'The Voice': Gwen Stefani says 'cut the camera' after this Top 8 singer left her in tears

The semifinals on "The Voice" are here.

The Top 8 contestants laid it all on the line Monday for a coveted spot in the finals next week. And the stakes are higher than ever: Only half of the artists will survive.

That's right, four singers will be sent home Tuesday in one of the biggest eliminations of the season. And it's all up to the fans, who will vote on their favorite performances.

There were tears, stunning production backdrops, moving stories and, of course, stellar vocals. This is "The Voice," after all. Here's what happened during Monday's Top 8 performances:

Last week on 'The Voice': Gwen Stefani’s singer stuns on Blake Shelton’s ‘God’s Country’ in front of him

Team John

John Legend, the reigning champ, won his first season as a coach last year with Maelyn Jarmon. And he's in the best position to go two for two because he has three singers remaining, the most of any coach.

Katie Kadan

The Chicago native, a four-chair turn who has emerged as the season favorite, did not disappoint. Kadan opened the show with a powerful rendition of Patti Labelle's "Lady Marmalade."

"That’s how you kick off the semifinals," host Carson Daly said. "I think you won a Grammy and a Tony during that performance."

Legend agreed, and he knows a thing or two about the topic as a V-EGOT winner.

"Carson is right. You deserve awards, you deserve more than 'The Voice'; a Grammy, all that," Legend said. "We are fortunate she is on our show. We don’t deserve you."

Marybeth Byrd

Byrd, who hails from the small town of Armorel, Arkansas, returned to her country roots after she barely advanced to the semifinals last week with the Instant Save.

Legend thinks Byrd's bottom three finish last week may be because she "strayed far away from country," he said. So she's determined to prove that she's "still Marybeth Byrd from this little country small town."

Byrd took on "Before He Cheats" by America's sweetheart Carrie Underwood.

"That’s got to be a tough vocal to tackle," Shelton said, but he may be a little biased. "I love the country stuff, personally, so I’m glad to see you get back to it."

Legend applauded his artist and thanked America for not voting her through without a fight.

"She has such a loving personality. So it’s hard to imagine her mad, but I think America needs to see that," Legend said. "I think her being on the brink of not making it to the Top 8 lit a fire under her."

Will Breman

The California native showcased a fusion of pop and rock on Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven." His challenge? Bring the sex-appeal.

"How can you take your eyes off of me? My jacket is pink and my hair is blue," Breman joked, after practicing his best smoldering eye look on the ladies.

Breman brought his signature high energy directly into the crowd during a portion of his performance, where he jumped along with the audience while he nailed his vocals.

"Every week you just impress me so much," Legend said. "Your stage presence is so electric and magnetic."

Breman is having just as much fun as those watching him.

"Six months ago I was just scraping by in Santa Barbara," he recalled. "I’ll take this with me for the rest of my life."

Team Blake

Blake Shelton, the last original coach on the NBC singing competition, entered Season 17 with six wins under his belt, the most of any coach in "Voice" history. And he's going for his seventh title this year.

Kat Hammock

The 18-year-old stuck to her beloved and unique indie-pop sound on Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know." And the California native could relate to the song.

"'This could be the end of everything.' This is kind of how I feel at this phase of the competition," Hammock told coach Shelton, who predicted that she would be finale-bound at the Blind Auditions. "It's so weird that Blake saw that I would make it far in this show. I didn’t see it in myself."

Hammock delivered an emotional performance on top of a beautiful crescent moon, accompanied by ballerinas. Daly described the set as a "lunar fairy tale."

"That was easily your most powerful vocal performance on the show so far," Shelton applauded. "Your voice can make you happy and break your heart."

The country star promised that she will "be making records" after the show with his help. "I'm not going anywhere," Shelton added.

Ricky Duran

The soul rocker, who is known for busting out his guitar, switched gears and opened his performance on the piano to showcase his versatility and showmanship.

He sang an emotional rendition of “Let It Be” by The Beatles, a "healing" song that has a significant meaning to the Massachusetts native.

"When I was little, I remember my Dad and his brother singing it at our family parties," said Duran, who lost his father to suicide. "Since my dad passed (away), it has become my family anthem."

Duran left his heart on the stage during the moving performance that featured a guitar solo. Shelton called it the "vocal performance of your life."

This is something of a Cinderella story for Duran. He went from not receiving any chair turns while auditioning for Season 6 of "The Voice" to earning four chair turns this season. Now, he's one step away from the finals.

"He reminded me why I wanted to be in a coach in the first place," Shelton said. "He worked his butt off to get where he’s at and he deserves to be in the finale."

Team Gwen

Gwen Stefani returned to "The Voice" this season, replacing Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine. But this isn't her first rodeo: She was a coach on Seasons 7, 9 and 12.

Stefani has never won, though. And now she has all her eggs in one basket, er, singer.

Rose Short

Short showed off her vulnerable side on "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner.

The former corrections officer, who quit her job to audition for "The Voice," has been open about overcoming insecurities this season, thanks to her coach. She used her lessons of accepting her flaws to interpret the lyrics in a different way.

"Love doesn't have to come from another person. Love can come from yourself," Short said. "'The Voice' has literally changed my life."

Her powerful performance had Stefani and Clarkson both in tears.

"I’m crying. That was unbelievable. I am so in awe of you," Stefani said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Cut the cameras."

Team Kelly

"American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson has won twice as a coach and is looking for her third title.

Hello Sunday

The duo slowed down Stevie Wonder’s "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" before bringing a literal party to the stage with their vocals and choreography as colorful as their sparkly outfits.

They were praised for their difficult song choice that coach Clarkson said she herself "would never cover." She added, "That's a beast."

But Myla Finks & Chelsea Grover, who keep a competitive nature between themselves, were in perfect harmony with their vocals, which makes it hard to believe that the teens met only two years ago at summer camp.

"Mind. Blown," Stefani said after applauding the youngest duo in "Voice" history.

Clarkson said she was a "proud stepmom." She added, "You bring your A-game – the perfect song, the perfect time. America they are 14 years old and just nailed that."

Jake Hoot

Hoot, who affectionately calls his fans "'Hooters," closed the show with a rendition of the Eagles' "Desperado," a song dear to his mother.

"My mom is an incredibly special person to me, so I’m very excited to be singing one of her favorite songs," Hoot said, revealing that he has eight siblings.

Clarkson said she's the "luckiest coach in the world."

"This story really matters to you and you delivered it," she added. "It was perfect."

Duets

In addition to their solo performances, artists were paired for duets inspired by the 1980s. The decade was picked to honor the upcoming superhero film "Wonder Woman 1984," starring Gal Gadot.

Duran and Breman took on The Outfield's "Your Love."

Byrd and Hoot sang Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes' "Up Where We Belong," the Grammy- and Oscar-winning song from the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentleman."

Short and Kadan teamed up for Madonna's "Express Yourself."

Hello Sunday paired up with Hammock for Pat Benatar's "We Belong." (The song choice was new for the teens because "none of us were born in the '80s’," Hammock said.)

Viewers will decide which four singers advance to the finals by voting. Results will be revealed during Tuesday's elimination show on NBC at 8 EST/PST.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Voice': Top 8 leave it all on the line; final 4 chosen Tuesday