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One does not simply walk into a Bee Gees Battle. Clearly Mac Royals and Rachele Nguyen didn’t get the memo, as the Team Reba constants went toe-to-toe on NBC‘s The Voice, tackling one of the Bee Gees’ creamiest creations.
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The singers’ path to the Battles round couldn’t have been more contrasting. Royals landed a four-chair turn; Nguyen caught the attention of just one coach, the country star Reba McEntire.
On the latest episode Tuesday night (Oct. 24), Royals and Nguyen brought game to the arena, the former displaying his legit soulman skillset, Nguyen showcasing her range and soloist talents.
“Guys, that was so good,” coach Niall Horan remarked. “To take on a song of that stature is brave of itself. I thought the two of you were fantastic.” Horan admitted she was better than he remembered, and she made him remember his error by not turning during the Blind Audition. “To be your age, at 17 and to have that composure, and will to go ‘go give me the biggest song you’ve got,’” he’d go with Nguyen, if the choice was his.
Gwen Stefani remarked on the warmth of Royals’ voice. It’s “buttery,” she enthused. As for Nguyen, “the things you can do with your voice and your instincts,” at her age, it’s “pretty magical.” She won’t choose because, well, she doesn’t have to.
John Legend paid tribute to the sound of Mac’s voice, “it’s so gorgeous. It is soulful and it has richness and character.” And Nguyen, “you were doing so many exciting things, so many cool musical choices and runs and things of that nature.” If Legend had to choose, he’d go with Mac.
The battle would “come down to how they touch my heart when they’re performing,” McEntire said during rehearsals.
In the end, the choice belonged to her. And she sided with Nguyen.
But wait, there’s more. Before Mac could say some parting words to his coach, Legend came through with the steal. It’s on.
Watch the Season 24 Battle below.
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Huntley looks like a Viking, sings like a rock star.
The 33-year-old from Fredericksburg, Virginia showed his form when he stepped onto The Voice stage Monday night (Oct. 16) for the Blind Auditions.
That muscular voice sits somewhere between country, blues, rock and grunge, with shades of Bob Seger meets Mark Lanegan. It’s a frontman voice, the kind that tells stories and has its own to share.
From the opening notes of his cover of “She Talks To Angels,” Huntley caught the attention. The four coaches’ chairs turned almost in unison.
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“Your voice is incredible,” Reba McEntire enthused. “When I first listened to you, I heard Chris Stapleton. So everything about your voice I absolutely loved.” And with that, the pitches started.
Niall Horan chimed in, recounting the vocals of Australian Daniel Merriweather and Brit James Morrison.
“That’s a tone that comes naturally. I bet you were singing like that when you were 15,” the Irishman noted. “You sing your own way, you sing direct, and so much power and the control you have. It’s so beautiful to listen to.”
Gwen Stefani likened his talents to those of Bradley Nowell from Sublime. “Your voice is just so automatic. You know exactly at what point you’re going to be raspy. And it’s pure and honest and you sound like you’ve been singing forever, on stage performing.”
John Legend was blown away. “Your voice sounds so ready. So ready for the world, so ready for the radio,” he explained. It’s “truly one of the best voices we’ve heard. It’s so impressive, dude.
Huntley had a big call to make. He passed down the responsibility to his daughter Stella, who joined him on stage. The youngster went with Team Niall.
Watch the performance from NBC‘s The Voice below.
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Well, that was quick.
When Caleb Sasser stopped by NBC’s The Voice to deliver a Blind Audition, the feedback was swift.
Sasser, who hails from Goldsboro, North Carolina, hadn’t even finished the first line in his cover of Toni Braxton’s “Another Sad Love Song” when he’d landed the one-two punch of Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani turns.
And when he unleashed a run of delicate high notes, Reba McEntire had heard enough. John Legend pushed the red button last to complete a four-chair turn.
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Sasser has his finger on R&B, jazz, soul. The good stuff. “That was magical,” remarked Legend. “I was hearing Toni and I was hearing a lot of Anita Baker in your voice, too.” Both are influences, the contestant told the coach, as are Jazmine Sullivan and Legend himself. At that point, a sigh came over the other three coaches, and a keen understanding of which team the singer would choose.
Regardless, Stefani entered her sales pitch. “I’m really good at stage presence, personality, getting out of your shell, trying to get people to know you as a person through your voice.”
Horan chimed in: “The ease at which you sing, is just so beautiful and the most humble, down-to-earth, smiley way that you could possibly do it.”
McEntire spoke last. “Calab,” she enthused, “your voice made me feel such peace inside. I did a duet album many years ago. And I promise you if I’d have heard your voice, I would have begged you to please come sing a duet with me.”
In the end, there could be only one. There were no more surprises; Sasser chose Team Legend.
Watch below.
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Sometimes, even a young artist can carry the weight of time, of life lived, in their vocals. Lila Forde showed the world those talents when she stopped by NBC‘s The Voice on Monday night (Oct. 9) for her Blind Audition. Performing at the keys, Forde has a vintage voice. It’s fused at the hip with soul and soil and a touch of country, the type we’ve all heard speaking to us from the radio over the years, wondering where on earth that came from. For the younger generation, think Florence Welch and Freya Ridings. And some of us older fogies, Joni Mitchell and Carole King.Like a hawk, Gwen Stefani swooped fast on that buzzer. John Legend turned next, then Reba McEntire and Niall Horan finished fourth, smacking that thing with his fist.Following her performance of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home,” and her four-chair turn, Forde gave a wide smile. For a moment, it looked as though emotion had sucked the wind from her sails.“That song could not have been more perfect if you tried,” Niall Horan remarked. “You looked so comfortable up there at the piano. Your tone has so many parts to it.”It was a performance “that reminded me of everything I love about music.” And then, yes, the first sales pitch. Stefani stepped up her game by taking off her shoes, walking towards the contestant, and delivering her own pitch. “What the world needs, we want a singer-songwriter with a true point of view, that’s original, unique, that’s not trying to be anyone else,” she enthused. “And the way you performed it, the confidence, it’s everything I love. It was so good, so beautiful.”The cover “was magical,” reckoned Legend, “what I heard was wisdom, you understood everything you were saying, every nuance…everything felt completely under your control.”Speaking last, McEntire remarked, “you are an old soul. You’re mature beyond your years.”Hailing from Seattle, the daughter of a musical mom, Forde plies her trade on the Los Angeles gig circuit. With four Voice judges beckoning her, begging for her, the choice was all Forde’s to make. And she selected Team Legend. Watch below.
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The Voice has found another one.
Teen Kaylee Shimizu showed up big time during her Blind Audition Tuesday night (Oct. 3), with a performance that carried the confidence of youth, and the skills of a professional.
Hailing from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Shimizu covered the Beatles’ “Golden Slumbers,” peppering it with elite high notes — all stability and control — and with more runs than a track and field event.
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The 17-year-old gave us feathery touches, through to the dynamite, and earned a four-chair turn.
John Legend turning first, followed immediately by Niall Horan, Reba McEntire and, after a pause to soak it up, Gwen Stefani.
“We’re just stunned right now. Your voice was just dazzling, it was so creative it was so musical,” remarked Legend. “You know you could win The Voice, right,” he added, before rolling out the red carpet for Team Legend. “You have so much confidence delivering these impossible notes.”
Stefani was “blown away.” The youngster’s “vibrato, it’s so slow,” and it “feels like you have so much control over that,” she added. “I’ve never heard anything like that before and I think it’s because you’re so young and free.”
Horan, as a member of One Direction, has enjoyed several lifetime of experiences. “I cannot believe what I just witnessed,” he enthused. “That was just unbelievable. When we talk about ‘technically gifted,’ I’ve never met anyone so gifted. The song choice was perfect.”
Speaking last, McEntire admitted, “when I was 17 I had not the imagination to be even think about singing like you. I’ve never heard anybody do what you did on stage today. It was spiritual to me.”
Shimizu digs her “soulful R&B” and grew up singing karaoke with her Filipino family, who were invited to join the contestant on center stage.
There could be only one team for Shimizu, and that was Team Legend.
Watch the audition on NBC‘s The Voice below.
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The Blind auditions are rumbling along on NBC‘s The Voice, and, on Monday night (Oct. 2), one particular contestant got tongues wagging.
Hailing from Wrightsville, Arkansas, Mac Royals stepped into the spotlight and showed he’s in the right place. With a voice coated in caramel, Mac covered John Mayer’s “Gravity,” and was an immediate with the judges. All of them.
Royals has a vision to “build a bridge” from the industry to Arkansas, a place lacking in opportunities for talent. “I want to be there personally to help them, so I’m here doing what I can,” he explained.
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Don’t bet against him.
Prior to hitting the stage, Royals remarked: “I hope the coaches can hear my heart and not just my voice,” and that “they can feel the pain in the song that I’m about to deliver, and that’s what’s going to make them turn around.”
Niall Horan didn’t hesitate, as he turned first. John Legend closely followed, then Gwen Stefani, with Reba McEntire bringing up the rear — for a four-chair turn.
“Wow, that was such a beautiful rendition of that song,” Legend later remarked. “You made us forget about the original and just think about who is this person and I was so moved by your performance.” Legend wasted no time in presenting his pitch.
“You have this incredible gifted voice,” explained Stefani. “You weren’t trying got show off your voice, you were showing off you. And your heart. And that was beautiful.”
It was “off the scale, it was amazing,” Horan enthused. “You did everything so well. And brought different variations of your voice, we heard the falsetto, we heard the sick runs in the middle.”
McEntire played the geography card. As an Oklahoman, they’re virtually neighbors. “I had 18 people in my hometown growing up,” she noted, “so I do know about small towns, giving back, helping out.”
The smalltown connection was a winner, as Mac selected Team Reba.
Watch below.
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If every dog has its day, today very much belongs to Hurricane.
Hurricane, a Border Collie, and his human Adrian Stoica are the winners of the latest, 18th season of America’s Got Talent, their dog show capturing the hearts of the American public.
Magician Anna DeGuzman came second in the 2023 competition, announced Wednesday (Sept. 27), and dance troupe Murmuration came third.
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Indonesian singer Putri Ariani and acrobat duo the Ramadhani Brothers respectively round out the top 5.
The top ranked singer this year, Putri made a notable impression on the judges, particularly Simon Cowell, who gave the teen his Golden Buzzer. “Nobody can take away the fact that you are an amazing, amazing singer. And performer. And person,” Cowell told Ariani.
The judges also adored Stoica and Hurricane’s double-act, apparently as much as armchair voters.
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“I was on my feet then I sat down, then I was on my feet. It just shows you how tough it is,” Howie Mandel enthused earlier in the season, following an act to Smash Mouth’s “I’m a Believer.” “We didn’t know whether to stand, we didn’t know whether to sit. He’s a dog, he gets more cues than we do. That’s my favorite dog Act ever on AGT.”
Sofia Vergara though the dog-and-man show “was perfection” and Heidi Klum remarked, “it is mind blowing to me how you do this routine with him.”
Added Cowell earlier in the season: “I think in terms of stepping up from the audition to the Live Show, this is the best act we’ve seen tonight. This was live, and that was a tricky routine. She was amazing.”
Stoica and his canine buddy collect the $1 million prize and a coveted Las Vegas residency.
The two-hour finale on NBC featured special performances from 30 Seconds to Mars, Jason Derulo, Jon Batiste, Leona Lewis (in a duet with Putri) and Season 17 winners The Mayyas.
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It’s almost time to lasso yourself onto your couch and tune into the very first People’s Choice Country Awards 2023. The inaugural event is set to occur on Thursday (Sept. 28) with a slew of performances by some of country music’s biggest names including Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Dan + Shay and more.
The show will be aired on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET, which you means you have a few streaming options to choose from to tune into. Our suggestion? Peacock gives you instant access to NBC’s library of programming along with a slew of exclusive offerings such as live sports.
For two hours, country stars will gather together with Little Big Town as the host for the night.
Keep reading to learn how to watch the award show as well as what to expect when the big night arrives.
How to Watch the People’s Choice Country Awards 2023
The inaugural event will air on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday (Sept. 28). Cable users can tune in wherever NBC airs — just check with your cable provider to see what channel it’s on.
If you don’t have cable, Peacock is livestreaming the event, and subscribers can watch it by logging into their account for no additional cost.
Don’t have a subscription? Peacock offers a couple plans at an affordable cost starting with the Peacock Premium plan for $5.99/month, which includes some ads, access to the full Peacock library including NBC and Bravo shows, movies and originals. Live sports and events are also included as well as over 50 channels. The Premium Plus plan is $11.99/month and includes everything in the Premium plan with no ads, local 24/7 NBC channels and the ability to download content to watch offline.
Peacock $5.99/month
Besides the award show, you’ll have access to Peacock Originals in addition to sports, NBC and Bravo shows such as Based on a True Story, Bupkis, Mrs. Davis, Poker Face, Bel-Air, Poker Face, Yellowstone, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, Vanderpump Rules, Queens Court, The Traitors, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Sick and more.
Looking for more ways to save? Live channel streamers may have access to promos and free trials that’ll save you money and give you access to the award show. Philo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV all have the NBC channel along with hundreds of other live TV offerings.
Artists Performing at the People’s Choice Country Awards
Pop some popcorn and get pumped for performances by Shelton, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Toby Keith and Wynonna Judd.
Judd is also set to be honored with the Country Champion Award for her decades-long music career and work in the community with organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project and Habitat for Humanity.
Among other special honorees, Keith will be presented with the Country Icon Award followed by a speech from Shelton.
When Putri Ariani performs, jaws drop, tears fall.
That happened again, when Ariani delivered her last performance Tuesday night (Sept. 26) for the 18th season finale of America’s Got Talent.
Hailing from Indonesia, the gifted singer and pianist scored Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer during the audition phase, the judges remarking that she sounded like, or indeed was, an angel. On that occasion, she performed two songs, the second of which was “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.”
For the finale, Ariani performed another Elton John and Bernie Taupin classic, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”. Sat at a sparkling grand piano, and complemented with a gospel choir, Ariani had the room on its feet — including all four judges.
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Last time, Cowell was left “speechless.” On this occasion, the Brit found his words.
“It’s got nothing to do with the fact I gave her the Golden Buzzer,” he remarked afterwards, “I think any one of us would have given Putri the Golden Buzzer. It’s just that you are one of those rare little diamonds we come across every few years. Who is naturally born to do this.”
The teenage contestant is blind, an obstacle she overcomes when performing. “You’ve overcome so much in your life, to hopefully fulfill your dream on this show,” Cowell added. “And boy, after that do you deserve it.”
Fellow judge Howie Mandel remarked that, every time, in every round, Putri “hit it out of the park.” Her voice and her talent, “perfection.” If this was just a singing competition, she had it in the bag, he remarked. AGT, however, is broader than that, with dancers, magicians, comedians and more lining up in the 11-strong final.
Heidi Klum said it was a “moving” performance. “You could’ve not done it any better.”
Ariani had the final word. “I believe we are able, we are capable and we are equal. So, don’t be afraid to keep reaching for your dreams. Your dream will come true if you believe it.”
The winner will be announced Wednesday (Sept. 28) in the second of the two-part final on NBC.
Watch Putri Ariani’s performance below.
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Yodeling is an artform so difficult to master, it ought to come with a warning — “only try this at home.”
Ruby Leigh is an exception. The 16-year-old from Foley, Missouri stopped by NBC’s The Voice on Tuesday (Sept. 26) for a Blind Audition that was both brave, unexpected and fabulously executed.
Looking the part of a golden-era country star and wielding an acoustic guitar, Leigh hit a cover of Patsy Montana’s 1935 “I Want To Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” said to be the first country song by a female artist to sell more than one million copies. The youngster’s rendition was soaked in thigh-slapping country and western. And yes, yodeling.
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From the opening bounce, the coaches realized they were in for something different. All four turned.
“I truly never heard anything like what you just did,” John Legend explained. “I loved how clear and precise and piercing and beautiful your tone was. And then when you started doing the yodeling, it was like, how was a human being able to do the things that you’re doing? You could win the voice, honestly.”
Gwen Stefani revealed her own secret talents at yodeling, though admitted they were nothing when stacked against the superior Leigh.
The contestant’s energy was “just insane,” remarked Niall Horan. “You got a four chair for a reason.” This kid is “exciting,” he added.
Reba McEntire, the country icon, spoke last. “Being as young as you are, and being a fan of Patsy Montana, I’m a third generation rodeo brat, so Patsy Montana, a country western singer, not just country – there is a difference – I’m very flattered, very proud of my heritage that you’re singing this song.”
McEntire’s mom taught the country legend to yodel, which she duly gave an example of. It was a thinly-veiled sales pitch. Was it a winning one?
Of course it was. Leigh steps into Team Reba.
“Ruby could be a star and have a huge following,” Reba told the cameras afterwards.
The 24th season of The Voice premiered Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Watch below.
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