The much-anticipated season 27 of The Voice kicked off with the Knockout Rounds on March 31, 2025. During this thrilling episode, sixteen talented contestants showcased their skills in eight exciting head-to-head battles. The performances were crafted under the guidance of renowned coaches Adam Levine, John Legend, Kelsea Ballerini, and Michael Bublé. This stage allows artists to select their own songs, helping coaches assess their unique artistic paths.
In this competitive format, each coach faces the challenging decision of selecting just one winner from each matchup, with no opportunity to save a losing teammate. However, there is a strategic element: each coach is permitted one Steal, enabling them to claim a contestant from another team who didn’t make the cut.
In a dramatic turn of events, four contestants were sent home: Dan Kiernan, Grace-Miller Moody, Simone Marijic, and Trevon Dawson. Conversely, four performers were rescued through the Steal mechanism; Adam Levine welcomed Kolby Cordell to his team, while Michael Bublé claimed Angie Rey. The episode also highlighted poignant moments in rehearsals, notably Kelsea Ballerini’s emotional struggle, prompting John Legend to remark:
“My voice takes a bad turn when I cry.”
Iris Shines as Angie Joins Team Michael
In a captivating matchup on Team Kelsea, Iris Herrera took the stage with Ray LaMontagne’s “Jolene,”while Angie Rey delivered a powerful rendition of Cody Johnson’s “Dirt Cheap.”The intensity of both performances moved Kelsea to tears during rehearsals. She expressed her pride:
“I was very proud of both of them. Iris just feels further along in her vocal journey,” she stated.
Kelsea ultimately chose to advance Iris to the Playoffs, while Michael Bublé strategically used his Steal on Angie Rey, explaining his choice:
“I wanted her to be able to hug her coach before she came to win the show with her new coach. I stole Angie because she’s a modern country artist. She fills that country void on my team,” he noted.
In another battle for Team Kelsea, Tinika Wyatt faced off against Dan Kiernan. Dan performed Shontelle’s “Impossible,”while Tinika enchanted with “Best of My Love”by The Emotions. Kelsea deemed Tinika’s performance “solid” and chose her to advance. Additionally, Michael Bublé’s team featured a competition between Barry Jean Fontenot and Simone Marijic, with Barry performing “Haven’t Met You Yet”and Simone tackling “She Used to Be Mine.”Michael opted to keep Barry, stating:
“The reason I went with Barry is he has something that you can’t teach,” Bublé commented.
By the conclusion of this riveting episode, the roster saw the elimination of Dan Kiernan, Grace-Miller Moody, Simone Marijic, and Trevon Dawson, while eight artists progressed forward and two were salvaged through Steals.
BD.ii Triumphs While Kolby Finds a Home on Team Adam
The night featured an engaging duel between BD.ii and Kolby Cordell from Team Legend. BD.ii chose to perform “Back at One”by Brian McKnight, while Kolby sang “Lately”by Stevie Wonder. Each artist aimed to highlight their vocal prowess, with John Legend assisting them during rehearsals.
After their performances, coaches weighed in on the talents displayed. Adam Levine expressed his fascination with BD.ii, stating, “I was transfixed,” and referred to Kolby as a “discovery.” Kelsea noted that while Kolby shared a “smokiness” with John’s voice, she felt BD.ii was more prepared. In contrast, Michael Bublé appreciated Kolby’s unique rasp. Ultimately, John chose BD.ii as the victor, moving him onto the Playoffs of The Voice. Both Adam and Michael activated their Steal options for Kolby, with Adam clarifying his earlier comments about Kolby’s tone. Kolby decided to align with Team Adam.
Fans can tune in to new episodes of The Voice, airing every Monday on NBC.