‘The Voice’ Season 21 Episode 7 Recap: Battle Rounds Premiere Brings Ariana Grande to Tears
The Voice Season 21’s contestants have entered the ring for the Battle Rounds. In this next stage of the singing competition, coaches Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, John Legend, and Blake Shelton pick two of their team members to perform a song together. After several rehearsals with their coaches and celebrity Battle Advisors, the contestants must come to the stage ready to impress because the coaches can only pick one from each battle to continue. The Voice Season 21 Episode 7, the Battle Rounds premiere, has already included some tough coach decisions.
Team Ariana
Newcomer coach Ariana kicked off the battles with a face-off between Katie Rae and Bella DeNapoli. According to Ariana, these two singers are “opposite,” but they both have “big diva” vocals. Ironically, their performance of “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer made Ariana and her Battle Adviser, Kristin Chenoweth, cry. A lot.
The coaches complimented Katie’s edge and Bella’s high notes, but after a tearful speech about loving both singers, Ariana chose Katie. Fans of Bella won’t have to worry, though, because Ariana also used her only save for her “Italian sister.”
For her second battle, Ariana paired two of her rockers, David Vogel and Chavon Rodgers. The artists channeled their inner pop-punk with “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy, which turned out to suit them both perfectly. Aside from Chavon’s cool name, the coaches complimented his soft, low voice and his vibrato. However, David and his cool hair were just a bit clearer. Fighting back more tears, Ariana chose David. Of course, she did promise to stalk both David and Chavon at any of their future gigs.
Team Ariana: Katie Rae, Bella DeNapoli, David Vogel, Katherine Ann Mohler, Vaughn Mugol, Jim and Sasha Allen, Raquel Trinidad, Hailey Mia, Ryleigh Plank, Sophia Bromberg, KCK3
Team Legend
John paired KJ Jennings and Samuel Harness for his first battle. The two had to perform Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” right in front of Battle Adviser Camila herself. However, John knew they could impress. Samuel and KJ both had things to polish in rehearsals, but they wowed the coaches on stage. Kelly complimented KJ’s rock edge while Ariana noted her “precise runs,” and John called her “magnetic.” Meanwhile, Blake loved Samuel’s “cool, smokey sound.”
Samuel may have hidden in his shell during rehearsal, but that shyness was nowhere to be seen on stage. John said he “sings with passion” and shows character, which is why he chose Samuel to continue.
Team Legend: Samuel Harness, Jonathan Mouton, Jack Rogan, Joshua Vacanti, Paris Winningham, Keilah Grace, Samara Brown, Janora Brown, Sabrina Dias, Brittany Bree, Shadale
Team Kelly
For Girl Named Tom and Kinsey Rose, Kelly wanted to choose a song between their acoustic pop and country styles. So, she assigned them “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles. Kelly’s Battle Adviser, Jason Aldean, complimented Girl Named Tom’s harmonies as a sibling trio and compared Kinsey to Alison Krauss. Later, after their performance, John said he felt “musically connected” to Girl Named Tom but found Kinsey more “compelling.” Blake thinks Kinsey and Girl Named Tom should just join forces all the time.
Kelly chose Girl Named Tom, but Kinsey was far from going home. Kelly pressed her save button while John and Blake wanted to steal. And, for the first time in The Voice history, Ariana pressed her steal button just before Kinsey chose her coach. “I wanted to be on the menu,” Ariana said. Still, Kinsey decided to return to Team Kelly.
Viewers also saw a battle between Jeremy Rosado and Jershika Maple. Their rehearsal of “Hold On” by Justin Bieber featured powerhouse vocals, but Jason and Kelly agreed that they should build intensity before the chorus. Their actual performance turned Ariana into “a pile of flesh and bones and organs,” according to the “7 Rings” singer. Meanwhile, John felt moved by their “hearts.”
Kelly chose Jeremy because of his “powerful, soulful, and honest” energy, but Ariana and John moved in to steal Jershika. Fans will have to wait until Tuesday, Oct. 12, to see who Jershika chooses.
Team Kelly: Girl Named Tom, Kinsey Rose (save), Jeremy Rosado, Carolina Alonso, Gymani, Holly Forbes, The Cunningham Sisters, Jershika Maple, Xavier Cornell, Wyatt Michael, Aaron Hines, Parker McKay
Team Blake
Blake paired his group, The Joy Reunion, with the young Elvis-inspired Peedy Chavis. The country singer (appropriately) assigned “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night, which allowed The Joy Reunion to show off their rock edge. It might be difficult to perform alongside a trio, but Peedy’s unique sound had no trouble standing out. Adviser Dierks Bentley said it felt like a concert.
Later, Ariana said The Joy Reunion and Peedy put on “an infectiously joyous performance.” Kelly “couldn’t take her eyes off Peedy,” and Blake agreed that Peedy is “special.” He named the teen as this battle’s winner.
Team Blake: Peedy Chavis, Wendy Moten, Lana Scott, Hailey Green, Carson Peters, Kaitlyn Velez, Berritt Haynes, Clint Sherman, Manny Keith, LiBianca, Tommy Edwards
