♪ Turn it up ♪
Welcome to "The Voice" Season 12, everybody!
♪ I can make your hands clap ♪
- Yeah! - Whoo!
♪ Said I can make your hands clap ♪ You got four!
Whoo!
♪ Said I can make your hands clap ♪ No hugging!
Daly: Taking our coaches' chairs this season,
together for the first time...
Grammy Award-winning music and style icon,
fresh off her latest number-one album, Gwen Stefani.
Gwen: I've had the last two seasons off.
Made an album, toured the United States,
so I feel ready to come back here now, super inspired.
You can only sing like that if you've lived it.
Right now, I feel like I'm here to work with you.
Yes! Oh, my God! ♪ I can make your hands clap ♪
I'm real excited to take home my first win.
Daly: Grammy Award-winning front man for Maroon 5
with over 20 million albums sold,
three-time "Voice" champion Adam Levine.
Adam: Being able to alter someone's course,
it's a really cool responsibility.
I think that you can win "The Voice,"
and I would love nothing more than to help you get to the top.
You can win this thing, and it would be a shame
to see somebody screw that up for you like Adam.
[Laughter]
This season, it's a new combination of coaches.
Everyone's a threat,
but no one's got stamina like me to win "The Voice."
Daly: 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer,
songwriter, and producer, with 31 million albums
sold worldwide and five number-one albums, Alicia Keys.
Alicia: Feels really good to be back.
My inner competitive nature is alive and well.
♪ Pick me as your coach ♪
My strategy is to be in my heart and not in my head.
When you stay in your heart, you find the magic.
Daly: And country music superstar
with over 10 million albums sold and 23 number-one hits,
last season's winning coach, Blake Shelton.
Sundance Head, Team Blake!
Blake: Just one push of that red button can change their lives.
What the hell?!
Just look at Sundance.
He's already out on tour with me.
But now that I've won this show five times,
it has the other coaches ganging up on me.
Clearly three against one.
Who are you gonna pick? I hope it's not Blake.
My job on this show is to try and win,
even when my competition is my girlfriend,
and I'm not talking about Adam.
Is that me?
[Laughter]
Give him a kiss.
I'm 13.
- What?! - What?!
That's crazy.
We've never had someone 13.
There's a new dynamic with these two.
They're, like, dating. [Record needle scratches]
People watching haven't seen you guys together.
'Cause the last time you were coaches,
things were much different. Yeah.
Can we talk about the elephant in the room?
Hey, guys, you have any creamer?
Oh.
♪ So can I get a hand clap? ♪
Daly: Season 12 of "The Voice" starts right now.
♪♪♪
[Cheers and applause]
Happy you're back.
I'm so happy.
Wow, it's happening to me again.
I can't believe it's happening again.
Woman: Gwen!
Wow.
Daly: Let's meet the first artist of the season.
I'm Joshua Hunter, 29 years old.
I'm from Albany, Georgia.
My stage name is J. Chosen
because I felt like I was chosen to do music.
I always could sing,
and in high school, I played the tuba in the band,
but I am 6'6", so growing up, all I played was basketball.
After high school, I received the full scholarship
to Appalachian State University.
I definitely wanted to be in the NBA.
But I shattered my knee.
That's when I had to think to myself,
"I have a bigger passion, and that is music."
I started to go to open mics and record.
In Atlanta, it's very hard to make a living as a musician.
So I'm a paraprofessional,
and I work with special-need kids.
I want to talk to Mommy.
You want to call Mommy?
Yes. Show me five cents first.
What drew me was the need to teach.
Just to see their smile every day drives me here
to come and work with them.
Good job.
This job is wonderful,
and it helps me provide for my son.
My son's mother, she lives back in Albany,
three hours away from me.
Come on.
When he was born, that changed my life.
Because now I have someone looking up to me,
I have more to work for.
It's emotional for me
because I didn't have that same love from my father.
His father and I, when we broke up,
I made sure that I put him in only the things
that would develop character in him,
and music saved Josh.
Joshua: For my blind audition,
I'll be singing "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye.
It's the perfect song for me to showcase my talent
in front of four of the best artists, producers, songwriters
in the world.
To turn a chair, all the blood, sweat, and tears
would be worth it.
Ooh!
Okay, get serious. Try to get serious.
♪♪♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Baby ♪
Whoa.
♪ I'm hot just like an oven ♪
♪ And I need some lovin' ♪
♪ Ohh, ohh ♪
♪ When I get that feelin' ♪
♪ I want sexual healing ♪
♪ Sexual healing ♪
♪ Oh, baby ♪
♪ Makes me feel so fine ♪
♪ Helps to relieve my mind ♪
♪ Sexual healing ♪
♪ Is good for me ♪
♪ Sexual healing ♪
♪ Is something that's good for me ♪
♪ Whenever blue teardrops are falling ♪
♪ And my emotional stability is leaving me ♪
♪ There is something I could do ♪
♪ I could get on the telephone and call you up, baby ♪
♪ And you're my medicine ♪
♪ Open up and let me in ♪
♪ Darling, you're so great ♪
♪ I can't wait for you to operate ♪
♪ Baby, yeah ♪
♪ When I get that feeling ♪
♪ Sexual, sexual, sexual ♪
[Laughs]
♪ Healing ♪
♪ Is good for me ♪
♪ Sexual healing ♪
♪ Is something that's good for me ♪
[Cheers and applause]
♪♪♪
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Just thank you.
I'm not really feeling too confident right now.
It don't matter. You never know.
[Cheers and applause]
Whoo!
Four chairs. What do you feel like?
It's a dream come true.
Listen, man, we got a lot of work to do,
so let's get started.
[Laughter] What happened?
He just healed us sexually. That's what just happened.
- Whoa. - What's your name?
My name is J. Chosen. I'm 29 years old.
I'm a little country boy from Albany, Georgia.
I'm a teacher. I work with special-need kids.
To do this in front of...
[Cheers and applause] ...four great coaches...
I'm still, like, in awe right now.
J., if for some reason, there's nothing I can
unlock inside of you to realize that I'm your man,
I won't be able to sleep tonight.
Because I know how to win this show,
and I know for a fact, I can win it with you.
And I just know that you're the dude
that's gonna do it for me.
Thank you, thank you. I know it. I know it.
I know it!
[Laughter]
Geez.
You could be with somebody violent like that.
Uh, it's called passion.
I Googled it.
[Laughter]
- It is passion. - Whoo!
Listen. [Grunts]
Every note is pitch-perfect.
Your tone is incredible.
And you had Alicia like... She was embarrassed.
She was hiding from her own emotions.
I was.
You even had the Marvin growl.
Like, no one can do that. Wow.
And the possibilities are endless.
- Thank you. - Adam.
Can J. talk to his coach for a minute?
- Wow. - She's not your coach yet.
Who are you?
[Laughs]
Marvin Gaye is in heaven like...
[Applause]
- Yeah, exactly. - You know what I'm saying?
Because it was so powerful and so crazy-emotional.
People do not sing like this.
It is really a blessing to be in your presence
'cause I don't think we get an opportunity
to see this beautiful vulnerability from men, too.
So, I think this is really important for the show,
really important for your coach, Alicia.
[Laughter]
Potential coach. And congratulations, J.
It's really a blessing. Thank you so much.
[Cheers and applause]
It's so hard for one not to be completely mesmerized
when Alicia Keys, she's staring you in the eye.
She's amazing.
Obviously, what I heard was just so instinctual.
It was, like, true talent.
The way you smiled when you were singing that song,
you just seemed, like, really present in the moment
and grateful to be here.
And I recognize that you give of yourself
working with children with special needs.
And, you know, I've done so many different kinds of things.
I've bounced around into different kinds of genres of music,
traveled the whole planet touching people with my story,
and then receiving that love back and healing through music.
Music is... It's just such an unbelievable gift
that you shared with us today.
And not just your voice, but your heart.
Like, your heart just comes right out in that smile.
Whoever you choose, I'm excited for you.
This is an amazing show, and I'd love to work with you.
[Cheers and applause] Thank you, thank you.
Adam: Let me just tell you something.
For some reason, th-the guys on this panel never do this,
but the connection and the brotherhood
that we can have, and the thing...
[Laughs] Yeah. Hey.
You know what I'm saying? Yeah.
Having someone that understands
what you're gonna be going through as a man.
Blake and I have navigated through our careers,
and it's... Oh, they're all so different.
I mean, I couldn't be more different than Blake Shelton.
Thank God.
Honestly, I have to butt in just a little bit
because if you choose me, you get to have
the female perspective, right, and the male perspective
because I've been in a band with all men.
I got to live in both worlds.
I've written songs about it, and...
So I don't feel uncomfortable.
I feel confident that I could relate to you in so many ways.
I mean...
Yes, Adam?
[Laughter]
Can I talk now? Yeah.
Thanks. Um...
Anyways, so...
[Laughter]
Make sure that you go with someone who is
the most passionate about you and what you do.
I hit my button because I'm a fan.
I instantly was into what you're doing.
We've both been here since the beginning.
There's so many similarities between he and I as coaches
except... I have won the show more than him.
[Laughter]
J., it's time.
Who do you pick as your coach?
[Audience shouting]
J.
He's in the middle of praying right now.
- J. - We're all praying right now.
[Laughs]
[Shouting continues]
Oh, my God.
Come on, J.!
I pick...
Gwen.
♪ What's going on? ♪ What are you talking about?!
♪ What's going on? ♪
♪ Tell me what's going on ♪ Are you serious?!
♪ I'll tell you what's going on ♪ Are you serious?
Oh, my God! Really?
Are you serious?
Yes.
Oh, my God. I'm so excited.
I can't believe it.
I'm so excited to work with you.
Wow.
I want to work with someone
that I knew would give me that diversity.
Different tones and different melodies. What is happening?!
And I'm so excited to work with her.
I never in my wildest, wildest dreams
thought he would choose me.
That was awesome!
Oh, wait. J.! J., J.!
Being back, I feel super inspired.
It never ceases to amaze me how many talented singers
there are, and having a strong R&B soul singer
on my team is incredible.
I feel a little bit nervous about it,
but I also feel confident that it's meant to be.
I'm in shock!
♪ What's going on? ♪
Adam: Gwen's crushing it. J. is awesome.
That one really hurt.
♪ What's going on? ♪ Four chairs? Oh, my God.
My little boy gonna be so happy. [Laughs]
- I was not expecting that. - I can't believe it.
I thought I had him.
That was awesome. I loved that.
Daly: Coming up...
♪ Try a little tenderness ♪ Daly: ...Season 12 excitement
is just getting started.
Oh, my God.
Yee-haw!
Ahhh!
You make Blake look like he's not that country.
- Yeah. - You are exposing me right now.
- This is on. - He gonna whup your ass.
- [Laughs] - What is wrong with you?
Time out!
Whoo, child!
Daly: And later, one artist gets the opportunity of a lifetime.
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back to the blind auditions
at Universal Studios Hollywood.
- Gwen is back! - Hey!
This is so incredible right here.
This is another level.
- I'm pumped. - I know.
It's only him I don't like.
I like him so much that I'll make up for you not...
That'll make up for my dislike.
Yeah. That's perfect.
This is great. Isn't that weird,
that you guys are, like, together, and like, on the show?
It's crazy. Whoa. Are you serious right now?
So you can go back to not mattering.
[Laughs]
You only tear people down when you have an insecurity issue.
It's okay, baby. Oh.
In your face, bro.
How's that feel? I feel like a better person all of a sudden.
Daly: While our coaches get ready,
let's meet the next artist.
Lauren: My name is Lauren Duski.
I'm 25 years old, and I'm from Gaylord, Michigan.
I come from a family of dentists.
Other than me, there's really no one in my family who sings.
Not even in the shower. [Laughs]
No, we don't even allow each other to sing
in front of each other.
They're both pretty quirky.
My dad is a huge nerd.
We're most certainly not singing dentists.
[Laughter]
Both of them know nothing about music, which is perfect
[laughs] every time I need any advice.
I'll second that. How she developed it, we're still trying to figure that out.
How'd you get into music?
Started performing around the age of 9,
ended up getting connected with a country band,
and we would travel around the state of Michigan
playing these dinner shows.
♪ Good ole Rocky Top ♪
♪ Rocky Top, Tennessee ♪
I was hooked.
But I always thought the more practical thing
was to go to college.
I got my degree in biopsychology,
neuroscience and cognition, which is always too much to say.
And then when I graduated, I had the choice
to go to dental school or pursue my dream,
and it was a no-brainer.
I ended up moving to Nashville.
Now I feel like I have the confidence
to take on "The Voice."
I sing country, but I would love to work with Gwen Stefani.
I think it would help broaden my scope of music.
I'm gonna be singing "You Were Meant For Me" by Jewel.
I slowed it up to bring out the emotion in the song,
and I hope the coaches feel what I'm feeling.
If I can make a team today, it would be a validation
to know that I made the right decision
in choosing music instead of dental school.
There's no looking back.
Daly: She looks ready to go.
Come on, girl. You can do this.
♪♪♪
♪ I hear the clock ♪
♪ It's 6:00 a.m. ♪
♪ I feel so far from where I've been ♪
♪ Wipe the spots up off the mirror ♪
♪ Don't leave the keys in the door ♪
♪ I never put wet towels on the floor anymore ♪
Come on! What did that take?
Five seconds? Whoo!
All right! Thank you!
♪ Dreams last for so long ♪ Oh, my God!
♪ Even after you're gone ♪
♪ And I know that you love me ♪
♪ And soon, you will see ♪
♪ You were meant for me ♪ Hey!
♪ And I was meant for you ♪ Wow.
♪ I brush my teeth ♪
♪ Put the cap back on ♪
♪ I know you hate it when I leave the light on ♪
♪ I try and tell myself it'll all be all right ♪
♪ But I just shouldn't think anymore tonight ♪
♪ 'Cause dreams last for so long ♪
♪ Even after you're gone ♪
♪ And I know that you love me ♪
♪ And soon you will see ♪
♪ You were meant for me ♪
♪ And I was meant for you ♪
[Cheers and applause]
Yeah!
Geez-oh-Pete.
Yeah!
Ay-yi-yi.
Yes, sir!
Well, hi, guys.
What's your name?
My name's Lauren Duski.
I'm 25 years old, and I'm from Northern Michigan
and just moved to Nashville two years ago.
Yee-haw!
[Laughs]
I've never heard someone do that song on the show,
and I think you really took that to a new place.
What you do is the subtlety and the soulfulness
that the winner of this show needs to have.
And I think it would be the most refreshing thing
in this show's history for someone like you to win "The Voice."
Thank you so, so, so much.
[Applause]
- Hi, Gwen! - Hi, Lauren.
What I was so blown away by was, there's not a lot of singers
that use every single part of their voice.
You were singing in your head voice, your chest voice.
I don't feel like I get to hear that very often.
But I would love to work on getting more
of your personality out.
Doing music is to share your story,
and that's what I would love to do with you.
Thank you, Gwen.
[Applause]
Hi, Blake.
Hi, Lauren.
Wait a minute. Don't skip over me
just because I didn't turn around.
Oh, no, no, I'm so sorry.
We were having a moment just then.
Thanks a lot, Alicia! [Laughs]
- Uh... - I just want to agree
with everyone that you really are a special artist,
and thank you for showcasing.
Thank you.
[Applause]
Now can we get back to our moment?
- Go ahead. - [Laughs] Yes, Blake.
You're somebody who clearly can win this thing.
Thank you. Thank you.
[Applause]
I also want to work with people who I think can go on
to be a star, especially with a country artist.
Adam: Has anybody asked her, by the way?
What do you want to do?
I always consider myself a country singer,
but I love to sing anything that moves me.
Exactly, music, genre-less, beautiful music
that suits you best. Yeah.
If you can find me one of those
good genre-less radio stations that they're gonna play you on,
I can't wait to crank it up.
I'm just gonna tell you this, Lauren.
I believed really blindly from the beginning in you.
I follow my instincts through my whole life.
My instincts have been kind to me so far,
so keep me in mind when you're making this choice.
[Applause] Thank you, Adam.
So, do I ask a question, or is there any more...
Are you kidding me? This is on.
It's not over. No way.
This is the craziest moment.
I'm the perfect choice because I'm somewhere in the middle.
How many Blake Shelton concerts
have I been to in the last year?
[Laughs] I mean...
I've never missed one.
I've done a duet with Adam.
I've done a duet with Blake.
Hello.
Genre boundaries... there is no boundaries.
All right, Lauren. Who do you pick as your coach?
[Audience shouting]
- Who's it gonna be? - Maybe Gwen.
Gwen put up a good argument.
Come on, Lauren! Come home!
I pick Blake. Yeah!
♪ I'm just a guy with a girl everybody wants to know ♪
Whoo-hoo!
♪ Wishin' you were there alone ♪ Oh, man!
Yes!
Blake: Lauren Duski is somebody who has a chance
to go on and have a record deal.
I couldn't be happier that she chose me as her coach.
Am I in trouble? I picked Blake, too.
[Laughs]
Adam: I definitely lost a couple people I really loved,
but I ain't giving up.
Nice job, Lauren.
You got a good one, buddy.
Oh, that hurt Adam so much.
Oh, that makes me so happy.
That was a fight.
Ultimately, what was it about Blake?
My heart and soul is in country music,
and he's the king of country.
I'm so excited.
- Me too. - You're in great hands.
And now I have to go make up with Gwen.
All right. So, she did give you that look.
She was amazing. That girl can win.
- She was really good. - Hey, Blake!
What?
♪ Your girlfriend's sitting next to me ♪
[Audience cheering]
Jealous?
[Laughter]
Daly: Coming up... ♪ He'll never walk away ♪
♪ He'll never break her heart ♪
- Whoo! - [Laughs]
That is a big voice.
- Wow. - Shut up.
- Oh, my God. - Right now, I feel like
I'm here to work with you.
- Hey, hey! - [Laughs]
You belong in the current landscape of pop music.
Daly: And later...
Felicia: There definitely was a possibility
that I wouldn't sing again,
so it's so beautiful for things to turn around.
♪ I never loved someone ♪
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back to the blind auditions.
Okay, let's just focus on me for a second, everyone.
- [Laughs] - Queen of the four-chair turn.
♪ Queen of the four, queen of the ♪
♪ Queen of the, queen of the four ♪
It's one four-chair turn.
It's, like... No, it's, like...
You're like more like the princess of the four-turn.
[Laughter]
Daly: This next artist is a familiar face.
I'm Johnny Hayes, and I am back for Season 12.
♪ I'm just a traveler on this earth ♪
Last season, as disappointing as it was,
I did take away a lot of great advice.
If it was a bit more about you,
I feel like you would just own it
and really be like, "Here's me."
[Applause]
After last season, I started working with my dad,
doing landscaping.
John: Johnny and I do everything from trimming, mowing, blowing.
He usually does the brunt stuff to help the old man out.
My dad's taught me that, if you want to be
successful in anything, whether it's cutting the grass
or playing music, you got to work really hard.
My wife has never given up on me.
She's encouraged me to be a better musician,
a better person, a better husband every single day.
And to be able to have Meredith in my corner, it's priceless.
For my blind audition, I'll be singing
"Try a Little Tenderness," by Otis Redding.
♪♪♪
It was the song that me and my wife fell in love to.
When we went on our first date together,
we played this game to pick a song for each other
on the jukebox.
To each of our surprise, we both picked
the same exact song, and that was it.
The rest is history.
Meredith: This is just a big step, hopefully,
for a lot of people to fall in love with him just like I have.
Johnny: The last time, the coaches didn't feel me.
So this song is true to who I am.
This song has already changed my life once.
When I walk through those doors, it will change again.
♪ Oh, she may be weary ♪
♪ Them young girls ♪
♪ They do get weary ♪
♪ Wearing that same old shaggy dress ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ But when she gets weary ♪
♪ Try a little tenderness ♪
♪ Oh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Oh, you won't regret it ♪
♪ No, no ♪
♪ If you try, try a little tenderness ♪
♪ All you got to do, man ♪
♪ Is hold her if you want her ♪
♪ Got to squeeze her ♪
♪ Don't tease her ♪
♪ Never leave her ♪
♪ Got to, got to try ♪
♪ Try a little tenderness ♪
♪ You got to know how to love her, man ♪
♪ You got to hold her ♪
♪ Squeeze her ♪
♪ Never leave her ♪
♪ Got to try and na, na, na ♪
♪ Try, try a little tenderness ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
[Cheers and applause]
Whoo!
- Okay. - Okay, time out.
- Whoa. - Time out!
[Laughter]
So, one, two.
You did not push, correct, neither one of you.
Oh, my God.
[Laughter]
And you look familiar, too.
I was actually... I auditioned last season.
[Grunts] Yes!
I'm Johnny Hayes. I'm 29 years old.
I'm from Mobile, Alabama.
I remember, man. Alabama, yeah.
And I'm sorry. My heart is racing.
It's so good to see your faces.
It's so amazing when someone, "Yeah, I'll come back."
But he did it, and then he got turned, and now we're here.
Yeah, man.
Singing Otis is not something you can get away with
u-unless you can do it right,
and you did the almost impossible.
I mean, I don't know about you guys,
but did you not feel the energy?
[Cheers and applause] Thank you so much.
I love her to death,
but I must destroy her for these purposes.
[Laughter]
I can't deal with not having you.
And don't let her use her thing with him to influence you at all.
Yeah, use my thing with him to influence you,
because that means you got double, like, double power.
No, you don't. He's not gonna coach you.
Hey, Johnny, it didn't take Gwen two times
to hear you sing before she hit her button.
Exactly. Although, I didn't miss you last season, did I?
Because she wasn't here. Unh-unh.
[Laughter] Anyway, you didn't push
for Johnny, so shut up.
[Laughter]
Were you nervous at all?
A little bit.
I just wanted my wife to think I sounded good.
[Audience Awws] That was our song.
Oh, that's cute.
- Aww. - That's what I'm talking about.
You are delivering a performance from your heart.
That's really all I care about, is passion and truth,
so I would really love to work with you.
And I want to fight Adam, too.
- Oh! - Uh-oh.
Now I have to worry about you getting mad at me
and Blake getting mad at me.
[Laughter] This sucks.
I was just gonna say, Johnny, that this is
a really beautiful testament to determination and tenacity
and never, ever letting a "no" stop you
from doing what you dream.
[Cheers and applause] Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Go ahead, Blake.
[Laughter]
Don't buy that.
I see two people in this room who've made a comeback,
and one is you, and the other is Gwen.
I mean, if there's been a comeback in the music industry
like hers in the last 10 years,
I'd like to know who it's been.
You put those two energies together... wow.
Wow.
[Applause]
It really just comes down to what you want to do
and who you want to work with and where your heart's at.
Agreed.
Who do you pick as your coach?
[Audience shouting]
Whoever you want, babe.
So...
I choose Adam.
[Cheers and applause] Yes.
Adam: Johnny Hayes is my first addition to the team.
I couldn't be happier.
Dude, yes!
Everyone loves a comeback kid like that.
And you watch out for Johnny Hayes.
You were screwed from the beginning. Thank you. Thank you.
You were screwed from the beginning.
[Audience Awws]
[Groans]
Daly: Coming up... You.
I pushed it first.
When they both pushed, they're, like, dating,
and I don't know what to do.
I'm like a third wheel in this thing.
♪ So you better run, run, run away ♪
♪ Run away, baby ♪
I need you on my team! Oh, my God!
You're amazing.
I want to remind you that this is a competition.
Oh, man.
- Who do you... - Pick...
- As your... - Coach?
[Screams]
Daly: Download "The Voice" official app
and play along with our coaches all season long.
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back.
Let's meet the next artist.
[Siren wails]
My name is Skyler Harris, I'm 25 years old,
and I'm a police officer in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
I'm a crisis intervention team member,
so what that means is that, one minute, I might be
responding to a call of somebody who's suicidal,
and then the next minute,
I might just be out jumping rope with kids.
There's a huge difference and change throughout the day,
and I love that about it.
Music is a huge part of my life.
But working a full-time job,
there's not a lot of time to gig.
So, being on "The Voice" would reshape my entire career.
Man: All right, y'all be safe.
I started out singing, like, at church.
Oh, cool. And I sang a little bit
in college, but then I got involved
in an abusive relationship.
While I was involved in that relationship,
I was a 911 dispatcher.
Now I'm not just taking the calls,
but I know what it's like to be on the other end.
How many calls did you get of domestic abuse?
Just me answering, at least 20 a day.
You were giving everybody else advice
that you weren't taking.
That I wasn't even taking. Exactly.
During that time, everything about me was gone.
And so for me, that meant that I didn't sing.
One night, I was sitting on the patio,
and I started humming a song to myself.
And I just turned back into that little girl in that youth choir.
I just kept thinking,
"All I have to do is get up and walk away from this
and everything will change."
So that night, I went to sleep, I had a plan.
So the next morning, I moved,
packed everything in my little car, and...
Good for you. ...here I am.
Which was the first step in getting music
right back in your life.
Right. Music saved my life.
Each one of these coaches is amazing in their own right,
but if Alicia Keys turns for me today, I will lose it.
I have 90 seconds
to give them 25 years of heartbreak,
25 years of dreaming, and hope that they hear me.
She's right there.
♪♪♪
♪ Mm, mm ♪
♪ You've been on my mind ♪
♪ I grow fonder every day ♪
♪ Lose myself in time ♪
♪ Just thinkin' of your face ♪
♪ I don't know why I'm scared ♪
♪ 'Cause I've been here before ♪
♪ Every feeling, every word ♪
♪ I've imagined it all ♪
Wow.
♪ You never know ♪
♪ If you never try to forgive your past ♪
♪ And simply be mine ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I dare you to let me be ♪
♪ Your one and only ♪
♪ I promise I'm worthy, baby ♪
♪ Until the end ♪
♪ Starts ♪
[Cheers and applause]
Good job. Good job. I can't believe that.
- Hello. - Oh, my gosh.
What's your name?
Hi. My name is Skyler Harris.
I'm 25. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee.
There is no denying that you have an incredible voice.
Thank you.
It's unbelievable, your skill, but there needs to be something
that sticks out that is, like, you.
That makes you go, "Wait. She can do all that,
but I feel her, too."
I think you're unbelievable, and I think you could come back,
and I think you would get a turn.
- Thank you. - I'd really love to know
a little bit more about you and what this song meant to you.
While I was in college, I was in an abusive relationship.
Shortly after that, I decided to become a police officer,
and that's what I do now.
- Wow. - Wow.
- Cool. - Yeah.
[Applause]
For me, that song just means choosing myself, finally.
Mm.
And give me the chance to be my one and only.
I'd rather be by myself than be involved
in another relationship like that, so...
[Applause]
When you sang, I felt such a power, right?
And I don't know if I got the chance
to feel this vulnerability and this uncertainty
so that you could really bring us in
to this beautiful story that you have
that the whole world deserves to hear
because you're gonna save a lot of women like this...
Oh, yeah. ...and a lot of people, you know, who need to hear that
it's okay to walk away.
I mean, that's... that's an amazing thing you just said right here.
If that alone is shared.
Thank you.
I think you're one that probably,
we're a little bit frustrated that we didn't turn around for.
But that's good news for you, if there is any good news.
You should come back.
Yeah. Come back and see us, okay?
I will.
[Applause]
I really wanted those chairs to turn,
but another part of me feels like this is just another chance
for me to bounce back.
I've done it before, and I'll keep doing it again.
You're so incredible. I'm so happy to meet you.
Alicia: Skyler was really great,
but somehow, I think it was missing this kind of,
like, connection.
So I wasn't able to get lost in it the way that
I think she really could have made us do.
She's a great artist.
I was gonna turn around 16 times.
I know. Me too.
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back to the blind auditions.
♪ Sing us a song ♪
I'm ready. Ready for the magic.
Here we go, about to get me one.
My name's Anatalia Villaranda.
I'm 16 years old, and I'm from Temecula, California.
[Groans, laughs]
I'm a very petite person.
Being 4'9", a lot of people, like, pick on me
because of my size, but good things come in small packages,
so here's me. [Laughs]
My family's Filipino,
and we literally go karaoke all the time and sing a lot.
Growing up, she was a handful.
[Laughter]
She started when she was 10,
and she asked me to join the talent show.
Then I asked her, "What talent do you have?"
And she goes, "Well, I'm gonna sing."
And she won.
And I'm, like, "How did this happen?"
My first talent show led me to a singing and dancing group.
We performed all around L.A.
We were super close to a record deal,
but unfortunately, we fell apart.
And so I've been singing all around Temecula.
I sing for my school now in show choir.
But it would mean the world
if I got to work with any one of the coaches.
They can give me a jump start in my career
and change my life forever.
[Laughs]
♪♪♪
[Siren wailing]
♪ Well, looky here, looky here ♪
♪ Oh, what do we have? ♪
♪ Another pretty thing ready for me to grab ♪
♪ But little does she know that I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing ♪
♪ 'Cause at the end of the night ♪
♪ It is him I'll be holding ♪
Whoo! ♪ I love you so ♪
♪ That's what you'll say ♪
♪ You tell me baby, baby, please don't go away ♪
♪ But when I play ♪
♪ I never stay ♪
♪ To every guy that I meet, hey, this is what I say ♪
♪ Run, run, run away ♪
♪ Run away, baby ♪
♪ Before I put my spell on you ♪
♪ You better get, get, get away ♪
♪ Get away, darling ♪
♪ 'Cause everything you heard is true ♪
♪ Your poor little heart will end up alone ♪
♪ 'Cause Lord knows I'm a rolling stone ♪
♪ So you better run, run, run away ♪
♪ Run away, baby ♪
[Siren wailing]
♪ Well, let me think, let me think ♪
♪ Oh, what should I do? ♪
♪ So many eager young bunnies ♪
♪ That I'd like to pursue ♪ Come on!
♪ Now even though they eating out the palm of my hand ♪
♪ There's only one carrot, and they all gotta share it ♪
♪ Ain't trying to hurt you baby ♪ Oh, she's so close!
♪ No, no, I just want to work you, baby ♪
♪ If you scared, you better run ♪
♪ You better run ♪
♪ Ru-u-u-u-u-u-n ♪
♪ Before I put my spell on you ♪
♪ You better get, get, get away ♪
♪ Get away, darling ♪
♪ 'Cause everything you heard is true ♪
♪ Your poor little heart will end up alone ♪ Yes?
♪ 'Cause Lord knows I'm a rolling stone ♪
♪ Run, run, run away, baby ♪
[Cheers and applause]
Thank you.
Whoo!
[Sobs]
- Hey! - Yeah!
- Hey! - I'm so hyper!
Whoo!
That is a big voice.
Tell us who you are.
My name is Anatalia Villaranda, and I'm 16 years old,
and I'm from Temecula, California.
Wow.
[Shouting indistinctly] Whoo!
First of all, your family is amazing.
[Laughter]
They're the best.
Just because I got to see this, will you bring them out here?
Yes. Come here!
Look how excited she got.
[Laughter] Whoo!
Yeah!
Oh, oh.
I'm so happy right now.
It's a shame you don't have such a supportive family.
[Laughter]
Wow.
Hey, don't hurt her yet.
I need her to be healthy on my team.
Little brother's like...
I'm sorry. I'm just so proud.
Oh, my gosh. That's so cute.
Oh, my gosh. Y'all, I'm about to melt, seriously.
Okay, family, we got business here.
Let us talk to her.
- Bye, family! - Bye!
Bye. Thank you!
Okay, Anatalia, a lot of people turn that energy
into a colossal train wreck, and you turned it into,
like, "No, I'm gonna keep beating you guys down
until somebody hits their freakin' button."
That's what it felt like.
Too bad you don't have any personality.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
[Applause]
You know what got me? When you started going,
"Hey, hey, and I want to, hey, hey."
I was, like, "Whoa!"
I said, "Wait a minute. This is more than just a voice.
This is an artist unafraid to express yourself."
And I would like you to look in your heart and see
how important it is for you to be on my team.
[Laughs]
You're amazing.
Thank you so much.
What I relate to the most is that energy
to get everybody going.
You have to understand, I am just
from Anaheim, California, in a band,
and then writing "Just a Girl."
But I feel like I'm at a point in my life
where I got this opportunity to share it with somebody like you.
So, I just really feel passionate
about you and your positivity.
Yeah. And I would love
to talk about how we can show your personality
through fashion, and I think we could work
really well together.
That would be so fun.
[Applause]
California.
[Laughter]
See, I'm not like Blake.
I don't ever get to use geography to my advantage.
It's 'cause you don't know anything about geography.
[Laughter]
The greatness that you have is something you can't teach.
And if you have that, then you're just adding
to this incredible, raw ability...
[Crickets chirping]
Are those actual crickets I just heard?
The things that you are saying are so boring...
[Laughter]
Oh, man. [Applause]
Do not clap!
[Laughter]
Do not clap for that. That's too funny.
[Laughter]
But seriously, I do believe you could win this entire thing.
Wha...
Thank you so much. That means a lot.
And I'll tell you, I love Temecula, and I love old towns.
Stop pretending like you even know what Temecula is.
The wineries, the casino there,
the hot air balloon festival they have there.
That's why you were so quiet.
You were Googling that while we were talking.
[Laughter]
I played the hot air balloon festival.
Oh!
Yep, he did.
[Laughter] Oh, my God!
I want that town to not be known for that stuff.
I want it to be known as Anatalia's hometown.
I want people to go there and be, like,
"Whoa! This is where she's from."
That's a good one. That's what I want for you.
Anatalia, tell me what I have to say to you
to get you to be on my team?
This is so hard. This is like picking cake.
Oh, my gosh. I have cake.
I got tons of cake backstage.
Take it easy, Adam.
When you tell a teenager you have cake for them backstage...
[Laughter]
What is wrong with you?
Anatalia, who do you pick as your coach?
Come on.
Who do you pick?!
It's a hard choice.
[Audience shouting]
Oh, man.
Ahh!
Come on, Anatalia!
Um, I'm gonna have to pick...
...Alicia Keys.
[Screams]
[Cheers and applause]
♪ That's my girl ♪
♪ What you waiting for? ♪ Whoo!
What?!
Hey, wait a minute. I want to see this.
Stand next to me.
If I take off my heels, I'm like right here.
How's that look?
[Mock crying]
Alicia: Anatalia was so amazing.
She had a ton of personality, a ton of swag
that I just can't wait for the world to see more of.
Look at this girl!
Certain people just have it,
and she's definitely one of them.
You offered her cake backstage.
[Laughter]
No, she asked for it.
"Come into my dressing room. I have cake.
I have lots of cake."
It's better than you. You're, like,
[imitating Blake] "I think they should name a day
after you... Anatalia Day."
[Laughter]
Daly: Coming up...
♪ So, please have mercy on me ♪
♪ Call someone who cares ♪
♪ Ohhhh ♪ Are you kidding me?
Holy moly.
Your voice is so dope.
Don't even think about it. I turned first.
[Laughs] Here she comes.
- [Grunts] - I'm not giving up.
[Laughter]
This is weird.
[Blake laughs]
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back to night one
of the blind auditions.
Now, let's see if this next artist,
27-year-old Stephanie Rice, has what it takes
to get our coaches' attention.
Stephanie: I grew up around music,
and my dad was the pastor of the Baptist church.
When you're from a small town
and you're the preacher's daughter,
you're really secluded.
I remember the first time somebody said "lesbian,"
and I'm like, "What's that?" And they were like,
"Oh, it's when a girl likes a girl
in the way that girls should like boys."
It was like this epiphany.
"[Gasps] Oh, that's me."
Ironically, my dad was also preaching
that God did not approve,
and I was terrified.
I vividly remember being told that, "You're sick."
You know, I was given an option...
start going to counseling or take me to college
and drop me off, and they could no longer affiliate with me.
I would be history to them.
So, I haven't had a relationship with them
in eight or nine years.
I have two little sisters.
I think my biggest fear in life is...
[Sighs]
...that I would be a disappointment to them,
'cause I don't know what they think about it.
Ever since then, I just never looked back.
I put my head down, and I worked extremely hard.
I got a degree in biology,
and I began doing research at Baylor College of Medicine.
And I started working on a project with HIV subjects.
Uh-huh. I just became a published author
in September 2015 in a scientific journal.
Talented, beautiful, and smart on top of it.
Well, thank you. Way to go.
In 2013, I met my fiancée.
Jan was the first person that solidified unconditional love.
I couldn't be here without her.
Sing from right here.
The past few years, I put science to the side,
and I decided to pursue music only.
I'm going to be singing
"Piece by Piece" by Kelly Clarkson.
The song, in a lot of ways, is kind of my own story,
and I'm so thrilled that today,
I get to stand up on the stage
and be exactly who I was born to be.
♪♪♪
♪ All I remember ♪
♪ Is your back ♪
♪ Walkin' towards the airport ♪
♪ Leaving us all in your past ♪
♪ I traveled 1,500 miles to see you ♪
♪ I begged you to want me ♪
♪ But you didn't want to ♪
♪ But piece by piece ♪
♪ He collected me up off the ground ♪
♪ Where you abandoned things ♪
♪ Piece by piece ♪
♪ He restores my faith ♪
♪ That a man can be kind ♪
♪ And a father could stay ♪
♪ And piece by piece ♪
♪ I fell far from the tree ♪
♪ I would never leave her like you left me ♪
♪ And she will never have to wonder her worth ♪
♪ Because unlike you, I'm gonna put her first ♪
♪ And you know he'll never walk away ♪
♪ He'll never break her heart ♪
♪ He'll take care of things ♪
♪ He'll love her ♪
Wow.
♪ Piece by piece ♪
♪ He'll restore my faith ♪
♪ That a man can be kind ♪
♪ And a father should be great ♪
[Cheers and applause]
♪♪♪
Wow.
You.
[Laughs]
I pushed it first.
I'm gonna just say something right now.
Wow.
Just 'cause you have on a cowboy belt...
[Laughs] ...please, I really want
to just talk to you for a second before he does.
[Laughter]
What is your name?
My name is Stephanie Rice.
I am 27 years old, and I am from Texarkana, Texas.
There's a new dynamic on the show with these two going at it,
and when they... No, that's... Don't misunderstand
how I said that.
[Laughter]
So, when they both push sometimes,
they're, like, dating, and I don't know what to do.
I'm like the third wheel in this thing.
[Laughter]
But I've never seen her like this before.
Pay very close attention to what this
lovely, incredible woman has to say to you.
- Thank you. - Say something good.
Say something good. Okay. Watch.
[Laughter]
Stephanie.
Stefani, so...
[Laughter] Right.
Honestly, I was really moved by you.
I could feel whatever pain is in there.
There is music as an outlet for you.
That's exactly right.
Gwen: So, you can only sing like that if you've lived it.
Sometimes on this show, I get really emotional
because I feel like I'm here for a reason.
And right now, I feel like I'm here to work with you.
Blake is one of the most talented,
awesome guys I've ever met,
and you're probably going to do country music,
but I would really love to work with you.
[Applause] Thank you.
Why did I let her talk first?!
[Laughs] I feel like the passion
that just came from Gwen was, like, so sincere.
[Laughter]
I'm not taking anything away from anyone. Thanks, homey.
Yes, you did! You just did!
You took it away from me and put it on her.
I just felt that was really a beautiful moment
right there that shouldn't be... be ignored.
Very perceptive, Alicia. I noticed the same thing.
[Laughter]
Blake, take it away.
[Laughter]
[Imitating Blake] "Where are you from?"
Oh, my God, Adam.
"I want to protect you."
[Laughter]
It's clearly three against one here.
But I will say this.
The way you sing that song, it's as if you wrote it.
Yeah, um... What's the...
When I was 18, I came out to my parents,
and my dad's a pastor, and...
they disowned me, and I've been taking that
brokenness and the emotion, and I've been channeling it
into the only form that I knew how, which is through music.
Mm.
[Applause]
Mm.
Yes.
Well, you know what?
They're gonna realize they missed out on
some pretty important stuff.
Maybe this will bring them around.
[Applause]
So, she mentioned that you want to do country music.
I didn't hear that.
I've always kind of called it folk/soul/rock.
Well, I'm a... I'm a folky kind of guy, I got to tell you.
And I do have a soul.
Uh, debatable.
[Laughter]
Here's the deal. I would love to work with you,
but I think you've already probably made your decision,
and I'm good with it.
I just need to check one thing,
'cause it's really important to me that I know.
I'm very worried. I just want to...
[Laughter]
I thought you were gonna make sure I was drinking.
I am.
It's like I don't even know you anymore.
[Laughter] I know.
I don't want to slow-play this.
Stephanie, I would freak out if you picked me as your coach.
Are we good?
I'm good. I'm happy with any decision you make.
Stephanie... I'm not. I want her to pick me.
...it's time for you to pick a coach.
[Audience shouting]
I love you both so much.
[Audience shouting]
I pick Gwen.
♪ Baby, you're a firework ♪
♪ Come on, let your colors burst ♪
♪ Make 'em go oh, oh, oh ♪
Gwen: Stephanie Rice.
Something in her voice told her story,
and I can completely relate to that.
I already have two people.
When I look at each one of them individually,
I feel like, yeah, they're supposed to be with me.
- So, I love it. - Thank you for turning.
- Thank you. - Oh, my God. You're amazing.
You know, Stephanie was a moment for this show
that I think we'll all remember.
I'll definitely be waiting to steal her, if I can.
♪ Baby, you're a firework ♪ Team Gwen.
♪ Come and show 'em what you're worth ♪
♪ Make 'em go ♪ You did it, all right.
♪ As you shoot across the sky ♪
Welcome to the show.
[Applause]
Can you gloat? Just gloat.
It was like a cowboy that, like, got off the horse
and like just walked away like that.
I was like...
Do you see like the Wild West
where he was just like this.
He's like this. He's like... He's like... He's like...
[Theme from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" plays]
[Laughter]
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back.
Hey, Blake.
You know what song I feel
is playing in your head all the time?
What song?
[Imitating banjo playing]
What the hell song is that?
[Engine starts]
♪♪♪
I'm Brandon Martin,
I'm 25, and I'm from Owingsville, Kentucky.
[Horse whinnies]
It's a pretty small town. There's about 1,700 people.
We got two stoplights, and only one of 'em works.
It's a pretty close community.
When Branden was about 14, I got him his first guitar,
and then he could go in his room and listen to a song
on the radio, and a couple hours later,
he would come out and pick it for us
and do a very good job at it.
After high school, I tried to go into
a trade school about a year, and I had to quit and get a job.
[Chainsaw buzzes]
I've welded in factories and worked in sawmills
and built fences, and I'm pretty handy.
When I'm not working on the farm,
I spend a lot of time playing with the band,
Branden Martin and the Sour Mash.
We're a mixture of traditional country and Southern rock.
We play the bar scene around here,
so "The Voice" is a big opportunity for me
because, you know, it gives me a chance to jump-start my career.
If I could pick any coach, I would probably pick
Blake Shelton because he's got roots in the same area as I do,
so I believe he'd be able to help me.
I feel at home on stage,
and I'm gonna show these coaches everything I got.
Here comes Branden. There he is.
♪♪♪
♪ You say you were wrong to ever leave me alone ♪
♪ Now you're sorry, you're lonesome and scared ♪
♪ And you say you'd be happy ♪
♪ If you could just come back home ♪
♪ Here's a quarter ♪
♪ Call someone who cares ♪
♪ Call someone who'll listen ♪
♪ And might give a damn ♪
♪ Maybe one of your sordid affairs ♪
♪ But don't you come 'round here handing me ♪
♪ None of your lines ♪
♪ Here's a quarter ♪
♪ Call someone who cares ♪
♪ Yeah, here's a quarter ♪
♪ Call someone who cares ♪
Let's go, let's go, let's go!
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
[Cheers and applause]
How you doing?
I'm doing all right. How are y'all?
He gonna whup your ass.
[Laughter]
Oh, my God. Please do. Please do.
What's your name? I'm Branden Martin.
I'm 25, and I'm from Owingsville, Kentucky.
Wow. Your accent is crazy. Wow. That's... That's country.
Branden is so country, like, you make Blake look like
he's not that country.
Yeah. [Laughter]
- You're such a poser, Blake. - Yeah, totally.
You are exposing me right now, man.
What are you doing, Branden?
First of all, I love your song choice.
Travis Tritt's one of my heroes.
And, man, when you hit that growl, it's so good.
I tell you, the thing that I heard was
you sing sharp just at the end of your phrases,
and it made me second-guess hitting my button,
but you're a really good singer, man.
- Thank you. - We didn't need verification
from anybody as to whether or not you were authentic,
and I think that that is super cool.
Unfortunately, I found myself doing
the stupid thing that I'm trying to stop doing,
which is looking over there at Cowboy Dimples.
[Laughter]
And I think that if you could deliver it
with slightly more conviction.
Just a little bit of command.
Yeah, I think that that would have been the difference.
Come back again because you're this close.
Thank y'all.
[Cheers and applause]
Appreciate it.
Good to meet you, Branden. Yes, sir.
Branden had a unique voice, and I think it was probably
just about a little bit more time,
a little bit more experience.
I'm not afraid to go up after a country artist.
I am looking for at least one,
and I'm gonna wait until it comes.
- Coming up... - I'm trying to help Alicia
'cause she doesn't know anything
about country music, so...
You're gonna have to fight, Alicia.
Kick it!
Well, I didn't slap her on television.
[Laughter] What are you... What the...
My name was Felicia Keys
'cause I played all her songs at the talent shows.
Nobody has ever said, "I was Jake Shelton."
[Laughter]
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back to the blind auditions.
Hey, uh, Blake, the other day, I made myself
a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
All by yourself?
And I had it on this really tasty white bread.
[Laughs]
Do all of those people from Oklahoma,
do they say "white"?
Is it "white," or is it "wheat"?
[Laughter]
Look at how hard he's laughing at me.
Daly: Now let's meet our next artist.
My name is Mark Isaiah. I'm 19 years old.
I am from New York,
but I currently live in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
[Drumming]
Dance a little salsa.
- Yeah! - Yeah!
Today, I brought
my dad, my mom, and my little brother, Roby.
With Roby, I definitely share music.
I'm always taking him to the piano.
I'm always playing around with him.
You know, that's my little man.
- [Laughs] - Nice.
I remember actually being into music at a really young age,
but I was always nervous.
I was overweight, and it was just a really hard time for me.
Here you are seeing this beautiful, talented boy,
but yet, he doesn't believe in himself.
Mark: When I was 14 years old,
I found out about this Justin Bieber contest
for his "Never Say Never" movie premiere.
I was really hesitant about going.
I learned the song "Baby" the night before,
and once I got on that stage and started singing,
everybody was, like, "Whoa, yeah, yeah."
It was just so awesome.
I won the contest and made me rethink,
you know, what I was thinking about myself.
Once I got to college, I lost 40 pounds.
Losing weight definitely made me feel more confident.
Now this is a chance to show that I'm a new person.
I'm ready to do this.
Here we go.
♪♪♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ You've got ahold of me ♪
♪ Don't even know your power ♪
♪ I stand 100 feet ♪
♪ But I fall when I'm around you ♪
♪ Show me an open door ♪
♪ Then you go and slam it on me ♪
♪ I can't take any more ♪
♪ I'm saying, baby, please have mercy on me ♪
♪ Take it easy on my heart ♪
Whoo! ♪ Even though you don't mean to hurt me ♪
♪ You keep tearing me apart ♪
♪ Consuming all the air inside my lungs ♪
♪ Ripping all the skin from off my bones ♪
♪ I'm prepared to sacrifice my life ♪
♪ I would gladly do it twice ♪
Wow. ♪ I'm prepared to sacrifice my life ♪
♪ I would gladly do it twice ♪
♪ So, please have mercy on me ♪
♪ I'm a puppet on your string ♪
♪ You've got good intentions ♪
♪ I need you to set me free ♪
♪ I'm begging you for mercy ♪
♪ Mercy ♪
♪ Begging you, begging you, please, baby ♪
♪ Mercy, oh ♪
♪ Please have mercy on me ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
[Cheers and applause]
♪♪♪
That kid's a star.
Thank you. Straight up.
Thank you.
What... Oh, you... Oh, you... Yeah.
Just don't even think about it.
Don't even think about it. I turned first, okay?
This is crazy.
Hey, brother, what's your name?
Mark Isaiah. I'm 19.
And I'm from Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
- Wow! - Same age as me.
[Laughter]
I honestly can't believe you're not signed already.
Thank you so much. Your voice sounds so modern.
It sounds like radio.
I feel like because I have a little boy
that listens to a lot of music,
I recognize you from the music that I hear at my house,
and, wow, your parents must be so proud of you.
Wow. Incredible.
I've had the longest career out of...
He used to come to my shows, okay?
I did. [Laughter]
I did do that.
If you come on my team, I will do everything I can
to share what I've learned.
Whoo! I need you on my team. Oh, my God!
[Applause]
Here she comes.
I want you guys to talk, so talk,
'cause I got so much to say to Mark
that I don't want to get interrupted, so...
[Laughter] I'll be right here.
I'm coming. Get ready to be bored.
[Laughter]
Your voice is so dope.
You have a lot of emotion in you,
and it really, really was amazing,
and I'm so glad that you're on the show.
Mark: Thank you so much. Thank you.
Yeah.
I just think that you're meant to be on Gwen's team.
[Laughter]
- Wow. - Of course you do.
You have no choice but to think that.
[Gwen laughs] No.
Mark, it's so obvious that you belong
in the current landscape of pop music.
Every single person in here probably felt like it was
an awards show or something like that.
What's your deal? Do you perform?
What are you... What are you doing here?
I was, you know, struggling with being overweight,
so I never realty experienced
performing out, you know, like this.
Wow, man. But now that I'm here,
you know, this is so great.
I cannot believe this. Dude, congratulations.
[Cheers and applause] Yeah.
This show is so incredible because just you saying that
and being honest about it, you know how many little boys
are gonna be, like, "I want to be like that guy.
Lookit. He's on 'The Voice' right now
talking to Gwen Stefani.
He's gonna be on Gwen Stefani's team.
What is happening? This is crazy."
[Applause]
She's beautiful, and she's talented, but she's also taken.
You know, she's Blake's girlfriend, so...
Oh, please.
I still think that the right choice
is the less-attractive version right here.
[Laughter]
[Cheers and applause] Oh, man.
It's time to pick a coach, man.
[Audience shouting]
Gwen. Come on.
- I have to say Adam. - Adam?
- Gwen! - Adam.
- Adam.
Dude.
Gwen!
Thank you for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward
to learning way more with you guys.
Come on, Mark.
I'm gonna have to pick Adam.
Yeah!
[Cheers and applause]
Oh.
That's what I'm talking about.
Adam: Mark... that guy is just a star.
I can't explain it. I think he's gonna have a lot of fans.
I'm so pumped to have Mark on my team.
Here we go!
[Grunts]
He's so good.
Just don't talk to me.
What'd I do?
He's so stupid.
♪ Sexual healing is something ♪
Daly: You can buy full versions of tonight's
blind-audition songs on iTunes...
♪ You better run, run, run away ♪
♪ Run away, baby ♪
Daly: ...or listen to them on Apple Music.
♪ Try a little tenderness ♪
♪ You got to... ♪
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back.
This is what I'm noticing, is Gwen's play...
circling around destiny and journeys.
Oh, yeah.
But we all know Blake's secret.
What?
[Imitating Blake] Country, country, country.
County, country, country, country.
Here's what I feel. [Laughter]
Adam only has people on his team because he's a liar.
Alicia only has people on her team because
they feel sorry for her... What?!
...about how terrible she did last year as a coach.
And you only have people on your team because I'm letting you.
Oh, okay.
Now let's get to work.
[Laughter]
Daly: Let's meet one of the youngest artists in the competition...
14-year-old Brennley Brown from Apple Valley, California.
I am a huge fan of "The Voice,"
so to be here today, like, I can't...
I'm so, so excited.
I grew up on a ranch with horses and dogs,
and I have a lot of chores at home.
Feeding the dogs, clean out the pens of the horses,
which is yucky,
but it's really taught me a lot of responsibility, also.
What got you into singing?
My dad really just introduced me into country music.
At 6 years old, I did my kindergarten talent show.
I sang "Mississippi Girl" by Faith Hill.
Misty: She threw her cowboy hat into the crowd,
and I think at that moment, we were kind of like,
"Yeah, I think... Uh-oh, we're in for it now.
[Laughter]
I think she found what she loves, yeah.
Yeah.
Brennley: Season 12, "The Voice" lowered the age
from 15 years old to 13.
Before this, I could not have this opportunity,
and I've been watching this show since I was 8 years old,
so I am a little bit nervous, but getting a chair turn,
it would be one of the biggest moments of my life.
There she is. There's sissy.
- There's sissy. - Ah!
♪♪♪
♪ She was precious like a flower ♪
♪ She grew wild, wild ♪
♪ But innocent ♪
♪ A perfect prayer in a desperate hour ♪
♪ She was everything beautiful ♪
♪ And different ♪
♪ Stupid boy ♪
♪ You can't fence that in ♪
♪ Stupid boy ♪
♪ It's like holding back the wind ♪
♪ She laid her heart and soul right in his hands ♪
♪ He stole her every dream ♪
♪ And he crushed her plans ♪
♪ She never even knew she had a choice ♪
♪ That's what happens when the only voice she hears ♪
♪ Is telling her she can't ♪
♪ You stupid boy ♪
Come on, come on, come on, come on!
♪ You always had to be right ♪
♪ And now you lost the only thing ♪
♪ That ever made you feel alive ♪
♪ Just the same old ♪
♪ Same old stupid boy ♪
Blake: Yeah!
[Cheers and applause]
Oh, my God!
Yes!
Whoo!
Alicia: Whoo!
What is your name?
My name is Brennley Brown.
I am 14 years old, and I am from Apple Valley, California.
Wow. Yeah!
- Thank you! - The Californians.
Oh, my gosh. I'm so excited.
So, who is your inspiration?
I grew up with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard,
the Highwaymen, Faith Hill, just... Uh-oh. Mm.
Holy moly.
[Laughter]
Now we're talkin'.
You're gonna have to fight, Alicia.
All right, I'm not afraid to fight.
None of that was good news for you, Alicia,
but that is not... that is not insurmountable, okay?
Kick it.
[Cheers and applause]
Okay. Go ahead, Blake.
That's a Keith Urban song, Alicia.
[Laughter]
But it was written by a girl by the name of Sarah Buxton,
Alicia.
I'm trying to help Alicia 'cause she doesn't know
anything about country music, so anyway.
[Audience groans]
Well, I didn't slap her on television.
[Laughter] What are you... What the...
If there is somebody else up and down this line
who can help make your mark on country music,
I don't know who else...
No, no, and absolutely not.
[Laughter]
Brennley, you know, I was 14, as well, when I first started.
I don't know how old Blake was.
But I'm pretty sure he was pretty old.
I feel like Blake's always been 38.
[Laughter]
I'll take that now.
I understand how hard it is as a young woman artist.
It's even harder than Blake would ever know.
And to me, country and soul music are sisters.
Ooh.
I just did, if you recall,
the ACMs with Cam honoring Little Big Town.
- Yes. - So, real music
transcends boxes.
So, I don't want you stuck in a box.
'Cause, look, I know Blake Shelton, too,
so it doesn't... You don't have to go to Blake.
You can come to me, and we can still talk to Blake.
I want to remind you that this is a competition.
I'm not gonna help you.
[Laughter]
Yes, you are. Yes, he is.
What you talking about? He just told me
that I'm his favorite person
second to Gwen, of course.
[Laughter]
Brennley, I would like to say that I have never been
a guest artist at a country concert
because I am the country concert.
[Cheers and applause]
Wait a minute.
You don't want most people as possible
to hear your message?
Yeah, sure, I do, but they're gonna have to
turn it to a country station to hear it, though.
[Laughter]
Brennley, who do you pick as your coach?
Come on, Brennley!
[Audience shouting] Come on, Brennley!
Brennley!
Go with your roots!
Girl power, girl power, girl power!
Come on! I don't know!
Alicia?
I don't know, honey. This is you.
We got to stick together!
Let's do this!
Oh, I love you both so much!
I know. It's crazy.
Uh...
I-I pick Blake.
Yes!
Whoo.
Whew, you had me worried.
[Laughs]
Yeah, you should have been worried.
I'm so excited!
Brennley!
Blake: I love the potential that I have
with somebody like Brennley.
And I think you're gonna see Brennley come a long way.
You're so much taller in person.
But Alicia had me sweating it out there a little bit.
Blake was terrified of me in that moment.
He felt the strength of a woman.
Blake was fighting for you,
and then Alicia really come in there.
I know. And it looked like...
you weren't sure. I've grown up with country music,
and I just had to go with my roots.
I can't believe it.
You're on "The Voice." Congratulations.
Oh, my God!
[Cheers and applause]
Let's celebrate. I'm on "The Voice!"
[Laughs] How about this right here?
Oh, yeah. You like that? You like that?
Do you like that?
Guys, somebody call the paramedic.
[Laughter] Blake's having a stroke.
Somebody...
Whoo, child.
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back to the blind auditions.
♪♪♪
Philadelphia is where I got my roots in music.
♪ Very superstitious ♪
It's cheesesteaks. It's culture. It's history.
We're just having a good time rockin' out on the weekends.
[Chuckles]
Come on out.
My name is Shaun Chrisjohn. I'm 31 years old.
My grandmother was very prominent in me growing up.
My mom had me kind of young, so we all lived with her.
And she would play a lot of records...
Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Sam Cooke.
Michael Jackson was everything.
He liked the song "Bad."
He would come home from school, when he was in first grade,
and look at that video every day.
He was just a happy little boy. He'd just sing all the time.
And I was really surprised how good he sounded.
Shaun: I went to the mall when I was in high school.
They were calling random people to go up on the stage and sing.
I started singing a song.
Next thing you know, like, floods of people
were coming from the balconies and the food courts.
And I'm, like, "Whoa."
From that point on, I was, like, "Yeah, I-I want to be on stage."
So, at the end of high school, my original plan was to move out
to either L.A., Atlanta, or New York.
I wanted to go out and pursue my career,
but when my grandmother's health started to fade,
you know, plans changed.
So, I had to stay and make sure that she was okay.
A few years ago, I became her official caretaker.
Lorraine: I don't expect him to be there the rest of his life,
but just knowing that he's there with me,
you know, keeps me safe and secure,
just like I used to keep him safe and secure.
Shaun: I know what it feels like to put aside your dream,
to sacrifice for something that's more important.
But I just felt like now is the time.
I know my grandmother still needs my help,
and I'm gonna make sure that she's cared for,
but I know that she will want me to still go out and flourish
and fulfill my dreams.
♪♪♪
♪ Baby ♪
♪ It's been a long day, baby ♪
♪ Things ain't been going my way ♪
♪ You know I need you here ♪
Wow.
♪ To clear my mind ♪
♪ Oh, because you are the best thing ♪
♪ You are the best thing ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You are the best thing ♪
♪ That's ever happened to me ♪
♪ You are ♪
♪ Ooh-hoo ♪
♪ The best thing, baby ♪
♪ You are the best thing, yeah ♪
♪ You are, you are the best thing, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ That's ever happened to me ♪
[Cheers and applause]
That was great. What's your name?
Shaun Chrisjohn. I'm 31.
I'm from Philadelphia.
You really, really do have a beautiful voice.
I don't want you to feel anything but really proud
of yourself 'cause you came out here,
and you gave it your all.
You have a super, super, beautiful, emotional voice,
and thank you so much for singing with us today.
Thank you, Alicia. [Laughs]
- Hey, Shaun. - How you doing, Blake?
I mean, I was... I was right there on the edge of my seat,
just thinking I was gonna push any second.
There was one part where you went into
your falsetto and did some pretty cool, tricky stuff.
But some of the transitions getting there
kind of got a little bit wonky, and not a big deal.
But it was enough to keep me from... from hitting my button.
But thank you so much for coming,
and we all appreciate you.
Thank you, Blake.
[Applause]
Alicia: Shaun was really good,
but I'm still looking for a real emotional connection.
Super dope. You're incredible, man.
I'm waiting for something that moves me.
Shaun: Singing for the biggest names in music
was an amazing experience.
My grandmother, she would be proud.
And I'm just gonna keep pressing.
I'm gonna continue what I'm doing.
Daly: Still to come...
♪ All I could do was cry ♪
I think I want to hear Alicia Keys and Felicia Keys
do a duet together.
[Cheers and applause]
♪ I never loved someone ♪
♪ The way that I'm loving you ♪
♪ This is "The Voice" ♪
Daly: Welcome back.
Right now, I'm on my way to Teaneck, New Jersey,
to see Felicia Temple, who's been trying to balance
pursuing her dream of music
with a full-time career as a registered nurse.
Any pain right now?
No, I'm good.
Let's check out your blood pressure.
Felicia: I decided to become a nurse because
I always loved the medical field.
You'd see people during their most vulnerable times,
so you have to be aware of people's needs
and be empathetic to that.
Can you squeeze my hands?
It's super important for me to make them feel
as comfortable as possible.
Is that something you always wanted to do, be a nurse?
I grew up always wanting to be a musician,
and my dad lives the same double life that I do.
He's a police officer and a musician,
for about 25 years with the Sugar Hill Gang.
Oh, wow. Yeah.
How do you juggle being a nurse
and also this dream you've had of... of doing music?
I've been able to manage it.
I've done amazing shows with BET,
and then I was able to sing The National Anthem
at Madison Square Garden, but everything came to a halt
last year when I got diagnosed with cancer.
The kind of cancer that I had is called carcinoid.
It's very, very rare and hard to treat.
Any way that they could look at my abdomen, they have,
and then I had surgery.
There was a possibility that I wouldn't sing again.
I had my stomach cut open,
so I wasn't really able to breathe very well.
I did six rounds of oral chemo, and I'm free and clear now.
Last year, I did not know what was gonna happen to me,
so it's so beautiful for things to turn around.
Being here at "The Voice" is a major opportunity.
I'm just looking forward to start a new chapter.
Life is short, and I want to live my dream.
♪♪♪
♪ Ooh, ohh ♪
♪ I heard ♪
♪ Church bells ringing ♪
♪ I heard ♪
♪ A choir singing ♪
♪ I heard the promise ♪
♪ Till death do us part ♪
♪ Each word was a pain in my heart ♪
♪ And oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ All I could do was cry ♪
♪ And all I could do was cry ♪
♪ I was losing the man that I loved ♪
There you go! She got it! She got it!
Yeah!
♪ And all I could do was cry ♪
♪ I was losing ♪
♪ The man that I loved ♪
♪ And all I could do ♪
♪ Was cry-y-y-y-y-y-y-y ♪
Oh, my God! I knew it!
[Cheers and applause]
♪♪♪
Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
Ahh!
Adam?
What?
What is the matter with you?
Well, that was awesome.
What is the matter with him?
What's your name?
My name is Felicia Temple.
I'm 28 years old, and I'm from Teaneck, New Jersey.
First of all, I love your voice.
So much that he didn't hit his button.
[Laughter]
I heard a little Alicia in the beginning.
I did, too. I heard a little bit.
I was, like, "I'm not gonna turn. What's the point?"
Alicia. No.
Felicia.
My name was Felicia Keys
'cause I played all her songs at the talent shows.
Come on, it's my...
[Cheers and applause]
Bring it in! Bring it in!
Oh, my God!
Should we just turn back around?
Yeah.
[Laughs]
What the heck? What is...
I-I'm not giving up. I'm not giving up.
[Cheers and applause]
Nobody has ever said, "I was Jake Shelton."
[Laughter]
First of all, this is weird.
- Yeah? - But I love it.
I just came to hang out with Blake
'cause I felt sorry for us.
I think... I think I want to hear Alicia Keys and Felicia Keys
do a duet together.
Yeah!
[Cheers and applause]
Yes! Yes! Go!
Yes!
I feel sorry for us.
This is surreal. Wow.
Like, I'm a... I'm a perioperative nurse.
[Laughter]
You're an artist.
You're a beautiful artist. That's what you are.
I think we should sing...
♪ I keep on fallin' ♪
♪ In and out ♪
♪ Of love with you ♪
♪ I never loved someone ♪
♪ The way that I love you ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ I never loved someone ♪
♪ The way that I love you ♪
[Cheers and applause]
Felicia, girl!
Felicia, who... who do you pick as your coach?
[Laughter]
They didn't even get to say anything.
They didn't even get to talk.
I think... I think we're all adults here.
- Yeah. - You know what I'm saying?
He's actually right this time.
Who do you pick as your coach?
Say it loud, say it proud.
I pick Alicia!
♪ This girl is on fire ♪
Yeah!
♪ This girl is on fire ♪
Alicia: Felicia's pretty incredible.
Such a variety to her voice,
but a powerhouse vocalist, also a tenderness.
And I'm gonna take that all the way.
Let's go say hello to your family.
That was so good.
I don't know what...
- My mom was a little bit... - What was that?
That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen on this show.
What?
Wow. How do you feel?
I can't believe this is happening.
That was so fun.
That was amazing. Amazing, girl.
I'm gonna have the best margarita tonight.
Yes!
[Laughter]
That was awesome.
[Humming]
[Laughter]
♪♪♪