'The Voice': Watch Team Legend singer Bryan Olesen deliver award show-level performance of Adele song
On “The Voice,” John Legend knows a good thing when he has it.
Team Legend singers Bryan Olesen and Nathan Chester turned their joint cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” into an award show-level performance during the first installment of the Battles round Monday night.
The former Christian rocker and cruise ship performer seamlessly melded their styles with electrifying harmonies that transformed the R&B banger into a fiery soul-rock fusion. The flawless duet even stumped coaches Reba McEntire, Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay when it came time to recommend a battle winner to Legend.
“Can you imagine a quartet of people more unhelpful than these four people?” Legend joked. “Obviously, you two created this problem by being so incredible.”
Watch Bryan Olesen, Nathan Chester tear it up on ‘The Voice’:
In the end, Chester edged out Olesen as the victor of the battle. But unsurprisingly, Olesen wasn’t going anywhere. Before the Nebraska vocalist could even leave the stage, McEntire and Dan + Shay hit their steal buttons for a chance to work with Olesen. “We were not going to let a voice or talent like that leave this show that quickly,” said Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay.
However, Legend had no such plans.
Seeing Olesen’s frontrunner potential, the coach hit his Playoff Pass button, which allowed Olesen to skip the Knockouts round and advance to the season Playoffs. “Bryan is such a pro, such a superstar vocalist, but he hasn’t had that huge break that I feel like he really deserves,” Legend said afterward. “I think he could win ‘The Voice.’”
Here’s what else went down on Monday’s episode.
Reba McEntire saves superfan L. Rodgers from elimination
L. Rodgers and Tae Lewis of Team Reba duked it out in a passionate rendition of “We Don’t Fight Anymore” by Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton.
Lewis was an immediate standout to the coaches with his soulful vocal delivery. “Your pitch and control was so there the whole time that I just felt like you were leading the song,” Chance the Rapper told Lewis.
Watch L. Rodgers, Tae Lewis bring the emotion on 'The Voice':
If Lewis brought the vocal brawn, Rodgers was the undeniable heart of the performance. The Baltimore singer, who shared her emotional connection to McEntire in her blind audition, grounded the song with her emotive tone and heartfelt charisma.
Rodgers ultimately lost the battle to Lewis. But lucky for the 34-year-old, she won fans in McEntire and Chance the Rapper. Chance hit his steal button to nab Rodgers, but McEntire used her Playoff Pass to keep the singer on Team Reba.
“L has a beautiful voice, but it’s not only her voice,” McEntire said afterward. “It’s her attitude. It’s her stage presence. So, she gets to skip the Knockout rounds.”
Chance the Rapper steals underdog Alyssa Crosby from Team Reba
Team Reba’s Asher HaVon and Alyssa Crosby faced off with a dynamite performance of Tina Turner’s "We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).”
While HaVon impressed the coaches with his powerhouse range, Crosby – who only received one chair-turn from McEntire in her blind audition – shone onstage with her rock ‘n’ roll-ready vocals. “You made it clear that you’re a real artist to be reckoned with,” Legend told Crosby.
Watch Asher HaVon, Alyssa Crosby face off on 'The Voice':
Unfortunately, Crosby’s breakout moment wasn’t enough to defeat teammate HaVon, whom McEntire declared the battle’s winner.
Despite the loss, Crosby found an unexpected victory when Chance the Rapper shrewdly hit his steal button for the New York vocalist.
“I stole Alyssa because she was going neck and neck with somebody who’s just a naturally God-given talent,” Chance said afterward. “And when you can pull that out of yourself, to me that’s the qualities of a star.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Voice': John Legend stops coaches from stealing Bryan Olesen
