Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Get ready for three nights of The Voice this week, with two teams performing in the live playoffs on Monday, two teams performing on Tuesday and the results being revealed on Wednesday. Remember, two singers advance based on fan votes; then each coach selects a third singer to move forward.

By the time Wednesday’s episode ends, the field of 20 will have been whittled to 12 finalists.

Check back all three nights. I’ll be blogging live throughout. Now for a look at the members of Team Blake and some predictions ..

Craig Wayne Boyd

Background: From Nashville, Tenn., he was 35 when he auditioned and has two albums to his credit, a self-titled CD from 2010 and a 13-track CD called “I Ain’t a Quitter” from 2013.
Blind audition: Turned a pair of chairs singing Travis Tritt’s “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’.”
Battle round: Lost to James David Carter, but was so impressive performing “Wave on Wave” that he was stolen by Gwen Stefani.
Knockout round: Lost to Anita Antoinette, but sang the Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See” so well he was stolen back by Blake Shelton.

James David Carter

Background: From Atlanta, Ga., he was 34 when he auditioned. He has already released two EPs and an album of acoustic covers. His latest was the five-track “Songs to God,” released last year.
Blind audition: Got all four coaches to turn their chairs for his performance of Kevin Sharp’s hit, “Nobody Knows.”
Battle round: Defeated fellow country singer Craig Wayne Boyd; they sang “Wave on Wave.”
Knockout round: Defeated Griffin with a performance of James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Jessie Pitts

Background: From Birmingham, Ala., Jessie was 18 when she auditioned. She attends college and works at a record label “where I help other people get their music out. But I want it to be my turn.”
Blind audition: Turned a pair of chairs singing Brandi Carlile’s “The Story.”
Battle round: Lost to Team Gwen’s Ryan Sill; they performed “I Need Your Love” by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding. But Jessie got a reprieve when she was stolen by Blake Shelton.
Knockout round: Defeated Tanner Linford with a performance of “Your Song” by Elton John.

Reagan James

Background: Just 15 at the time of her audition, she’s from Burleson, Texas, and hoping to follow in the footsteps of another Burleson gal – Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol.
Blind audition: Turned two chairs singing Ed Sheeran’s “Give Me Love.”
Battle round: Defeated fellow teen Kensington Moore; they sang Lorde’s “Team.”
Knockout round: Defeated Grant Ganzer with a performance of “Hit Em Up Style.”

Taylor Brashears

Background: From Nashville, Tenn., and 21 at the time of her audition, she already has a self-titled EP, released in 2011, to her credit.
Blind Audition: Turned three chairs singing the Loretta Lynn classic “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).”
Battle Round: Defeated Bree Fondacaro. They performed “You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt.
Knockout Round: Defeated Allison Bray singing “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks).

Prediction:

Over six seasons, we’ve learned two things about Voice fans. They like their country music (Cassadee Pope, Jake Worthington, The Swon Brothers). And they’re quick to support a promising young female singer (Danielle Bradbery, Jacquie Lee).

For that reason, I expect James David Carter and Reagan James to breeze into the finals. I’d like to think Jessie Pitts will, too, because she has one of my favorite voices on the show. But Craig Wayne Boyd might have been the most impressive of these five singers in the past two rounds, so I’m going to give him the edge for that third spot.

For a look at where all the contestants rank on social media, head here.