‘The Voice’ season 25 episode 12 recap: Who was eliminated in ‘The Knockouts Premiere’? [LIVE BLOG]

Tonight on “The Voice,” country powerhouse Keith Urban is enlisted as a mega mentor to help prepare the artists for the Knockouts. Coaches Reba McEntire, Chance the Rapper, Dan + Shay and John Legend pair two artists to perform solo against each other. The winner of each Knockout will move on to the playoffs. Each coach has just one steal in this round.

The four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice” returns with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the show’s newest season, which premiered February 26 on NBC (8pm PT/ET). The show’s innovative format features five stages of competition: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Knockouts, Playoffs and Live Performance Shows. 

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SEE Former ‘American Idol’ judge Keith Urban joins ‘The Voice’ as Season 25 mega mentor

Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Voice” recap of Season 25, Episode 12 to find out what happened Monday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite artists on NBC’s long-running reality TV show, which coach you’re rooting for and who you think will ultimately join “The Voice” winners list for this 25th season. Carson Daly hosts the Emmy-winning program.

Keep refreshing/reloading this “The Voice” live blog for the most recent updates.

8:00 p.m. – “Previously on ‘The Voice’!” In episode 10, the battles concluded. On Team Reba Ashley Bryant defeated and eliminated Elyscia Jefferson. On Team Chance RLETTO defeated Val T. Webb, but John used the final steal to bring Val over to Team Legend. On Team Dan + Shay Anya True defeated and eliminated AJ Harvey. On Team Legend Mafe defeated and eliminated Rivers Grayson. Let’s start the Knockouts!

8:02 p.m. – The first artists that Keith met up with  in the rehearsal space were Asher HaVon and Tae Lewis from Team Reba. Asher worked through his song choice “Unbreak My Heart” with Keith advising that he can “own it more by doing less” because all he needs is “what’s going on in your life right now.” Tae chose to sing “Nothing On You” because it shows his gospel roots. Reba and Keith wanted Tae to “take ownership” over the song and his performance of it.

8:10 p.m. – After their performances, Chance called Asher’s one of the best that’s ever been on the show and said that he wants to steal him to his team. He also congratulated Tae for a good performance. Dan thought Asher showed perfect restraint and Shay said that Tae “really stepped up.” John echoed Chance’s sentiment that he’s willing to steal the artist that Reba doesn’t choose, noting that Asher is “regal” and Tae was able to “sing the hell out of” his song following Asher. Reba concluded that they both “have so much soul,” but her personal winner was Asher.

8:17 p.m. – Leaving Tae up for grabs, John didn’t go back on his word to use the steal, but both Chance and Dan + Shay buzzed in as well. John made the case that he turned for Tae in the blinds, Chance said that all he wants to do is “platform you,” and Dan said that he has one of his favorite “tenor country voices” in a long time. John ended with the point that Dan + Shay already have a lot of country artists on their team so it wouldn’t be wise to go over there, but Shan countered that sticking with country knowledge is the best path forward. Tae was not swayed by John and decided to stick in his country lane by joining Team Dan + Shay.

8:25 p.m. – Dan + Shay kept things going by bringing in Frank Garcia and Olivia Rubini to work through their songs with Keith. Frank went with “El Triste,” a fully Spanish song that gave him a chance at redemption from when it caused a lot of online bullying after he performed it effeminately on another singing show. Keith thought Frank has “star power” and coached him emoting the song through his face since a lot of the audience won’t understand the lyric. Olivia’s choice was “Tiny Dancer” because she wanted to be “a little more intimate.” Dan thought it was a strong song choice because it takes her into her lower register, but Keith thought it would work better in a higher key because it would help make it her own rather than a cover.

8:31 p.m. – John said that Frank’s voice is “robust” and loved that Olivia went in and out of her head and chest voices, which was nice. Reba called Frank’s singing “wonderful” and Olivia that she “didn’t let [her] down.” Chance agreed that Frank has a “robust” voice, but also has the drama that gives him an edge. Dan told Olivia that she “came a long way from rehearsals” and Shay said he felt Frank’s performance without understanding Spanish. For their first decision of the round, Dan + Shay chose their stolen artist Olivia as the winner.

8:46 p.m. – John started the round with Val T. Webb and Nathan Chester. Nathan was the first to rehearse his version of “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” John liked the “classic soul” song choice and suggested that the key to his performance will be “embracing it physically.” Keith added that he needs to put himself in the place of the song to emote it. Val went with Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” for the chance to dedicate it to her husband. John reminded her to “breathe through it” and Keith noted that she just needs to pick up her confidence to get through some nervous sounding notes.

8:52 p.m. – Reba thought Nathan’s voice was “crisp and clear” and that Val “took us to church” with her range. Chance applauded Nathan’s “energy and confidence,” but heard some “pitch issues” in Val’s performance. Dan told Val her voice is “elegant” and that he “got lost” in her performance overall, but Shay was especially moved by Nathan’s. John added that Val had “some of the best moments” and that Nathan was “cinematic” in his depiction of that era of music. John gave the win to Nathan, keeping him on his team for the playoffs.

9:04 p.m. – For Chance’s first pairing he brought Dani Stacy and Serenity Arce together as a two four-chair turn matchup. Dani decided to sing the contemporary Miley Cyrus song “Jaded” in honor of her friend that passed away a few years ago. Keith thought that there was room for Dani to own the song in her way instead of mimicking what Miley does. Serenity went with Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” impressing Keith with such a big song choice. Chance reminded Serenity that all the coaches liked the “raw emotion” of her voice and so he wanted her to play that up this week as well.

9:16 p.m. – Dan told Dani that she stood out with her lower register and power while Shay loved the conviction that Serenity sang with. John didn’t think Dani sell the passion of the song and said that Serenity was “pitchier” than in the past. Reba wanted Dani to “connect with your audience” and thinks that Serenity “did do that.” Chance agreed that Dani didn’t do enough with the song and that Serenity wasn’t as technically good this time as she has been in the past. Based on her passion for the competition and risk-taking, Chance chose Serenity as his winner.

9:29 p.m. – Ashley Bryant and Josh Sanders were next up for Team Reba as her two “in between country lane” artists. Ashley chose “Heads Carolina, Tails California” because it reminds her of what it feels like to “see the world” now that she’s left Kentucky for the competition. Once again, Keith stressed the importance of making a song your own and gave Ashley tips on how to do this for herself. Josh chose “Wild as Her” from “Voice” artist Corey Kent as a dedication to his daughters. Keith worked with Josh to sing a little behind the beat as a trick to “keep my attention” with some interest to the sound of the song.

9:41 p.m. – Chance called Ashley’s performance “cool,” but wanted her to take as many risks as Josh did with his “rasp” and “energy.” Dan thought Ashley worked the stage and Shay appreciated Josh’s tone and really loved the final note he hit. John noted Ashley’s “clarity and power” as well as “the little cry” in her voice, but then thought Josh ended on a really powerful note. Reba said that Josh “can sell a song so well” and so that is what informed her decision to declare him the winner.

9:48 p.m. – Dan + Shay paired Anya True against Kyle Schuesler because of their shared “alt edge” to being a singer songwriter with the hopes that one of them would get chosen for a steal. Anya took a personal risk by singing “Runway” without her guitar which was the first time she’s ever done that. Shay wanted her to focus on “selling the story” and Keith noticed a moment where she closed her eyes and “centered” herself back into the song. Kyle’s choice was “Say You Won’t Let Go” because it reminds him of his grandma. Keith pointed out Kyle’s “raspy edge” and Dan advised him to “let the small moments be intimate” as they’re intended to be. Like Anya, the guys wanted Kyle to sing without his guitar for once.

9:56 p.m. – John told Anya that her tone is “very gorgeous” and “authentic” while Kyle’s high voice has a “crunch to it” that he likes. Reba appreciates how good both of their rangers are. Chance thought Kyle was “thrown off” at the start of the song and “leaned toward” Anya as the better performer. Shay told Anya that he “felt your heart” and pointed out Kyle’s breath control. As the choice to stay on their team for the playoffs, Dan + Shay picked Anya. Chance immediately hit his button to steal Kyle with a bit of a sneaky move that he told the guys he preferred Anya so that Kyle might be up for grabs.

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