The competition was fierce on The Voice Monday night when the Top 10 took the stage. Instead of one person going home, this week two will be eliminated on Tuesday night as the Top 10 becomes the Top 8, counting down to the finale, which takes place on Dec. 12 and 13.
The night kicked off with Team Adam Levine‘s Billy Gilman, who returned to his country roots with Martina McBride‘s “Anyway.” It was because of Martina that Billy got a recording contract when he was 10 years old, so he felt like performing one of her songs was coming full circle.
Blake Shelton said, “Of course, I am happy to see Billy go back to country, even if it is just for a moment. When I think of him, that is still what I think of. This is why. He really connects with a song. You have an incredible range, dude.”
Miley Cyrus pointed out that Billy’s performance was so good, it made her really nervous. “As a coach, I am flipping out.”
Adam added, “It is just amazing Billy that you can still astound me. Everybody knows you can sing, but man, I can’t explain to everybody how special what we just heard was. I am blown away.”
Los Angeles songwriter Courtney Harrell from Team Blake was next. Courtney went for an ’80s moment, channeling Cher with “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Alicia Keys told her, “You just emanated such a grace and beauty, and that voice comes out so relentless. I love that you create your own niche. You take the expected and turn it on its head. I hope you do that for the rest of your life.”
Blake said, “I literally feel like we have our Top 10 and we have a new contestant because your stage presence and personality came out as never before. Your stage presence tonight looked like the kind of fun you should be having on a show like this.”
Team Adam’s country artist Josh Gallagher took the stage with former mentor Tim McGraw‘s “Real Good Man.”
Alicia told him, “That was fantastic. I felt like you were really in your element. You controlled the feeling. It felt really solid.”
Adam added, “I am so happy for you. Before tonight, Josh was a great singer, but tonight a country star was on that stage doing that.”
Team Miley’s alt rocker Aaron Gibson went with more of a crowd pleaser this week after landing in the bottom two the previous two weeks. The song he chose was Elton John‘s “Rocket Man.”
Adam said, “You know why I am so happy for you? People don’t realize that when you make it into the Top 10, everyone is given a similar opportunity to make something of it. No matter how far you go, I feel like you are establishing something for yourself. I am a fan of yours and I will be after the show.”
Miley told him, “You don’t need glitter and glam. What you need is your guitar and your voice. That’s all you need because you are an artist. You killed it tonight.”
There was a break in the Top 10 when Adam was joined onstage by his band Maroon Five for a performance of their new single, “Don’t Wanna Know.”
Team Alicia’s Orlando soul singer Christian Cuevas was next on stage. He chose a just-released Lady Gaga song, “Million Reasons.”
Blake said, “I think that was a very timely performance at the place where we are in this season. We have two weeks left, we all know what an incredible vocalist you are and I think you may have just had your moment.”
Alicia told him, “I am so proud of this moment for you, Christian. I feel like an artist was born on this stage right now. You took me on an emotional trip. I know that everyone here related to you in a way they never have before.”
Christian was followed by Team Blake’s country singer Austin Allsup, who received a tweet from Bob Seger after performing a song by the Silver Bullet Band last week. This week, Austin chose a song that showed his softer side: John Waite‘s “Missing You.”
Miley said, “Honestly, I don’t know what came over me right now, I just got teary-eyed on that song. When I believe somebody and what they are singing, I put myself in their place. I really believed you and it was powerful. My favorite performance of yours.”
Blake added, “There is something that happens when you are on stage. It was so emotional. Congratulations on taking a classic song and making it your own.”
Wé McDonald did a total flashback for her performance, choosing to perform Billie Holiday‘s ’40s classic “God Bless the Child.” Alicia told Wé to unleash the opera dragon for her performance, which she successfully did.
Alicia told her, “There’s nobody like you. It is incredible to see you. It is just a beautiful thing to appreciate that you are showing so many sides of you. There is no boundary for you. I am sure America appreciates that you burst through their hearts whenever you sing.”
Team Adam’s Brooklyn rocker Brendan Fraser showed his softer side with Cyndi Lauper‘s “True Colors,” which is like nothing he has ever done on the show before.
Miley said, “You just sang about a rainbow. I am so happy. Your version of ‘True Colors’ is my new favorite song. I was imagining you were singing just for me. I am going to get it on iTunes.”
Adam told him, “We talk a lot about how The Voice has all this bombast. We love it. But Brendan, you are the first artist this season to take a song and make a version that didn’t exist before that people are going to want to listen to. It made me so happy to see you in your element.”
Team Blake’s Sundance Head, who made the Top 10 on iTunes and No. 1 on Country last week and got a tweet from Sarah Silverman, went bluegrass with Tom T. Hall‘s “Me and Jesus.”
Alicia said, “Sundance, you know you’ve got my heart. I think you are going to take people’s heart wherever you go. Whenever you sing, I am right at home. Your message brings us all together.”
Blake added, “I want to congratulate you more than anything. We have never experienced a performance like that in the 11 years of The Voice. But the message of that song … I think people have their own relationship with God, I know I am that way.”
Closing out the night was Team Alicia’s Ali Caldwell, who went big, belting out “Without You” by Harry Nilsson.
Miley complimented her, saying, “I haven’t seen anything like Ali in my life. I am honored to be your coach. It honestly takes me back to the Blinds when you chose me. I felt like I had won when you picked me as your coach. My new goal in life is to make you the biggest star in the world. I want you to shine the way you deserve to.”
The Voice returns Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC when two artists will be eliminated and only eight will continue on in the competition.
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