Blake Shelton and Snoop Dogg grew close despite their musical differences as the Knockouts round concluded on Monday’s episode of The Voice on NBC.
‘I think working with Blake is like—it’s not an odd couple, it’s an even couple,’ Knockouts mega-mentor Snoop Dogg, 49, said as the two of them joked around. ‘It’s a buddy-buddy relationship that feels like it’s been there for many years.’
Snoop and Blake, 44, laughed about how easy it was to fall asleep on set when they were being tended to by makeup pros, with Blake saying he did it all the time.
Odd couple: Blake Shelton and Snoop Dogg grew close despite their musical differences as the Knockouts round concluded on Monday’s episode of The Voice on NBC
When his singers arrived, he introduced them to ‘my new friend, Snoop Dogg.’
‘I know if you on his team, you got to be top-tier,’ Snoop told them, pointing at Blake.
‘I’m jealous of Martha Stewart,’ Blake said, referring to the homemaking guru’s 13-year friendship with Snoop.
Snoop proved to be an incredibly adept mentor, giving contestants such good advice that Kelly Clarkson, 39, cracked, ‘You should write a book!’
Even couple: ‘I think working with Blake is like—it’s not an odd couple, it’s an even couple,’ Knockouts mega-mentor Snoop Dogg, 49, said as the two of them joked around. ‘It’s a buddy-buddy relationship that feels like it’s been there for many years’
New friend: When his singers arrived, Blake introduced them to ‘my new friend, Snoop Dogg’
He was also a surprisingly soft touch, almost crying after being moved by young singers.
When Team Kelly’s Anna Grace, 21, from Milwaukee, sang The Band Perry’s If I Die Young, Snoop said he was ‘trying to hold this tear from falling from my eye.’
Anna had chosen the song after suffering a near-fatal bout of infections at age 17, which left her wondering what her mother would do if she died.
Getting emotional: When Team Kelly’s Anna Grace, 21, from Milwaukee, sang The Band Perry’s If I Die Young, Snoop said he was ‘trying to hold this tear from falling from my eye’
‘Look what you just did to Snoop Dogg!’ Kelly yelped, gesturing at him.
As if that wasn’t enough, Gihanna Zoë, 17, from Redlands, California, then did an equally heartrending version of Pink’s Glitter In The Air.
‘I literally have tears streaming down my face,’ Kelly said, as Snoop looked stricken.
Tear jerker: As if that wasn’t enough, Gihanna Zoë, 17, from Redlands, California, then did an equally heartrending version of Pink’s Glitter In The Air that made Kelly cry
During the actual Knockouts round, Kelly kept Gihanna, but Blake stole Anna.
‘I think she’s got a wide-open lane on my team,’ he said. ‘It’s full of mostly all dudes, so it’s nice to add a female to my roster.’
Team Kelly also had two country artists face off for knockouts, both of them four-chair turns.
Both advancing: During the actual Knockouts round, Kelly kept Gihanna, but Blake stole Anna
Avery Roberson, 20, from Rutherfordton, North Carolina, sang Chris Young’s Tomorrow, which showed off his storytelling side.
Snoop told Avery to breathe more and establish a connection with the audience, urging, ‘add some more layers and levels to your game.’
Kenzie Wheeler, 22, from Dover, Florida, then jammed out to Luke Combs’ Beer Never Broke My Heart, making Snoop dance in his chair.
Storytelling skills: Avery Roberson, 20, from Rutherfordton, North Carolina, sang Chris Young’s Tomorrow, which showed off his storytelling side
The rapper told Kenzie to pretend he was singing for 10,000 people, so that when he finally got a big crowd, he could be ‘the calm in the storm.’
After the Knockouts round, Blake loved the mullet-wearing singer’s performance, calling him ‘the real deal’ and ‘a talented SOB.’
Kelly agreed, picking Kenzie because he was ‘everything I want in a country artist.’
Cool mullet: Kenzie Wheeler, 22, from Dover, Florida, then jammed out to Luke Combs’ Beer Never Broke My Heart, making Snoop dance in his chair
Team Blake then pitted two soulful singers against one another for knockouts.
Connor Christian, 23, from Gallipolis, Ohio, did his take on 5 Seconds Of Summer’s Youngblood.
Blake cautioned him not to affect too much of a smoky, gravelly tone, concerned it would cover up the areas where he needed to breathe.
Soulful singer: Connor Christian, 23, from Gallipolis, Ohio, did his take on 5 Seconds Of Summer’s Youngblood
Cam Anthony, 19, from Philadelphia, chose Nina Simone’s Feeling Good because he wanted to lose himself in the song like she had.
The teenager started his career young, performing at the White House and even working with Snoop’s pal Dr. Dre before getting ‘stuck.’
He was ready, he added, to be ‘Cam 2.0.’
Teenage talent: Cam Anthony, 19, from Philadelphia, chose Nina Simone’s Feeling Good because he wanted to lose himself in the song like she had
‘You do tons of movement vocally,’ Blake told Cam. ‘I just wonder if there’s a place where you can hit a note and hold it.’
Nobody seemed to mind Cam’s flex on knockouts day, when his runs and scatting earned him a standing ovation from Blake’s fellow judges.
‘Oh my God!’ Kelly cried out.
Standing ovation: The judges gave Cam a standing ovation and Blake named him the winner
‘It was creative and flawless and kind of bizarre,’ marveled Nick Jonas, 28. ‘It seemed like you tapped into something at the beginning that was otherworldly.’
John Legend, 42, had sung Feeling Good at President Joe Biden’s inauguration and said he was ‘jealous’ because Cam did things he never imagined.
‘Cam, always figure out how to tap into that deal right there,’ Blake said, choosing him. ‘If you do that for the rest of your life, you’ll be king of the mountain.’
Feeling jealous: John Legend, 42, had sung Feeling Good at President Joe Biden’s inauguration and said he was ‘jealous’ because Cam did things he never imagined
For his first pairing, Nick Jonas put together two of his youngest artists.
Rachel Mac, 16, a one-chair turn from Romeo, Michigan, had received the only standing ovation in the battle rounds, and Nick thought highly of her.
She chose Jewel’s Foolish Games to prove that she was more talented than her age suggested, and Snoop was wowed by her tone.
One chair: Rachel Mac, 16, a one-chair turn from Romeo, Michigan, had received the only standing ovation in the battle rounds, and Nick thought highly of her
Listening to her sing, even her competition, Zae Romeo, 21, from McKinney, Texas, said he was impressed enough to stand up.
He took the lead during knockouts, however, as he showed why he’d been a four-chair turn.
His powerful cover of Børns’ Electric Love got Kelly out of her seat to cheer him on.
Four chairs: Zae Romeo, 21, from McKinney, Texas, delivered a powerful cover of Børns’ Electric Love
‘I have been moved!’ Kelly cried, as John echoed, ‘I have been moved as well.’
Despite their praise, Zae lost to Rachel, whom Nick saved on the strength of her performance.
‘She’s kind of a dark horse,’ he said, ‘and I know she can get even better.’
Surprising pick: Despite praise from the judges, Zae lost to Rachel, whom Nick saved on the strength of her performance
Seconds later, Kelly stole Zae.
‘The show is called The Voice, and your voice gave me goosebumps the entire performance,’ she told him.
Team Nick’s Jose Figueroa, Jr., 34, from Kissimmee, Florida, also beat out Raine Stern, 22, from Madison, Wisconsin, with his cover of Tasha Cobb’s Break Every Chain.
Next round: Team Nick’s Jose Figueroa, Jr., 34, from Kissimmee, Florida, also beat out Raine Stern, 22, from Madison, Wisconsin, with his cover of Tasha Cobb’s Break Every Chain
Team Legend paired two Detroit-area artists for another knockout round.
His youngest artist, Rio Doyle, 16, unleashed big pipes on Julia Michaels’ Issues, but John encouraged her to enunciate more.
‘Straight-up soul singer’ Zania Alaké, 34, belted Gladys Knight’s If I Were Your Woman, and worked to make her low notes as good as her high.
Pop song: Rio Doyle, 16, unleashed big pipes on Julia Michaels’ Issues, but John encouraged her to enunciate more
Onstage, she killed it, making Kelly pretend to hit her buzzer and say, ‘I. Pick. You.’
John picked her too, admitting, ‘Zania came with the perfect performance at the perfect moment.’
The show ended with a four-way knockout with each team sending up a singer and viewer voting determining the sole winner advancing to the upcoming live shows.
Challenging song: Zania Alaké, 34, belted Gladys Knight’s If I Were Your Woman
Team Nick’s Devan Blake Jones, 36, from Denver, sang Harry Styles’ Sign Of The Times, while Team Kelly’s Savanna Woods, 26, from Stanwood, Washington, did Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun.
Team Blake’s Emma Caroline, 25, from Tuscaloosa, warbled Brooks & Dunn’s Neon Moon, while Team Legend’s Carolina Rial, 17, from Ridgefield, New Jersey, belted Demi Lovato’s Anyone.
The Voice will return Monday on NBC.
Four-way knockout: The show ended with a four-way knockout that included Emma Caroline and the winner would be picked via viewer voting