Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Jaelen Johnston listens to feedback from the coaches Monday night on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

The feedback started no more than the first playoff episode of The Voice ended Monday night.

Fans were stunned and upset that Kelsea Ballerini had eliminated country singer Jaelen Johnston.

Each Voice coach took five singers into the playoffs and had to hand pick two to advance to the semifinals.

Kelsea opted to advance Iris Herrera and Alanna Lynise after the pre-taped playoff performances that aired Monday night.

That meant the automatic elimination of Jaelen, one of the standouts on her team since the blind auditions.

It also meant the elimination of the last male country singer on a show where male country singers do very well once fan voting begins.

Fan voting on The Voice this season begins in the semifinals on May 12.

I graded Monday’s performance, as I do on each Voice episode once the show reaches this point in the season.

I graded Jaelen’s emotional cover of Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This” as the best among the five Team Kelsea performances Monday night

So count me among those baffled by Kelsea’s decision.

In fact, Michael Buble, who has made some dubious coaching decisions of his own this season, suggested Kelsea advance Jaelen, if she wanted to win the show.

What are fans saying? Here’s a sampling from Instagram.

* “This was a total shock! He’s a winner in my eyes. Hopefully someone will appreciate his talent and promote him. I know I sure want to hear more!”

* “Jaelen you have the voice and stage presence of a country star. You are so gifted. YOU should be in the Live Shows. You have a gorgeous voice. There was a BIG Mistake in judging. Big disappointment @jaelenjmusic @nbcthevoice”

* “Seriously @kelseaballerini what on earth were you thinking?!!!”

* “Jaelen I hope you know that there are broken hearts all over the country that you were robbed tonight and didn’t move on. I know there are thousands that were looking forward to listening to you sing in the finals.”

* “@kelseaballerini blew it. She doesn’t understand the voice audience.”

* “Huge mistake by Kelsey for not picking Jaelen into the live show. She showed her inexperience and ineptitude as a coach. Michael said, if she wanted to win she should take Jaelen to the live show. So disappointed with her.”

* “Kelsea should have kept you! The Voice viewers want a country artist in the finals, that has been proven.”

For those missing Jaelen’s voice, he’s already released a number of singles, including 2024’s “Sober Cigarette” and “Top Shelf” and 2023’s “Welcome to the Shit Show.”

See also …
Song by song grades for Team Kelsea
Song by song grades for Team Adam
The Voice slogs through its worst season ever