Blake Shelton appears poised to rub another victory in fellow "Voice" coach Adam Levine's face.
The country star, who has coached the last two winners, and was the runner-up in season one, now has a 50 percent chance of making it three winners in a row. That's thanks to the elimination of Team Adam’s Judith Hill and Sarah Simmons on Tuesday. The results left Adam with only Amber Carrington remaining on his team, meaning he now joins Usher and Shakira in being on the edge of elimination.
Blake, meanwhile, still has three acts left. Danielle Bradbery was no surprise, but The Swon Brothers and Holly Tucker had more uncertain fates entering the night.
No worries, though, as Team Country marches on intact to the final six. (With Adam’s one remaining singer a country artist in background as well, it’s not hard to guess what music genre is the favorite of the audience.)
It’s easy to blame the results on the coaching. Adam made a big deal about how his singers took risks and would continue to take risks.
“I think it’s crucial for them to take risks because it’s those risks that propel them to the end of this thing. One thing I can certainly guarantee from my team is that I’m not going to play it safe,” Adam said. “Or you could be like Blake and let them do whatever they want and not coach them at all.” (Oh, snap!)
But that strategy didn't work out so well for the Maroon 5 singer. They’re called “risks” for a reason, and going against expectations proved costly for both of his eliminated acts. The fact that everyone fixated on Judith’s hair probably didn’t help her cause any either.
While it was obvious that Usher and his contestant, Michelle Chamuel, weren’t going anywhere, Team Shakira's Sasha Allen was on more precarious footing. The superstar even sounded like she was prepared to see her contestant vanquished.
“You’re helping your artists craft their own artistic identity and it takes a lot of experimentation, and you can make mistakes during that process,” Shakira said. “I have no idea of what people are going to think of Sasha’s performance (Monday), but I just want her to know that she has an undeniable talent. If she gets home tonight, it’s because her coach made a mistake.”
The show’s producers did the international star a solid and didn’t make her wait until the final moments for her results. After Michelle and Danielle had already been saved and Shakira was looking like she was about to pass out from the tension, host Carson Daly mercifully declared Sasha safe.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Shakira said, leaping out of her chair. After jumping onstage to embrace her charge, she then enjoyed a nice hug with Usher before reclaiming her seat.
Both newbie coaches survived another week, and now they even have company in having only one act remaining to carry their hopes.