On Monday, as I watched the first live performance show of The Voice Season 25 — the first show when the outcome would be determined by America's viewers, not by the coaches — I knew those viewers would face a tough decision. All of the top 12 really brought it when it mattered most, so no matter how the voting panned out, it was unavoidable that three talented hopefuls would have their hopes dashed.
But I always figured that all of the country or country-adjacent singers would be safe. This season boasts the most country-dominated coaching panel in Voice history, so I assumed a large contingent of country music fans have been tuning in.
As expected, Team Reba's Josh Sanders — the top 12's only white male country singer, with a classic '90s vibe — was voted through to the top nine. So was rookie coaches Dan + Shay's veteran Nashville crooner Karen Waldrup, who'd delivered a solid version of Lee Ann Womack's tried-and-true "I Hope You Dance." But I'd predicted that Team Dan + Shay's country-pop belter Tae Lewis, who actually covered one of Dan + Shay's own songs Monday, and Team Legend's Zoe Levert, who'd been hyped (perhaps over-hyped) as a frontrunner and likened to a young Taylor Swift all season long, would sail through as well.
I was wrong. Tae and Zoe landed in the bottom four, along with two of my favorites from Monday, Team Reba's L. Rodgers and Team Chance's Nadége, (neither of whom deserved to be at risk based on this week's stellar performances). I think Tae had simply flown under the radar all season, bouncing between Reba McEntire and Dan + Shay's teams, while those incessant Taylor comparisons seemed to backfire for Zoe. If NBC was trying to capitalize on Taylormania and rally the Swifties to tune in and vote for this girl, that transparent tactic clearly failed. And that's a shame, because Zoe came to competition as one of this season's most fully realized artists in her own right.
So, on Tuesday's dramatic and tear-filled live results show, the top eight vote-getters, regardless of team affiliation, automatically advanced to the next round. Those eight, along with the above-mentioned Josh and Karen, included Team Reba's Asher HaVon, Team Dan + Shay's Madison Curbelo, Team Chance's Maddi Jane and Serenity Arce, and Team Legend's Bryan Olesen and Nathan Chester. Nathan was my hands-down favorite this week — the dynamite showman seriously needs his own '70s-style NBC variety show, whether or not he ultimately wins this particular show — so America got it right in that regard.
That left L., Nadége, Zoe, and Tae at risk, all singing to win the last spot in the top nine via the Instant Save live vote. L. went first, doing Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." This was a good-on-paper song choice for her — a rangy, passionate classic that everyone knows and loves. But something was off here. She sounded hoarse in the beginning, and uncharacteristically pitchy and screechy at the end. I suspect this was because her emotions and adrenaline were running so high.
After her wobbly performance, as L. and her coach Reba exchanged what (spoiler alert) turned out to be their last words on the show, L. said through sobs, "Thank you for letting me be me. You have never expected anything but me, even when it's not always easy to be me." Reba told L., "I love you," and said, "The world is richer because of your talent, your personality, and your spirit. ... We are so much better because of you."
While L.'s performance wasn't perfect, at least she picked an actual fight song, the kind of song that usually inspires America to pick up their phones, log into the NBC app, and vote. Sade's "Smooth Operator" seemed like it would have been a smart pick for Nadége, based on its cool, jazzy vibe (John Legend said it was "in her zone"), but it was not only way too laid-back for this do-or-die moment, but absolutely the wrong song for her actual vocal range. She was flat and froggy, not at all smooth, and seemed to run out of air halfway through. Host Carson Daly said Nadége "sounded like the record," but apparently he's never listened to Sade's Diamond Life in his life.
Chance the Rapper seemed to know Nadége's time was up, assuring her, "These won't be the last words, regardless, because I'd love to work with you. ... You win either way." Nadége's also seemed resigned to her fate and already looking to the future, thanking Chance for giving her a chance and telling him, "You've pulled out a new side of my creativity that I will take into the studio."
Zoe warbled Kacey Musgraves's "Slow Burn," which could have been a nice choice for a regular performance night. (I've always thought Zoe seemed more like a young Kacey than a young Taylor.) But again, this was not a fight song. All of these contestants need to have better save-me songs ready to go on results nights, even if they think they'll be safe — because as this week's result proved, no one is safe. Zoe needed to do something fiery — a fast burn, not a slow one — but she's just not that type of artist. However, her coach John praised her for sticking to her artistry, saying, "That performance reflected how comfortable you were with the song. Your little cracks and falsetto moments and scoops, all of it really worked."
Zoe seemed the most devastated to be in the bottom four, even more weepy and emotional than L. as she thanked John for "believing in me from the beginning," choked back tears, and leaned on her fellow contestants for support. John also seemed to sense that this was goodbye, telling Zoe, "You are so young and you have so much opportunity ahead of you. ... You understand how to be an artist, and that's going to serve you so well."
And then, there was Tae. Shenandoah's "The Church on Cumberland Road" may not have been a big, pleading, vote-for-me power ballad, but it was classic country, and this polished pro always delivers a fun, crowd-rousing, house-rocking performance. He elevated the energy after three slow, sad numbers, and he ended the Instant Save round on a literal high note. "Tae took us to church!" Shay Mooney exclaimed, thanking Tae for "bringing so much joy," while Dan Smyers said this felt "like a finale performance."
Well, I don't know if Tae will make it to the finale. But after the nationwide real-time vote, he rightfully prevailed. (For whatever reason, NBC no longer shows the percentage breakdowns of Instant Save votes, so I don't know if Tae won by a landslide. But I suspect he did.) This means that three of the top nine contestants moving on to next week's semifinals will represent the country music genre, and Dan + Shay will be well-reptresented too, because, interestingly, they're the only coaches who haven't lost a team member so far.
But next week will be even tougher, when the top nine suddenly become the top five. My personal final five, based on the contestants' overall body of work this season, would be Nathan, Asher, Maddi, Madison, and Tae. But it could go any which way. See you then.
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