Reba McEntire was ecstatic when she beat out the other coaches to recruit talented singer Elyscia Jefferson to her team on Monday’s episode of The Voice on NBC.
“You inspire me,” said Reba, 68. “You are incredibly talented and I would love to work with you.”
Elyscia, 20, from Baltimore, Maryland, closed the two-hour episode with her funky rendition of Michael Jackson’s PYT and almost got a four-chair turn.
All the coaches turned away except John Legend, 45, as the blind auditions continued.
Reba McEntire was ecstatic when she beat out the other coaches to win talented singer Elyscia Jefferson to her team on Monday’s episode of The Voice on NBC
“What a voice,” said Dan Smyers, 36, of Dan + Shay.
“Awesome,” said Chance the Rapper, 30.
‘Well done!’ Reba said.
“Everyone had fun,” Dan said. ‘The audience had fun. That’s contagious.’
“This is really hard because I love you all, but I’m going to Team Reba,” Elyscia said.
Reba ran to the stage, hugged her and told her she was totally excited.
“Oh yeah, that was a good one,” Reba said.
The show opened with a performance by the white-clad coaches singing Put a Little Love in Your Heart, backed by a choir.
Ronnie Wilson, 28, an accountant from Atlanta, was the first participant on night five of the Blind Auditions. Being black, gay and growing up in the South, he said he hoped by coming on the show he could inspire others to be their authentic selves.
Elyscia, 20, from Baltimore, Maryland, closed the two-hour episode with her funky performance of Michael Jackson’s PYT and almost got a four-chair turn
The coaches and audience were impressed by the singer’s audition
Chance The Rapper gave Elyscia a standing ovation
Dan + Shay were also clapping for Elyscia
Ronnie Wilson, 28, an accountant from Atlanta, was the first participant on night five of the Blind Auditions
“I just leave it all on stage,” Ronnie said.
He then performed Zayn Malik’s Pillowtalk and even had the coaches dancing along towards the end. John pushed his buzzer almost from the start, followed by Reba.
John told him that he used to be on the business side too, when Reba pretended to call Keith Urban and asked him to pick her as his coach.
“I’ve been in the business for fifty years now, so I think I could help you embellish, not change, because you’re absolutely amazing,” Reba said.
John said he wanted to be his coach too. Ronnie ultimately chose John.
“I think he’s going to do so well on the show,” John said.
Zoe Levert, 20, a college student from New Orleans, performed an emotional rendition of Taylor Swift’s Better Man (Taylor’s Version). She said she was a big Swifty.
“It’s a dream to see a Taylor Swift song on that stage,” said Zoë. “I hope I do it justice.”
John, along with Reba, turned his chair to face Ronnie
Zoe Levert, 20, a college student from New Orleans, performed an emotional rendition of Taylor Swift’s Better Man (Taylor’s Version)
John was the only coach who turned her around. Zoe then told Dan + Shay that she was getting married next year and that their first song would be their dance song From the Ground Up. Dan + Shay then told her to bring her fiancé and they grabbed a guitar and sang the song for them. Zoe danced with her fiancé as Dan + Shay sang to them.
“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,” Reba said. “That was so sweet of you!”
“I’m so glad you were serenaded by these great artists here,” John said.
Ducote Talmage, 20, from Auburn, Alabama, blew the coaches away with his powerful performance of Morgan Wallen’s Sand In My Boots. Dan +Shay and John Legend both turned and sang along to the song in parts. John said he loved his voice and thought he would be a great coach for him.
“Want to do something renegade and revolutionary and join Team Legend,” John said.
Shay said the number belonged to their good friend Morgan Wallen. Dan + Shay said he would help him finish his unwritten song and that he would be a standout for their team.
“You have a lot of power in your voice,” Dan said.
Ducote Talmage, 20, from Auburn, Alabama, blew the coaches away with his powerful performance of Morgan Wallen’s Sand In My Boots
Chance said he didn’t pitch because of his pitching issues. Ducote ultimately chose Dan + Shay as his coaches.
JJ Higgins, 46, originally from Tampa, said he and his wife had a son who lived only a month and they had to make the difficult decision to let him go. He said his wife later became pregnant again with their “miracle child.” JJ took the stage and performed the Kenny Loggins song Return to Pooh Corner. Unfortunately, none of the coaches turned around.
“You have to be proud of the man you are,” Shay said.
“JJ brought a very special story to the Voice,” Reba said.
JJ Higgins, 46, sang the Kenny Loggins song Return to Pooh Corner, but no chairs turned
Serenity Arce, a 16-year-old high school student from Jupiter, Florida, took a turn in front of four chairs and sang This City by Sam Fisher. Dan and Shay were not happy when they turned around and saw that they were blocked. Serenity performed on season 21 of the show when she was just 14 years old, but none of the judges turned around at the time.
‘Four chairs!’ said Johannes.
John told her she looked familiar and that she was so proud of her for coming back.
“Whoever blocked us, it’s rude and I think it’s mean, but I take it as a compliment,” Shay said.
“Consider it an addition, Serenity,” John said. “You made me block someone for you.”
Chance told her she was great. Chance said he would have turned around for her two years ago.
“I think I should go with Chance,” Serenity said.
“Big mistake,” John said. “Good job, Kans. Well done.’
Serenity Arce, a 16-year-old high school student from Jupiter, Florida, got a four-chair turn singing This City by Sam Fisher
Emma Valentine, 20, from Santa Cruz, California took the stage and sang Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse. None of the coaches turned around. Reba thanked her for coming on the show.
Ryan Coleman, 25, a farmer from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, moved Dan + Shay with his energetic version of Bill Withers’ hit Ain’t No Sunshine. Before taking the stage, he said his life changed when he finally turned his truck around and spent a lot of time in the hospital recovering.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m taking advantage of it,” Ryan said.
Dan + Shay turned their chairs around. Reba told him she liked his tone. Shay welcomed him to their team and said he liked his tone.
“Man, I’m so excited to get to work with you,” Shay said.
Reba then picked up Zeya Rae singing Billie Eilish’s Bellyache for her team.
“I loved your voice!” Reba said.
Ryan Coleman, 25, a farmer from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, moved Dan + Shay with his energetic version of Bill Withers’ hit Ain’t No Sunshine
Reba then picked up Zeya Rae singing Billie Eilish’s Bellyache for her team
Native American singer AJ Harvey, 25, from Norman, Oklahoma, gave an emotional and soulful performance of Bob Dylan’s Girl From the North Country, with Chance and Dan + Shay spinning in their chairs.
“You have a beautiful, beautiful voice,” John said.
“That was a really great performance,” Dan said.
“I love the song choice that felt very you,” Shay said.
Chance then presses the ‘Choose Chance’ button.
“You have to work with Team Chance,” Chance said.
Native American singer AJ Harvey, 25, from Norman, Oklahoma, gave an emotional and soulful performance of Bob Dylan’s Girl From the North Country, with Chance and Dan + Shay spinning in their chairs
“We’re going with Dan + Shay,” AJ said.
Chance told him he would steal it later.
Moelle, 29, from New Orleans, said she grew up singing and dancing and has a residency at a Los Angeles supper club. She sang Always Remember Us This Way by Lady Gaga, but none of the coaches turned around.
The Voice returns Tuesday on NBC.