The Voice Recap: The Top 12 Compete with Help from Garth Brooks

The Top 12 took the stage on Monday for the second night of Live Playoffs on The Voice.

This week’s adviser was five-time CMA winner Garth Brooks, who worked with artists from all four coaches’ – Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus‘ — teams.

The night kicked off with Team Blake’s soulful country singer Sundance Head, whose song choice was Maren Morris‘ “Church.” Garth gave Sundance credit for taking a song by a female and making it his own.

Alicia told him, “You are so spectacular. I will never forget the minute I heard you sing in the Blinds. You raised the bar tonight. You have so much soul in your voice.”

Miley added, “I was so honored when you did ‘The Climb’ a little while ago. Everyone was singing tonight. I think you were made for this environment.”

Blake pointed out, “Vocally, I would put you up against anybody in the world. You pour you heart and soul into your performances. My favorite thing about Sundance is he is soaking this up. He is having a blast with this moment.”

Up next was Darby Walker, who Miley saved last week after America didn’t vote her through. Darby performed her indie interpretation of “Ruby Tuesday” by The Rolling Stones.

Blake said, “You are going to find this out on your own tomorrow, but I can’t express to you how important that performance was – for you to stop performing falsetto and give us your full voice. Your voice is raspy and has so much character.”

Miley told her, “I want you to showcase this part of your voice. I picked this song because Darby represents what this song says.”

Then Team Alicia’s Orlando soul singer Christian Cuevas belted out the ballad “The Scientist” by Coldplay, which he dedicated to his girlfriend.

Adam exclaimed, “That was unbelievable. To hear music is one thing; to feel it is another. That is what you do. Without that, there is no point in listening.”

Alicia added, “I am so proud of you. You have an uncanny ability to take any song and make it yours and be inside it. You took me on a journey with you. You nailed it.”

Chicago powerhouse Sa’Rayah, who was Alicia’s save last week, rocked out to “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

Miley told her, “That was crazy. I like seeing you more rock style. I love seeing you in that space. You were made for it. You went outside your comfort zone and you were good.”

Blake added, “That was so good. My favorite thing watching you perform is you hit notes and your face says, ‘What was that?’ Great job.”

Alicia said, “I just continue to be wowed by you. You are a true artist. This song was a tough decision. You found your way back to your heart. You arranged that song the way you wanted it and you showed the world who you are. I am very proud of you.”

Billy Gilman from Team Adam took the stage after Sa’Rayah. He belted out Queen‘s “The Show Must Go On” because it captured his struggles, and he got quite the reaction from the audience.

Blake said, “To see that you have hung on, because at the end of the day as great of a singer you were at 10 years old, you are a million times better now.”

Adam added, “Wow! I just think when you hear something like this happen on this stage and you examine what you have been through in so many aspects of your life, what could possibly epitomize this show more than someone who sings the way you do? You are truly special.”

Blake’s country artist Austin Allsup put a Southern twist on Aretha Franklin‘s “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.”

Miley told him, “I honestly think this is my favorite performance you have had. You hit some notes in there that could have been some Garth magic. I didn’t know you had those notes in you.”

Blake complimented him, “There is a movement happening in country music between Texas artists and Nashville. There are some new outlaws, and I will be damned if there is anybody in that group that can sing like you do.”

Team Alicia’s powerful 17-year-old Wé McDonald took the audience to church with Hozier‘s “Take Me to Church.”

Miley told her, “I get emotional every time I see you and the audience is reaching up at you. It is such a different experience than the Blinds. It is great to have everyone loving you.”

Alicia added, “You are the real deal. You are somebody that no one can forget. You are unforgettable and I am so proud of you.”

The Voice continued with Team Miley’s Aaron Gibson, who showed off his raspy voice on “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” by Father John Misty.

Adam commented, “Dude, I think your voice is so special that you have the responsibility to be a singer. With that voice, it would be a disservice not to do it. It is so special and distinct. It is something you have to do.”

Blake added, “If Godzilla could sing, that is what he would sound like. I do think it is important to have somebody who sounds like you. We haven’t had somebody on the show who sounds like you and has been successful.”

Miley said, “We went back and forth on having you do this song because we didn’t know how many people would know it. You covering Father John Misty tonight is the lane that you could go in after this show.”

Team Blake’s Courtney Harrell‘s song choice was Aerosmith‘s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” which she sang for her son.

Alicia complimented, “What a beautiful song. This is a favorite. It was really an unforgettable feeling that you gave all of us. You continue to shine.”

Blake told her, “I think we all feel a little more invested in the artists that we saved. What you just did is evidence to me that I made the right choice. You are having a moment right now that you deserve.”

Team Adam’s Josh Gallagher met his idol when he got to work with Garth Brooks. Gallagher, who went home and got married in between the Battle Rounds and the Live Playoffs, sang “Why” by Jason Aldean.

Blake pointed out, “How cool was working with Garth? You never know if you made the right choices as a coach until the finals. I will say, you still deserve to be in this competition.”

Adam said, “You are new on my team and it is such a pleasure. This is not my wheelhouse. I can learn a lot. No one means it more than Josh.”

Next was Team Miley’s New York soul singer Ali Caldwell, who challenged herself with “Did I Ever Love You” by Leonard Cohen.

Alicia told her, “Honestly, that was a real moment. Not only because of the way you owned the stage, but because of the way you let everybody into this special place inside of you. That song choice couldn’t come at a better time. It is a beautiful cross section when songs are timeless.”

Miley said, “I am proud of you every single time. You started with a four-chair turn. That song would have been that. I told you that song was scary going into it. It was a cosmic connection.”

The Voice closed with Brendan Fletcher performing “Whipping Post” by The Allman Brothers Band.

Blake said, “I feel the battle brewing between you and Aaron. Now there are two of you with voices like that.”

Adam added, “I am amazed by you because this guy just became this guy. This guy deserves to be voted through. I need him to be voted through for next week.”

The Voice returns Tuesday night with the results show at 8 p.m. on NBC when the Top 11 will be named.