'The Voice': John Legend is ‘really disappointed’ after past contestant chooses Dan + Shay
Dan + Shay have branded themselves the 2-for-1 deal of NBC’s “The Voice,” but there’s no outselling the Team Legend package.
The country pop duo and coach John Legend eagerly competed for the vocal prowess of Nebraska singer Bryan Olesen, formerly of the Christian rock band Newsboys, during the third round of blind auditions Monday. The 49-year-old wowed with his dynamic rendition of “Love Runs Out” by OneRepublic.
Legend compared Olesen’s captivating stage presence to U2 frontman Bono. “You have so much chops and everything you need to be a great superstar,” he said.
Olesen also brought his daughter Jadyn onstage, and the two performed an impromptu cover of Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On.” The duet prompted Dan + Shay to leverage their duo status, inviting Olesen and his daughter to sit in their two-person chair.
“Remember, we’re the only ones with room for two here,” Dan Smyers said, to which Legend quickly replied, “Sit next to me, Bryan. I need to whisper some more sweet nothings into your ear.”
Dan + Shay’s twosome swagger was no match for Legend’s veteran status, as Olesen chose Team Legend.
“Sorry Dan + Shay, I got Bryan,” said Legend in a post-audition interview. “At least you have each other. You can console each other.”
Reba McEntire loses Grammy-nominated singer to Chance the Rapper after touching message
Kamalei Kawa’a, a member of the Grammy-nominated group Nā Wai ?Ehā, dazzled coaches Chance the Rapper and Reba McEntire with his tender, acoustic performance of “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
The emotional cover, which served as a tribute to Kawa’a’s native Hawaiian roots, struck a chord with Chance.
“Doing ‘Redemption Song’ in front of millions of people, it brought something out of me,” Chance said. “It’s a very radical song, and it means a lot to all oppressed peoples around the world. And I think having you on here and representing Pacific Islanders, indigenous people, Hawaiians…I think it’s really important for the show to have.”
McEntire was similarly moved by the “very spiritual” nature of the 26-year-old’s performance. “That song touched my heart,” she said. “I knew that I had heard it before but not like the way you sang it.”
But it was Chance’s heartfelt praise that won out in the end, with Kawa’a choosing Team Chance. “Chance comes through with the best pitches I’ve ever heard,” McEntire said afterward. “He’s sincere; he’s to the heart.”
Chance the Rapper says he’s ‘hurt’ by sudden loss to Reba McEntire
Alabama vocalist Asher HaVon earned a quick chair turn from Chance with his powerhouse rendition of “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele, followed by interest from McEntire and Dan + Shay.
“I could tell you’re trying to win this competition, and you should. Everything that you did was phenomenal,” Chance told HaVon. “I was blown away by it, that’s why I immediately turned around.”
But McEntire was sure to toss her cowgirl hat into the ring for HaVon, lauding the 31-year-old’s vocal strength. “What an incredible voice you have: your range, your power,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to turn around and see what you look like, and (it was) not disappointing at all.”
HaVon opted to join Team Reba, but not before getting Chance’s hopes up with a last-minute reveal.
“Chance, I really love you,” HaVon said, prompting Chance to start getting out of his seat in victory. “But I’ve got to choose Reba.”
Chance found out the hard way that the early bird doesn’t always catch the worm. “That one hurt,” he said afterward. “Why start out with my name? Start off with ‘sorry.’”
John Legend is ‘really disappointed’ after losing four-chair singer to Dan + Shay
Singer-songwriter Madison Curbelo, who unsuccessfully auditioned for Season 20, redeemed herself with a soulful, bilingual cover of “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King. The 21-year-old scored a four-chair turn.
Legend was quick to own up to his past rejection of Curbelo in his pitch to the Massachusetts vocalist.
“I’m keenly aware that I was one of the people who did not turn for you in Season 20. They’ll point it out, so I’m saying it now,” Legend said. “I feel like you’re just ready now.”
Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay wasn’t one to let bygones be bygones, even while agreeing with Legend’s praise of Curbelo. “I’m always right, though, that’s the thing,” Legend said, to which Mooney quipped, “You weren’t last time she came, but it’s all right.”
“It is true when you get told no sometimes in your life I think that pivots you and puts you on a different trajectory and allows you the opportunity to grow in those moments,” Mooney told Curbelo. “Your voice was just flawless.”
It’s now Legend’s turn to receive a no. Curbelo chose Dan + Shay to be her coaches.
“I’m really disappointed that Madison is holding this grudge against me,” said Legend in a post-audition interview. “But Dan + Shay are pretty good at this. I’ve got to say they’re picking this coaching thing up pretty quickly.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Voice' recap: John Legend loses 4-chair singer to Dan + Shay