Usher picked his top three to move on to the live shows in the final episode of the Playoffs on The Voice.

TJ Wilkins was up first, singing “Tell Me Somethin’ Good” by Chaka Khan & Rufus. TJ is a soul singer to his core, and the song shows off his strengths. Adam Levine compliments TJ for his ability to entertain, even while giving a somewhat subdued performance, and Shakira notes that the high note he hit at the end was the perfect trick to finish off the performance.

Melissa Jimenez decided to sing “Halo” by Beyoncé, a song choice that is certainly a risk for Melissa. In rehearsals, Melissa says she wants to “strip down” the track, hoping to let her vocals shine. Unfortunately for Melissa, she doesn’t have the power that Beyoncé has, though she nails the high notes towards the end of her performance. Adam and Shakira both commended her for taking a risk, but Adam ultimately felt that her performance wasn’t up to par. Blake Shelton said the performance was “pretty dang good,” and Usher doesn’t seem too impressed, but commends her efforts.

Stevie Jo went with B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone,” hoping to prove that he wants to be an R&B soul singer. The performance wasn’t without its problems, but the judges compliment his ability to throw himself into the song. Blake told him, “I’m a fan.”

Bria Kelly performed “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones with a raspy tone. Bria’s performance was a bit pitchy, but the coaches loved her belts and her guitar playing.

The final performance of the night came courtesy of Josh Kaufman, stolen by Usher during the battle rounds. Josh chose to sing Bruno Mars’ “It Will Rain,” a tough song, but one that allows Josh to steal the spotlight from all other Team Usher contestants. Josh not only showed the judges what he could do with his voice, he also brought more raw emotion to the stage than any other contestant, getting down on his knees at the end of his performance. The judges are quick to name Josh one of the best singers in the competition, and Usher thanks Adam for giving up such a great singer during the battle rounds.

When it came time to pick which artists he would take to the live rounds, Usher stuck with his favorite, Bria Kelly, calling her to safety first. Usher’s second pick went to Josh Kaufman, leaving MJ, Stevie Jo and TJ to plead Usher for a spot in the live rounds. It was a tough decision for Usher, but eventually decided to say goodbye to MJ and Stevie Jo.

Top 12 To Perform In Live Rounds

Team Usher:
Bria Kelly
Josh Kaufman
TJ Wilkins

Team Shakira:
Tess Boyer
Kristen Merlin
Dani Moz

Team Blake:
Sisaundra Lewis
Audra McLaughlin
Jake Worthington

Team Adam:
Delvin Choice
Christina Grimmie
Kat Perkins

The Top 12 will perform in live rounds for America’s votes on The Voice starting Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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