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Season 23 of NBC’s The Voice is entering the final straight, the finishing line in view. Glory awaits.
On Monday night (May 15), the final eight performed live in the semi-finals. And for the first time this season, the power shifted from coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan, and into the hands of America. When the votes were tallied, those eight survivors became five — and the dreams of three contestants were crushed.
Before the cut, two of the star coaches stepped out of their seats and up to the mic. Horan performed “Meltdown,” the second single lifted from his forthcoming third studio album The Show, due out June 9.
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Meanwhile, Chance hit his Coloring Book number “Same Drugs,” with support from his former teammates Jamar Langley, Manasseh Samone and Kala Banham.
As the episode reached its climax, the five finalists were revealed: Grace West (Team Blake), D.Smooth (Team Kelly), Gina Miles (Team Niall), Sorelle (Team Chance), and Noivas (Team Blake).
And with that, Ryley Tate Wilson, Ray Uriel and Holly Brand are eliminated.
Shelton will like his chances. The country star hangs up his Voice hat at the end of the season, with a record nine wins as a coach. As the field shrinks to five, he’s the only coach with two singers still in the game.
Watch the final 5 below.
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The 149th Kentucky Derby is coming up this weekend, and Carly Pearce is set to sing the national anthem.
“This will be the first time that I’ve actually gotten to go,” the country star told People. “Being from Kentucky, this is definitely a really cool thing to get to be a part of.”
The first leg of the Triple Crown renowned for the often wild fashions sported by attendees will be taking over Louisville’s Churchill Downs for the annual tradition. If you want to watch the Kentucky Derby live, you can do catch the Derby on TV or stream it on your computer, phone and other compatible devices.
Catch the main event on Saturday (May 6) 6:57 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Earlier races will start at 10:30 a.m. ET. For online viewers, NBC is available to stream on Sling, Hulu with Live TV and FuboTV. Most of the services offer a free trial that you can use to watch the Kentucky Derby free online (stream internationally on ExpressVPN).
Need a drink to pair with your watch party? Woodford Reserve is the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby and just released its 2023 commemorative Derby bottle.
Created by Kentucky artist Jamie Corum, the bottle commemorates the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s 1973 Derby win and depicts a painting of the horse on the front. The limited-edition Kentucky Derby bottle of Woodford Reserve Bourbon retails for $48.99 and is available to order online at ReserveBar.com.
Blake Shelton has his eyes on the prize. And by that, extending his unassailable run of The Voice season wins into double figures, with 10. And, just maybe, going out with back-to-back wins. NOIVAS could get him there.
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During the Battle Round, Shelton stole the 30-year-old Hutto, Texas singer from Chance The Rapper. As the Knockout Round rumbled on during Monday night’s episode (April 17), it appeared to be another shrewd move by the country star. With his fate on the show hanging, and the bright lights glaring, NOIVAS impressed with a rendition of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I’ll Put A Spell On You.” The soul man put a spell on the audience, wielding the mic stand like he meant business and throwing in some measured maniacal moments. NOIVAS, coach Niall Horan enthused, “you’ve got to pay for a floor cleaning bill… You just scraped up that stage with that mic stand. Every time you just bring it — dude, you’re impressive.”Shelton also liked what he saw. “I thought there was a chance that you took the word knockouts literally,” he said at the end. “Got a little bit wild, and it scared me, and I like that. Your talent is shocking and it’s fearless.”
Tasha Jessen, the 21-year-old from Colorado Springs, can also tick the “talent” and “fearless” boxes. When her turn came, Jessen turned it up with a cover of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” — peppered with high notes, power, control and all the good stuff.
Shelton had a tough decision to make. He tapped NOIVAS as winner of the Knockout Round, but the action wasn’t done there. Horan swept in to steal Jessen, keeping her in the contest.
Everyone’s a winner.
The Battles Round is firing up on NBC’s The Voice, and on Tuesday night’s (March 28) episode two contestants took a flight with the Rocket Man. Only one is going to come back down.
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Chance The Rapper’s teammates Alyssa Lazar, the 24-year-old Clarks Summit, PA native, went head-to-head with Magnus, the 25-year-old Chesapeake, VA resident, on Elton John’s signature tune “You Song.”
“You have completely different tones but it worked beautifully,” said Kelly Clarkson when the music stopped. She pointed out the power in Lazar’s voice, and the full-round-bodied style of Magnus’ vocals, which, coincidently, is also how she likes her wine.
If the singers burned some rocket fuel for the occasion, the judges appeared to be flat.
“It sounds cozy, it sounds like home,” Clarkson remarked, giving Blake Shelton an easy line of attack. Clarkson and Magnus had issues with the performers’ vibrato. No surprises, Clarkson would lean towards Magnus if it were her choice to make.
Niall Horan fancied Lazar’s singer-songwriter-storyteller talents, and her ability to “break in tone and character.” And the Irishman admitted it was a “bold” choice of song which would obviously “lean towards Magnus.”
The final decision came down to Chance. Lazar’s voice and style “was meant for this song, and I feel like each time you performed it, you got better,” he remarked. As for Magnus, “You hype me up.”
In the end, the could be only one. And that was Magnus. Watch below.
The last six months have been nothing short of tragic for Quavo, whose Migos bandmate and nephew Takeoff was murdered in late 2022.
On Tuesday night (March 21), the rapper put aside grief and let the lyrics flow.
Quavo stepped up to the mic for the latest round of That’s My Jam, Jimmy Fallon’s hour-long music and comedy variety games show, to test his powers for rhyming gobbledygook.
The mission — to hit a “nonsense karaoke” version of Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz’s “Get Low,” replacing its words with drivel.
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For a taster, Quavo smashed out: “Remember Chunk? The Best Goonie/ Got a duck tat, saw it on a magazine.” He had the crowd waving their hands in the air, and they really didn’t care.
The “nonsense karaoke” bit is a world away from the release last month of Quavo’s “Greatness” video, his second tribute to Takeoff following his killing outside a bowling alley in Houston, Texas. He also released the emotional ballad “Without You,” earlier in the year.
Quavo made his first TV appearance since Takeoff’s death with a gripping rendition of “Without You” at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, on Feb. 5.
“I wish I had a time machine/ Just so you take a ride with me/ I miss just how you smile at me/ Unc & Phew until infinity,” sang Quavo, with Maverick City Music matching his somber tone.
The “nonsense karaoke” performance had anything but a somber tone. Watch below.
NariYella put the “dream” into Dreamgirls when she performed “One Night Only” for her Blind Audition on NBC’s The Voice.
The 20-year-old native of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania saved the best to the end, when she strolled up Tuesday night (March 21) for the final episode of this early stage. She made sure the judges and everyone watching on wouldn’t forget her, with a sparkling performance from the Oscar-winning 2006 musical drama, Dreamgirls.
The performance was loaded with vocal gymnastics, soul and power. The baying studio audience felt the vibe, as did the four judges, all of whom turned to face the talent.
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“Incredible,” Chance the Rapper blurted out.
NariYella explained that she’s been singing since she could talk. No one would argue. And none of the judges would complain about the gifts she shared with each, blue kyanite tumble stones. “I’m very big on energy,” she explained.
Of the performance, Niall Horan commented: “That was insane. You were, like, so comfortable up there.”
Blake Shelton chimed in, “your voice…it was actually shocking to me, how powerful you are. Anybody who can be that open and connected to the moment, those are the artists that make it all the way.”
Kelly Clarkson then took the mic. “You have a personality that is just so incredibly captivating…you were so comfortable, and confident, so excited. And that kind of passion is what it takes to win a show like this.”
Chance rounded it out, remarking that he was “blown away” and that, technically, her skill level is “way, way, way beyond your years, way, way, way beyond your experience.”
The talking shop closed, and NariYella had to make a tough decision. She took a Chance.
Watch below.
When a star is born, grab your sunglasses and step out the way.
Kate Cosentino, a 23-year-old talent from Kansas City, shone bright when she stepped onto NBC’s The Voice stage Tuesday night (March 14), for her Blind Audition.
It was a starry performance, judge Niall Horan would go on to say. He should know when he sees one.
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Cosentino covered Dionne Warwick‘s “I Say a Little Prayer,” doing so in her own pace, stripped down, and with an electric guitar. Though her outfit screamed “clown couture” (her words), Cosentino’s played with no fuss, going with a finger-picking jazzy style, and without overriding effects.
Kelly Clarkson turned first and led a domino effect, as Chance the Rapper and Horan swiftly fell for her charms.
“Amazing,” Chance said at the wrap. “You got such a cool vibe to you.” The hip-hop star paid tribute to her “full voice” which carries a “lot of joy that comes out of it.”
Clarkson moved. “You have such a pretty alto register,” said the country-pop star, “kind of like lullaby-ish. You really could go so many places.”
And with that, the sales-pitch was on.
Horan didn’t muck about. He opened strong: “Would you like to be on my team?” Her choice of song was an indication of high quality and standards. “You could go all the way. You’ve given us this really really famous massive hit that’s really tough to sing. There’s an already-made star in there. You’ve got this Italian confidence.”
Will this star being a shooting one, will it go supernova, or light the canopy for years to come
We’ll wait and watch. In the meantime, Horan will guide the artist into the next phase of the talent competition.
Watch below.
The month of March has been an electrifying one for TWICE, the K-pop girl group which in short time has collected a special award, dropped a mini album and performed on late-night U.S. TV.
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First, the Breakthrough Award at Billboard’s Women In Music Event, where Chaeyoung, Nayeon, Tzuyu, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun and Jeongyeon graced the red carpet and performed “Moonlight Sunrise,” video for which has since racked-up about four million views on YouTube.
TWICE was honored at the annual event March 1 at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, where they chatted with Billboard on the red carpet about the LP.
Then, overnight (March 9), the singers stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a performance of “Set Me Free.”
The NBC studio audience emptied its collective lungs at the group, as they delivered their style of slick pop with clockwork-like choreography, all bathed in blue light.
“Moonlight Sunrise,” “Set Me Free” and earlier single “The Feels” appear on Ready to Be, the 12th mini-album from TWICE, which dropped at the stroke of midnight. “Set Me Free” is the only track on the record that receives versions cut both English and Korean.
If you need a pointer to its potential chart success, the last TWICE mini-album was August 2022’s Between 1&2, which logged eight weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 3.
In an interview with Billboard ahead of the 2023 WIM, the nine-member act spoke of their global success despite language differences. “I think it’s the songs of ours that carry TWICE’s color rather than the language in which the song is sung,” Jihyo said at the time. “I don’t think the language is that relevant in carrying out TWICE’s [identity].”
Watch the late-night TV performance below and stream Ready to Be here.
After months of thrills, and near spills (certainly for Morgan Myles), America has chosen Bryce Leatherwood as the winner of The Voice 2022.
The country singer was guided throughout by Blake Shelton, and hadn’t hit a bum note during his ride.
Based in Statesboro, Georgia, the 22-year-old singer gives Shelton a record ninth victory. Shelton will get a chance to reach double figures in the win column before he steps away from the show at the end of the 23rd season.
Earlier, during the first part of NBC’s two-day finale, Leatherwood impressed with covers of Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”.
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He wasn’t done there. During the finale, Shelton joined forces with his protégé for a performance of his 2011 hit “Hillbilly Bone”.
In the closing moments, Leatherwood out-pointed fellow Team Blake singers and Bodie, Team Camila Cabello’s Morgan Myles (Team Blake’s Brayden Lape and Team Legend’s Omar Jose Cardona were eliminated in the closing stages).
For Leatherwood, who is blessed with a name that resonates with country music, Christmas arrives early. His victory spoils include a recording contract with Universal Music Group and $100,000 in cash.
Prior to the nail-biting conclusion, The Voice finale also featured performances by Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Maluma OneRepublic, BRELAND and Adam Lambert, who debuted his cover of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World.”
Watch the closing moments below.
The winner of The Voice 2022 is in plain sight, but the coronation must wait a little longer.
On the penultimate episode of NBC’s popular singing competition, each of the remaining contestants got their chance to sing twice for America’s vote.
One, an up-tempo number. The other, something from the heart.
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Bodie (Team Blake) went out and hit Harry Styles’ “Late Night Talking” and Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude”; Morgan Myles (Team Camila) sang Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”; Brayden Lape (Team Blake) sang Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her” and Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind”; Bryce Leatherwood (Team Blake) tackled Travis Tritt’s ““T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”; and Omar José Cardona (Team Legend) went with Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” and Queen’s “Somebody to Love”.
All of them will fancy their chances. Some pundits are calling it for Leatherwood, others are moved by Myles.
The season-long frontrunner Bodie did his chances no harm with a fun cover of Styles’ poppy number, despite being thrust into the opening spot of the night. He followed up with a dramatic rendition of “Gratitude” that had everyone waving their hands in the air.
Earlier in the competition, the California native impressed with his take on a modern classic, JVKE’s 2022 release “Golden Hour”; he won through in a battle with Jaeden Luke on Justin Bieber‘s “As Long as You Love Me”; and got a four-chair turn during the blind auditions with a performance of The Fray’s “You Found Me”.
All will be revealed soon.
The reality show’s live two-day finale wraps with results at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday (Dec. 13). For the lucky winner, Christmas will come early. The winner’s spoils include a recording contract with Universal Music Group and $100,000.