TV/Film

Nine singers progressed, and three were eliminated Tuesday night (May 7) on NBC‘s The Voice, as the live round once again dished up its share of drama.

Earlier, on Monday night, each of the Top 12 hit the stage and sang for their lives in the competition.
On this occasion, America voted while coaches Reba McEntire, John Legend, Chance the Rapper and newbies Dan + Shay were on hand to give input.

During Tuesday night’s Top 9 announcement, the four singers with the lowest vote count were returned to the stage. The prize – the “Instant Save,” bringing with it entry into next week’s semi-finals.

For their last chance, Nadège hit “Smooth Operator” by Sade; L. Rodgers performed Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me,” Zoe Levert covered Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn,” and Tae Lewis’ tackled “The Church on Cumberland Road” by Shenandoah.

There could be only one. Team Dan + Shay’s Lewis got the nod.

“That was like a finale performance,” Dan Smyers told Lewis. “We are so proud of you, how far you’ve come. I hear it in your voice, I see it in your eyes (and) I feel it in your soul. You want to be here. You deserve to be here.”

The 32-year-old Goldsboro, NC native joins Bryan Olesen (Team Legend), Maddi Jane (Team Chance), Madison Curbelo (Team Dan + Shay), Asher Havon (Team Reba), Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay), Serenity Arce (Team Chance), Josh Sanders (Team Reba) and Nathan Chester (Team Legend) in the semis.

Perhaps it’s beginner’s luck. Perhaps they’ve got the secret sauce. What we do know is that Dan + Shay lead the way, representing three of the final nine contestants.

Watch Tae Lewis’ performance on season 25 of The Voice below.

There’s no such thing as a certainty, a guarantee, when NBC’s The Voice reaches the Live round.

That’s exactly where the contestants find themselves. The Top 12 singers have reached the Lives, the sweaty-palms moment in the season. It’s all nerves and sweaty-palms from here.

Asher HaVon wasn’t showing it.

On Monday night’s episode (May 6), the Team Reba standout stood up and delivered a cover of Boyz II Men’s ‘90s classic “I’ll Make Love to You,” a single that logged 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

HaVon did it justice, and made the song his own by blending power, pitch and soul.

Speaking in a package before the Lives, the Selma, Alabama native was glowing following rehearsals. “It was as big as I wanted it to be,” HaVon remarked. “I just hope that I make everybody proud, I just hope that you all feel my heart, and please, vote for me.”

HaVon hit hard during this 25th season of The Voice.

With his commanding performance of Sia and David Guetta’s “Titanium” during the Playoffs, Shay Mooney of Dan +Shay remarked. “this felt like a Grammy moment for you, man.”

And McEntire enthused, “he could sing the phonebook and make it a hit.”

John Legend likened the effort to a religious experience. “There are certain things about you that remind me of Whitney Houston. She would take these songs that weren’t written for a soul singer and have that restraint and regal presence on the sound but also throw in a dope run that you would hear in church,” Legend said. “In church, we save a descriptor for certain vessels, we say they’re anointed. I just felt that anointing on you. That was divine.” Legend will be kicking himself; he’s the only coach who didn’t turn during HaVon’s Blind Audition.

HaVon is somewhat used to the big stage. His resume includes a spot singing for former President Barack Obama during one of his hometown’s Civil Rights commemorations.

Now everyone’s watching.

America has its chance to vote on the Top 12: Asher HaVon, Bryan Olesen, Josh Sanders, Karen Waldrup, L. Rodgers, Maddi Jane, Madison Curbelo, Nadège, Nathan Chester, Serenity Arce, Tae Lewis, and Zoe Levert. When the votes are tallied, the results will be revealed on Tuesday night. Three artists will eliminated, and next week the Top 9 will perform.

See HaVon’s performance in the Lives round below.