John Legend scored big on Tuesday’s episode of The Voice when his singer won the Wild Card Instant Save to give him three artists in the show’s Top 9.
Bailey Rae, an 18-year-old country artist from Roberta, Oklahoma, was saved by viewers at the last minute after performing her rendition of Lee Ann Womack’s Never Again, Again.
‘I love you Bailey Rae,’ said John, 41, praising the young vocalist’s classic style and throwback sound, which he called ‘audacious’ and ‘bold’ in its insistence on tradition.
Slight edge: John Legend scored big on Tuesday’s episode of The Voice when his singer won the Wild Card Instant Save to give him three artists in the show’s Top 9
With the win, Bailey beat out three other Wild Card competitors, each of whom sang after coming in second on their team on Tuesday’s show.
Saying goodbye through the Wild Card round were Worth the Wait, Team Blake’s family trio from Centre, Alabama; Team Gwen’s Payge Turner, 27, from Trinidad and Tobago; and Team Kelly’s Tanner Gomes, 28, from Yuma, Arizona.
Bailey will go to the live rounds with two other artists from Team Legend, giving John an advantage as the other coaches have just two vocalists on their teams.
Team Legend also kept John Holiday, the brilliant 35-year-old music teacher from Rosenberg, Texas, who’d won America’s vote overnight after singing Fly Me To The Moon.
Instantly saved: Bailey Rae, an 18-year-old country artist from Roberta, Oklahoma, was saved by viewers at the last minute after performing her rendition of Lee Ann Womack’s Never Again, Again
John then personally saved Tamara Jade, 30, from Bowie, Maryland, who’d sung Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy.
Asked what the show had meant to her, Tamara said, ‘Week to week, I learn more about my artistry and myself, [that] I am enough: My joy, my pain, my fears, my failures. Bringing all of that into my artistry and every bit of who I am is enough.’
John called the four-chair turn an ‘energetic, powerful superstar artist.’
Pandemic programming: Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, John and Blake Shelton were joined by a virtual audience for the live results show amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
On Team Kelly, America’s vote saved Desz, 30, from Houston, who had sung Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It? when the Top 17 performed.
‘Moving on to the Top 9 would mean I can continue to be a representation for all of the beautiful young girls that look like me,’ Desz said before her name was called. ‘That there’s room at the top for your dreams to come true.’
Kelly, 38, personally saved Cami Clune, 20, from Buffalo, New York, who’d sung INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart on Monday.
Moving forward: Kelly, 38, personally saved Cami Clune, 20, from Buffalo, New York, who’d sung INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart on Monday
The host: Carson Daly hosted the one-hour results episode on NBC
Fan favorite: Kelly decided to save Cami because of her unique style
The coach said she felt it would be smart to pick someone for whom there wasn’t already ‘a lane’ in the competition.
On Team Gwen, 15-year-old Carter Rubin, from Shoreham, Long Island, was saved by America’s vote after singing Mariah Carey’s Hero on Monday’s show.
Gwen Stefani, 51, then opted to keep Ben Allen, a 42-year-old crooner from Estero, Florida, who memorably sang Kenny Chesney’s There Goes My Life during the live round.
Pop star: Gwen Stefani, 51, opted to keep Ben Allen, a 42-year-old crooner from Estero, Florida, after America voted to save her teenage singer Carter Rubin
Country singer: Ben was stolen by Gwen from Blake’s team and she voted to keep him
‘It’s really exciting to have such a talented front-running country singer on my team that I got to steal from Blake Shelton,’ Gwen gloated. ‘It’s like a dream come true.’
Team Blake’s Ian Flanigan, 30, from Saugerties, New York, was subsequently saved by America for his cover of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love.
Blake Shelton, 44, then chose to keep Jim Ranger, 38, from Bakersfield, California, who’d earlier sung Lee Brice’s Rumor.
America’s vote: Team Blake’s Ian Flanigan, 30, from Saugerties, New York, was subsequently saved by America for his cover of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love
Country star: Blake chose to keep Jim Ranger, 38, from Bakersfield, California, who’d earlier sung Lee Brice’s Rumor
The country star called him ‘one of the greatest vocalists I’ve ever worked with, like ever. I don’t say that lightly. I mean that. I’ve been with the show a long time.’
The Voice will return next week with the Top 9 performing on NBC.
Season 18 of the NBC show was won in May by Todd Tilghman, 42, who was coached by Blake.
Dynamic duo: The country singer had Jim and Ian among the final nine singers on the NBC show