The real competition on “The Voice” isn’t among the contestants — it’s at the judging panel. Rival coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Nick Jonas are having more fun than ever in Season 20 thanks to their ever-growing ruthlessness and cutthroat attitudes. They each want to win, no matter the cost, and viewers can’t get enough of their antics. To recap, Blake has the most championship victories at seven, while Kelly has three, John has one and Nick has zero. What kinds of sabotage, barbs and jokes did the coaches throw at each other during Night 2?
Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Voice” recap of Season 20, Episode 2 to find out what happened Tuesday, March 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite artists on NBC’s long-running reality TV show, which coach you’re rooting for and who you think will ultimately join “The Voice” winners list for this 10th anniversary season.
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9:00 p.m. – “Previously on ‘The Voice’!” In the season premiere, nine artists made it onto the show when the coaches turned their chairs around during Night 1 of the blind auditions. Kenzie Wheeler and Corey Ward joined Team Kelly, Christine Cain and Victor Solomon joined Team Legend, Cam Anthony and Pete Mroz joined Team Blake and Dana Monique, Devan Blake Jones and Raine Stern joined Team Nick. Will any of these contestants go the distance and win the show? Stay tuned.
9:08 p.m. — The first contestant on Night 2 is a hidden singer, which typically means their look is different than their sound. Whatever they look like, their voice has an emotional plea as they pluck the guitar strings to “All I Want.” After Blake and Nick both turn their chairs we see the mysterious vocalist revealed to be Gean Garcia, a 19-year old Texan who is the son of a successful South American Christian artist. Before he closes out his vocals, Kelly turns her chair and is shocked by Gean’s appearance. Gean has a popular song in Colombia called “Mi Familia,” which is a collaboration with his dad. Now he hopes to carve out his own legacy, but it won’t be with Nick, who has been blocked by Blake! Kelly loves how broken and sad Gean’s voice is, but Blake is fighting hard, noting that he used his only block to secure the teenager on his team. Despite Blake going all in, Gean chooses to join Team Kelly.
9:17 p.m. — Tonight’s second singer is another Texas native, 39-year old Aaron Kunzelman. His parents were Christian singers who packed the kids in the car and traveled around touring with their gospel sound. Over the years Aaron has turned down various music opportunities, focusing instead on a stable income for his wife and children. Now he’s stepping out on his own to sing “Ordinary World” for the coaches in hopes of taking his music career to a new level. After his opening verse John turns around, quickly followed by Blake. Both Kelly and Nick choose to sit this one out, but Kelly is smitten with the singer’s incredible beard. Blake argues he has more in common, musically, with Aaron than John does and it works! Aaron has joined Team Blake.
9:33 p.m. — Next to the stage is Carolina Rial, a 17-year old from New Jersey who began singing at age 10. When Carolina was 14, Jennifer Hudson reposted one of her Instagram performances, which ended up garnering over 200,000 views. Carolina’s father died when she was just three years old and she’s hoping her blossoming music career can help support her mother and siblings. She’s singing “Stay With Me” and has a unique way of pronouncing the lyrics. Carolina isn’t shy about showing off all parts of her range and as she scales up the chorus, John and Nick quickly turn their chairs. Both coaches are excited by the young talent, but Kelly told her to calm down with all the riffs (which the coach admits to doing when she was younger as well). After thinking things over, Carolina decides to join Team Legend.
8:38 p.m. — Another 17-year old is up next, this time a young man from Tennessee by the name of Ethan Lively. Ethan works two jobs, working on a farm and grooming dogs. He hopes to get a third job as a professional singer if his audition on “The Voice” goes well. The teenager is singing “You Look So Good In Love,” a country classic that instantly excites Blake and Kelly. I’m sure the coaches have no clue he’s only 17 because he sounds like a seasoned veteran. Perhaps that’s why they’re hesitant about turning around, but eventually Blake takes the bait. I have a feeling he won’t be sorry for doing so. With no contest, Ethan is instantly a part of Team Blake.
8:47 p.m. — Tonight’s next contestant is an artistic 30-year old from New Jersey who goes by the stage name Yellsmiles. Her first public performance was at age seven and she instantly knew she had a love for the stage. She’s been putting in work and knows who she is as an artist, performing “Midnight Sky” for the judges in hopes of conveying her musical message. Unfortunately, none of them were interested in coaching the singer this season. John tells her to sing a song that “breathes a little more” and sends Yellsmiles home in tears.
8:59 p.m. — The final artist of Night 2 is Zae Romeo, a 21-year old from Texas. He was placed into the foster care system when he was three years old and was fortunate to be adopted along with his siblings when he was six. Despite his loving family, Zae struggled with self-esteem issues when he was a teenager and ran away for 10 days. Tonight he’s singing “Falling” by Harry Styles because the lyrics speak to him and convey the message of his struggle. Kelly is the first to hit her button, quickly followed by Blake and Nick. John makes it a four-chair turn and the coaches sit quietly, listening intently until the end of Zae’s emotional performance. After the coaches argue over who is best for Zae, the aspiring singer chooses to join Team Nick! And that’s a wrap for Night 2.
