Team Usher’s Vedo and Team Shakira’s Garrett Gardner were handed their walking papers at the end of Tuesday night’s "The Voice" -- and neither of them were particularly surprised by their dismissals.
"I mentally prepared myself," Vedo told TODAY.com after the results were announced. "I was ready."
The R&B singer’s version of Michael Jackson’s "Rock With You" wasn’t enough to get him into the top 10, but he still earned plenty of fans, as evidenced by how several audience members chanted his name after live episode ended. "I heard it," Vedo said of the show of support. "It was definitely a boost of confidence. I was like 'Okay, somebody likes me.'"
As far as what he’ll do from this point forward, "The next move is just to hit the ground running," he said.
“It's been a wonderful experience. I wouldn't change it for the world,” Vedo added. “Every single thing that happened, I wouldn't change it because it made me a better person. Even from all the people saying they love (me) to all the people saying 'Vedo sucks,' I love all of it. You want that. You want a balance of good and bad. When nobody's talking about you, that's when you've got a problem.”
Garrett Gardner told us on Monday that he knew performing the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” was a huge risk, but even after finding out that it didn’t pay off, the second-chance artist had no regrets.
“I think we could've picked a different song but I don't regret the risk that we took,” he said. “That might have been what sent me home, but at the same time it’s not something I'm going to brood on. Sometimes the risk can equal the benefit and it didn't last night. You just have to look back on it and say ‘Was this worth it?’ and for me, I think it was.”
What will he do next? “I have a lot of original material that I want to release. I have like 30 songs I’m ready to record,” he continued. “I have a lot of ideas, to go on tour and play some benefit shows for various causes, and give back to all the people that've been supporting me - show them that I really care and appreciate all the support.”
Garrett called his "Voice" journey "totally a confirmation above and beyond. No matter what happens, you have to keep on pushing to that next goal. And just because you don't make it the first time, that doesn't mean anything. You can always get back up and always succeed."