There will be no four-peat for Blake Shelton on "The Voice."
On a night that saw his former champions Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery return to the "Voice" stage to perform, Blake's sole remaining hope for this season was sent packing. Cole Vosbury, whose voice and beard seemed equally responsible for his success, fell just short of reaching next week's finale.
Cole spent the final few seconds of Tuesday night's results show standing beside Team Adam's Will Champlin, with one spot in the finale left. When Carson Daly relayed the news that Cole was going home, the camera panned to show Blake's stunned face pondering a cruel world where he doesn't get to add another trophy to his shelf — a world he hasn't known since the first season. That's the last time he lost — to Adam Levine.
Next week's finals will consist of Team Adam's Will and Tessanne Chin, along with Jacquie Lee, coached by Christina Aguilera. (James Wolpert was eliminated at the beginning of the show.) That leaves Blake on the sidelines with CeeLo Green.
But even in defeat, he's taking credit for Adam's success.
"The only reason Adam has three people left in the competition is because I let him," Blake said at the top of the show. "I let him do it."
If so, his benevolence backfired.
Just before the results were announced, Carson asked Cole what he was thinking.
"I never imagined I would have this much support from you," he told Blake. "I hope I can make the finale and not let you down and not let Team Blake down and the legacy of Team Blake."
But unfortunately for Blake, that legacy won't include a fourth consecutive title.