Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton battle it out: "I have the longest career'

The Battle Rounds began on The Voice this week, so of course that meant plenty of battles between Blake Shelton and his offscreen girlfriend/onscreen rival, Gwen Stefani. Gwen returned to the show this season as a last-minute replacement for Blake’s longtime Voice nemesis, original coach Adam Levine, and so far, she really seems to be taking the role seriously. Maybe too seriously. Hopefully it’s all a wacky act, otherwise there may be a new album of post-Blake breakup songs in Gwen’s future. So, Tuesday’s Battles climaxed with a spectacular, standing ovation-garnering “Tiny Dancer” duet between Team Legend’s Destiny Rayne and Katie Kadan. The coaches were impressed that Destiny was able to hold her own, but Brittany Howard-esque powerhouse Katie was the clear standout, commanding the stage with a massive, expressive, elastic voice — a voice perfectly suited to the Elton John songbook — that Blake liked to an “eruption,” Gwen called “craziness,” and John Legend described as “spiritual.” John unsurprisingly declared Katie the winner of this Battle… but then, somewhat surprisingly, both Blake and Gwen swooped in for the Steal. And the fight between the show’s “Mom and Dad” was back on again. “I have won this show more seasons than Gwen has been a coach,” Blake declared smugly. “Maybe he has the most wins on this show — but I have the longest career,” Gwen countered. (Oooh, sick burn. That was like something out of a RuPaul’s Drag Race “The Library Is Open” mini-challenge!) Destiny ultimately signed up with Gwen, who could not help but rub this victory in her boyfriend's face. “Blake was almost sleeping on the couch tonight, so Destiny made the right choice,” Gwen giggled. You know, I think Blake may have met his match, in more ways than one.