For the first-ever Cut Week on The Voice Season 30, Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, Queen Latifah and Riley Green whittle their teams of seven down to three in what is described as the largest elimination in series history.
In this round, each coach chooses two of their artists to advance based on their performances so far, sending them straight to the Top 13 Live Shows on Nov. 9. The remaining 20 artists perform again for their coach, who chooses only one more artist to advance, while the remaining four are poised for elimination from the competition.
At the end of the night, the 16 artists who aren’t chosen by their coaches to advance will be put up for a vote, and the American public will select one artist to complete the Top 13.
Read on for our recap of the coaches’ decisions during The Voice’s “Cut Week,” which aired Nov. 2 on NBC.
Team Queen
Queen’s Top 2: Mia Knight and BigCountry
Team Performances: Bryan Jaymes — “Use Me” / Destinee Monroe — “Space Oddity” / Alt Bloom — “For the First Time” / Lillie Kolich — “Friday I’m in Love” / Chari — “Killing Me Softly”
Coach’s Feedback: “It’s been a pleasure to watch your process,” Queen began. “I’m really proud of everyone standing on that stage. You are unique in your own ways.” Queen offered that the person she chose to advance “has something so unique that they would really add to [her] team” and wants them to continue to do “super special and unique things.”
Queen’s Choice: Lillie Kolich
Team Adam
Adam’s Top 2: Lexi Stephens and Connor Closs
Team Performances: Evan James — “Midnight Train to Georgia” / Dakota Cohen — “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” / Owen Uffens — “Electric Feel” / Amanda Mikkel — “A Thousand Miles” / Brandon Diaz — “Dare You to Move”
Coach’s Feedback: “If I’m being honest with you guys,” Adam began. “It was a coin flip for various reasons.” Ultimately, he decided that he had to go with a female rock singer because there “aren’t enough kicking ass on the show this season.”
Adam’s Choice: Dakota Cohen
Team Riley
Riley’s Top 2: Cade Mower and Ferryn & Brinkley
Team Performances: Allie Rae — “4x4xU” / Everett Bounds — “Killin’ Time” / Keiyana Osmond — “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” / Kayleigh Mathews — “Walking After Midnight” / Joe Henley — “Don’t Close Your Eyes”
Coach’s Feedback: “Y’all have something so special, but you’re all so different,” said Riley. “But I just really enjoyed getting to know y’all.” He based his decision on being impressed with their song choice and that “if this is right” then he has to go with that artist.
Riley’s Choice: Joe Henley
Team Kelly
Kelly’s Top 2: Koumba Diallo and Anna McElroy
Team Performances: Marcus Ladden Jr. — “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” / Brooklyn Marie — “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” / Brianna Cameron — “Inseparable” / Nina Howland — “In the Kitchen” / Kyle Davis — “Can’t Find My Way Home”
Coach’s Feedback: “It’s a very hard decision and I’m just gonna rip the Band-Aid off ’cause I had to make a decision,” Kelly said. Her choice came down to an artist that “showed [her] something [she’s] never seen,” calling her a “little onion” with so many layers for a 13-year-old.
Kelly’s Choice: Brianna Cameron
The Live Show teams:
TEAM KELLY: Anna McElroy, Brianna Cameron, Koumba Diallo
TEAM RILEY: Cade Mower, Ferryn & Brinkley, Joe Henley
TEAM QUEEN: BigCountry, Lillie Kolich, Mia Knight
TEAM ADAM: Connor Closs, Dakota Cohen, Lexi Stephens
