Monday night's episode of The Voice saw the final battles of the season, and two singers from Team Reba shared a poignant cover of Trisha Yearwood's 1993 tune, "The Song Remembers When." The artists who took on the track were country singer Caitlin Quisenberry and R&B singer Crystal Nicole.
The singers managed to tell the emotional story of the song and captivate the judges in the process. Although their voices are very different, they both shone bright as they traded lines of the song and showcased their respective strengths. Quisenberry was able to easily show off her country storytelling ability, and Nicole stood out for her strong voice and perfectly placed vocal runs.
Coach Niall Horan looked especially impressed, and he gave the artists a standing ovation. He praised Nicole's voice for being "round, warm and fuzzy inside." Horan also complimented Quisenberry for her "familiarity," and he expressed his sadness for not turning for her during bind auditions.
"You had the chance to turn, like, you could have turned," Legend quipped back.
Legend had great things to say about both contestants, saying Nicole's voice "takes up space in a really nice way." He said Quisenberry's tone "felt at home" in the song and mentions that she possibly won the battle for that reason.
When Coach Reba had the chance to speak, she praised both singers for their performance.
"I loved it," she said of the rendition. "Thank y'all very much for working so hard and making that song so good. I know Trisha would be thrilled to death."
She looked clearly conflicted as she deliberated between the two artists, but in the end, she declared Quisenberry as the winner of the battle.
The decision wasn't an easy one for her. She wiped away a few tears as Nicole said her goodbyes and left the stage.
"Coach Reba, don't feel bad," Nicole told her. "That was a great choice. I've gained so much from this experience, so thank you so much."
The Voice airs on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC.
