‘The Voice’ season 25 episode 5 recap: ‘The Blind Auditions, Part 5’ [LIVE BLOG]

John Benutty and Denton Davidson
·8 min read
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Tonight on “The Voice,” coaches Chance the Rapper, Dan + Shay, John Legend and Reba McEntire all vie to discover and coach the next singing phenomenon on the fifth night of blind auditions. Follow along with our live blog below.

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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Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Voice” recap of Season 25, Episode 5 to find out what happened Monday, March 11 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 4, blind auditions continued. Joining Team Reba were William Alexander and Alyssa Crosby. Joining Team Chance were Rletto and Bri Fletcher. Joining Team Dan + Shay was Anya True. Joining Team Legend was Mafe . Let’s continue the blinds!

8:01 p.m. – Instead of right into auditions, the coaches united for a special performance of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” backed by a choir surrounding them.

8:07 p.m. – Afterward, the first audition came from 28 year old Ronnie Wilson with “Pillowtalk” and earned a chair turn from John and Reba. He told the coaches that he’s heavily influenced by gospel and country music, opening the door for a fair fight between the two. Reba told him that his voice makes people feel good and wants to help him “embellish not change.” John said he loved the moments he created by “being creative with the melody” and complimented his “fresh taste.” This time it was a quick decision for Ronnie become the next member of Team Legend.

8:18 p.m. – Still holding on to their blocks, Chance and John were waiting for the right artist to make it an effective play. Zoe Levert from New Orleans auditioned with “Better Man,” but no block was needed because John became the only coach to turn in the final seconds of her performance. Dan + Shay were the coaches she’d hoped would turn, but even though they didn’t they were nice enough to take the stage to perform their song for Zoe and her fiancé. John liked her “clear” tone and said that they should find songs that keep her in the higher part of her range because that’s where he liked her voice best.

8:32 p.m. – Up next was country artist Ducote Talmage with “Sand in My Boots” who earned simultaneous button hits from John and Dan + Shay. John told him that he loved the “little scratch” in his voice and promised to be a good coach because of his ability to pick good songs and build good performances. He challenged him to be a “renegade” by joining his team. Shay suggested that John wouldn’t be a good coach for a country artist and promised that they don’t have an artist like him on their team yet so he’s the one they need. Dan added that he has a powerful voice. Both Chance and Reba said that they didn’t turn because there were “pitch problems” throughout, but did offer him advice on how to fix that. Despite two earlier successes for John, this decision went in favor of Team Dan + Shay.

8:45 p.m. – 46 year old Nashville resident JJ Higgins took the stage next with “Return to Pooh Corner,” but wasn’t an artist that any of the coaches were looking for. John questioned why he chose the song he did and was surprised by the story of connection to the birth of his son. At that point it made more sense to him and the other coaches and JJ acknowledged that getting to tell his story meant the world to him.

8:55 p.m. – This season was a second chance opportunity for season 21 hopeful Serenity Arce who at the time Blake Shelton told to embrace the time to get better and return. Her version of “This City” would have been an immediate four team decision, but John successfully used his block to keep her from choosing Dan + Shay. John told her that he’s proud she came back to the show because it shows that she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Chance called the audition a “real dedication” and complimented her high register while also loving the transition to her chest voice. He said that he emphasizes giving his artists the space to make their own decisions in the competition. Reba offered that she can help her “enhance the qualities” that she “already has.” John called her voice “powerful and crisp” and thinks she’s ready for the radio. In the end, John’s block may have been a failure because Serenity decided to join Team Chance instead.

9:09 p.m. – Emma Valentine from Santa Cruz was up next with “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes),” but none of the coaches turned their chairs for her. Reba explained that she has a beautiful voice, but she was holding a spot for a “certain type” of artist. Dan complimented her vibrato, but thought she some “pitch issues” were “exposed.”

9:20 p.m. – Attention turned to farmer Ryan Coleman‘s rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine” with Dan + Shay finally turning after hovering on the fence throughout the performance. Reba thought he approached the song differently from what she’s ever heard and thinks he is a good fit for the team he fell on. Chance noted “a few pitch issues” as the reason why he didn’t turn. Shay “absolutely loved” his tone and said that his voice “has an identity.” Dan also loved the performance and acknowledged that it’s a tough space to perform in, but his country tone came through.

9:25 p.m. – Reba also picked up an artist in a no contest turn, earning Zeya Rae to her team following an audition of “bellyache.” Reba appreciated that Zeya’s voice was like no one else’s on her team so far.

9:31 p.m. – 25 year old AJ Harvey grew up wanting to be a drummer in the Osage circle he was raised around and as his audition song “Girl from the North Country” shows he paired that with an appreciation for major pop artists like Bob Dylan. Both Chance and Dan + Shay quickly turned their chairs for AJ. Reba commented that some of his enunciation was missed by her and John called his voice “lovely” despite not connecting to the song personally. Dan said he loved “the richness of the bass notes” and Shay called it “phenomenal.” Chance pitched that he related to the soul of his performance and then hit his special button that set off an alarm to “Pick Chance.” Even with the extra effort from Chance, AJ went with Team Dan + Shay.

9:43 p.m. – By this point in the round, Reba had two spots left on her team while the other three teams each had one spot. When it came to Moelle‘s chance to join a team after her audition of “Always Remember Us This Way,” things remained the same because the coaches were concerned with the “pitch issues throughout.” Shay wasn’t moved by the song selection and wanted something that “hit us in the heart.” John advised her to not take the vibrato “so wavy” and Chance said that she got better at the end of the song.

9:54 p.m. – Elyscia Jefferson from Baltimore had the last spot of the night and earned a three chair turn with her take on “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” with only John sitting the decision out. Chance called it “a crazy arrangement” of the song and wants to “support” her in her song selection throughout the competition. Reba agreed that it was an “amazing” performance and noted her ease on stage as a standout quality. John appreciated her “laid back vibe” and that she sounded “effortless,” but said he didn’t turn because he felt like he was “too late” in the decision. Shay called himself “such a fan” and Dan liked her “incorporation of vibrato,” calling her a “contagious” performer. Without knowing it, Elyscia evened the teams out by joining Team Reba.

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