song choice for her Blind Audition. This performance reveals a different side. J. Paul is out of his wheelhouse. The song doesn’t allow him to fully church out. But he makes the most of it with inventive runs. The two play off each with humor and energy.
Snoop is on his feat, impressed with their performance skills. He can’t believe Kamila is only 17. He felt the song “put handcuffs” on J. Paul, but he could here the gospel come out nevertheless. He won’t choose a winner. Reba calls Kamila’s confidence “amazing.” She would pick her. Gwen notes that J. Paul is “already there” and wins the battle. Michael is finding it hard to choose, but in the end, he picks the singer based on vocal ability. Michael picks J. Paul, Kamila is eliminated.
Camryn Brooks vs Rowdy Shea – I Remember Everything by Kacey Musgraves and Zach Bryan – Team Gwen
Gwen put Camryn a pop singer and Rowdy a country singer together. Camryn is a no-chair return who nabbed 4-chairs the second time. Michael and Gwen turned for Rowdy. Camryn was in school but she’s taking a break to give music a try. Gwen asks her to emote more with her face and to work on her breathing. Camryn mentions that she’s getting over heart disease. Rowdy recently got married. He’s emotional talking about her support. Gwen helps him tap into his vulnerability.
They have chemistry as teammates, but not so much singing this duet. Their voices don’t mesh well together. Plus, Gwen worked so hard with them to express the deep emotion of the song, but they are struggling. They settle into it as the performance progresses. But it’s probably that neither have performed duets before. I would pick Camryn just for her beautiful, deep tone.
Michael felt the song was better suited to Rowdy. He more or less notes how uneven the performance. was. He’d pick Camryn. Snoop thought they had chemistry, through, and even picks Camryn as the winner. Reba doesn’t choose a winner. Gwen shares how had it was to pick a song to suit them both. She feels Rowdy stepped it up and she wants to reward him. However, Gwen picked Camryn, Rowdy is eliminated. Gwen gives up her only country singer. But really, Camryn won that Battle. She’s the better singer.
Tanner Frick vs Tate Renner – Need a Favor by Jellyroll – Team Reba
Tanner, who grew up poor without a mother, nabbed a 4 chair turn. But he just graduated from Belmont University in Tennessee. Tate also turned several chairs. The two confessed that they’ve never sung harmonies before and are struggling. Reba helps them out with that. “The music comes out of your mouth, but the message comes out of your eyes.” She’s hoping one of the singers will be stolen.
This performance will end in a steal, because both singers are compelling vocalists. Tate’s raspy growl hits a little harder, though. Plus, their harmonies are a little clunky, as is the back and forth. But pure vocal ability–both singers bring it.
Gwen calls the battle tough. She won’t pick. Michael won’t say anything negative about either of them. He hints that he’ll use his steal. “Y’all pulled off a great performance,” says Snoop. Reba felt they stepped up on the harmony (well….). Reba picks Tate, Michael steals Tanner. Reba made the right decision. Tanner is probably glad to be still in it, but still sad to no longer have Reba as a mentor
Michael Alexandersson vs Mary McAvoy – Team Snoop – I Only Have Eyes for You by Flamingo
Mary knows the song because of her dad. Still, she’s obviously uncomfortable with the song choice. Granted, it’s a very odd song pick. It’s so old fashioned! The song is a hit from the 50s. Michael is a crooner and is more comfortable with the choice. He sang a standard for his Blind Audition, but Michael didn’t turn.
Whoa. They are singing octaves instead of harmonies. This is pretty terrible. The song choice isn’t doing either any favors. Michael has a few decent moments, but at times he bellows his notes. Mary is doing her best with a not-optimal situation. She manages to work in a few nice runs in her head voice. Over all though–YIKES.
Reba calls Mary incredible. She’s pick Mary. Gwen calls Mary’s voice “shockingly beautiful” and “stunning.” Gwen calls it a difficult choice. NOT REALLY. Oh, Gwen compliments his song choices. Hm. Michael complimented his fellow crooner. But he felt the song was wrong for Mary. Yep. He would lean towards Mike. Snoop felt the two took his notes. Weirdly, he’s trying to hook them up. Snoop picks Mary, Michael is eliminated. The correct choice.
Katie O vs 323 – Lonesome Loser by Little River Band – Team Reba
323 are a country trio. Kaitie is a country singer who got 4-chairs after her Blind Audition. Katie battled scoliosis as a teen. Too much harmony is not enough for Reba. Unfortunately, Katie doesn’t have much experience singing harmonies. That’s a disadvantage! One of the trio members brought recording equipment to help them prepare.
Katie is the best singer of the quartet, although she is competing with three voices accustomed to vocalizing together. For her part, Katie is keeping up and despite saying she’s not used to singing harmony, she steps up.
Gwen calls 323 her favorite trio on The Voice. She calls Katie “perfect” and “incredible.” Michael loved the harmony. He can’t pick a winner. He was entertained by 323. But calls Katie’s voice the strongest and even picks her as the winner. Reba compliments the quartet, calling it “seamless.” Reba picks Katie O, 323 is eliminated. And that’s the last of the groups!
Cassidy Lee vs Cameron Wright – Hero by Mariah Carey – Team Buble
He put the two singers together because they are both powerful singers. Michael was the only coach who turned for Cassidy. Cassidy is also a return no-turn. In her Blind Audition, Her father passed away from liver cancer in 2017. Cassidy covered “You’re No Good.” Both artists are nervous! Cameron grew up in a Christian environment and didn’t fit in.
Obviously, Reba will steal the loser. This Battle is the last of the night, and she’s the only one with a remaining steal. Cameron is a dynamic singer with an unusual high tenor. The singer can belt it out. Their styles are so different, yet, they made this duet work. Cassidy has a strong voice as well, but she’s more of a raspy rocker. She’d be perfect on Reba’s team.
Snoop appreciated both singers, he can’t choose. Reba would choose Cassidy (of course). Gwen was impressed with how Cassidy stepped out of her box. She appreciated Cameron’s dynamic performance. She chooses Cameron. Michael said Cassidy “crushed it.” And called Cameron’s performance “beautiful.” Michael picked Cameron, and Reba stole Cassidy.
And that’s it for the Battles! No The Voice on Tuesday November 5 to make way for American election coverage. The Knockouts begin next Monday November 11!
