The coaches of The Voice have been shocked by the level of talent displayed by the singers during the Knockout rounds, and the final performance of the round left multiple coaches — especially John Legend — in tears.
This Knockout included Team Niall members Alexa Wildish, Julia Roome and Lennon VanderDoes, and it was filled with emotion. Wildish kicked it off with her own version of Cher's "Believe." The 34-year-old singer played a slowed down, acoustic version of the song, which truly allowed the lyrics to shine. In the pre-performance segment, Wildish said the song reminds her of her own heartbreak, and tears streamed down her face as she sang. The emotion didn't get in the way of her performance, though, and she showcased her pitch-perfect, songbird voice.
Julia Roome took the stage next to infuse a bit of energy into the round with Sia's "Unstoppable." The singer floored the coaches with her power and confidence, especially at the young age of 13.
Lennon VanderDoes took the stage last and really put the nail in the coffin as far as the coaches holding onto their emotions. He shared an inspired rendition of Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up." While playing along with his acoustic guitar, VanderDoes started off softly, showcasing his falsetto during the first verse. He then exploded into the chorus and displayed the true potential of his voice. His singing style lends itself to more vulnerable, storytelling songs, and that aspect certainly came out during the performance.
After the three performances, emotion overtook Legend, and tears began streaming down his face. Stefani took the moment to speak to the performers, praising Wildish for her unique singer-songwriter style and VanderDoes for bringing out emotion in them.
Legend's tears only multiplied as he spoke to the singers.
"Lennon, I thought of you as the underdog, but I felt you being fully yourself, and it felt so moving to me," he said. "I don't know why I keep crying. I can't stop!"
Reba McEntire then brought Legend a tissue. By the end of his speech, all the coaches were tearing up a bit.
It's no secret that Horan had a near-impossible decision on his hands. The choice was made harder thanks to the fact that the coaches were out of steals and saves. In the end, he chose Wildish to move forward in the competition.
There's some hope for the eliminated contestants, however. At the end of the show, host Carson Daly announced a change to the rules. The coaches will have the chance to bring back one eliminated singer to continue on the show. It's possible either Roome or VanderDoes will be able to come back for a second chance, but the viewers will find out during a later episode.
The Voice airs on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC.
