Part one of The Voice season 15’s finale aired Monday night on NBC, with the final four artists singing live in three performances each: a new cover, a duet with their coach and an original song. Coaches Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson each had one artist in the final four, and Blake Shelton had two. Adam Levine had none, but he was still on hand for coaching comments.
Team Blake’s Chris Kroeze was up with his cover first, singing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” He didn’t add much spin to the cover, but he put on an entertaining performance, and it was a crowd-pleasing song. Kroeze showcased his guitar playing as well as his vocals, and Shelton said he “killed it.”
Team Kelly’s country artist Chevel Shepherd followed with a cover of “It’s a Little Too Late” by Tanya Tucker. For her performance, Shepherd delivered smooth, soulful lyrics while still staying true to her country roots. Levine called her classic-sounding voice special.
Team Blake’s second artist Kirk Jay kicked off the original songs with his performance of “Defenseless,” which was co-written by The Voice alum Nicolle Galyon. Jay delivered a solid country ballad with the original, which suited his voice. Hudson said she was ready to buy his album, and Shelton was pleased that Jay had made her into a country fan.
Next up, Kennedy Holmes from Team Jennifer sang her original song “Love Is Free.” It fit her vocal style and young personality. Hudson commended Holmes on how professional she is in her process.
Jay was back up for his duet with Shelton, singing “You Look So Good in Love.” It was a straightforward, old-school country performance, which was a bit different for Jay.
Holmes returned to sing “Home” from The Wiz with her coach, and it allowed her to deliver big, dramatic vocals.
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Kroeze’s original song “Human” had a much more radio-ready sound to it than the previous songs Kroeze has gravitated toward. He tapped into a pop side that he hasn’t really shown before, and it worked. Hudson noted that Kroeze also helped turn her into a country fan.
For her duet, Shepherd sang “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” with Clarkson. Their voices blended well, and Shepherd put on another high-energy, engaging performance.
Kroeze returned to sing “Two More Bottles of Wine” with Shelton, making for another fun duet. And with that, Kroeze was done with his finale performances.
Jay closed out his performances by covering “I Won’t Let Go” by Rascal Flatts, which was a great song choice for him, playing to his strengths and allowing him to tap into emotional lyrics. Levine said Jay’s voice stands out this season.
Shepherd had a strong finish, too, singing the original song “Broken Hearts,” which she noted was the first time she has recorded an original. Her vocals sounded gorgeous, and the song kept things simple while still highlighting her range and lovely tone. The performance made her coach tear up.
Holmes got to close out all of season 15 with a cover of “Confident” by Demi Lovato. She ended the night on a high note, showcasing range, personality and strong creative sensibilities. Holmes came off as a well-rounded artist, and Hudson compared her to Beyoncé.
The winner of The Voice season 15 will be crowned Tuesday night.
