Team Dan + Shay on The Voice, including (from left) Anya True, Karen Waldrup, Tae Lewis, Olivia Rubini and Madison Curbelo. (NBC Photo)
The playoffs begin Monday night on The Voice with performances by Team Legend and Team Dan + Shay.
Each team is down to five singers, three knockout round winners, the playoff pass recipient and a singer stolen during the knockouts.
Monday night, all five will perform solo. Then Dan + Shay will handpick three singers who advance to the live shows, which begin May 6.
Here’s a look at the five remaing members of Team Dan + Shay, followed by my prediction on who advances.
Anya True, 17, of Encinitas, Calif., performed “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez in the blinds, turning 2 chairs. She then won her battle with AJ Harvey. They performed “Half of My Heart” by John Mayer. Anya then won her knockout match against Kyle Schuesler, singing Aurora’s “Runaway”
Karen Waldrup, 36, of Mandeville, La., turned 2 chairs in the blinds singing Dee Messina’s “Bye Bye.” She then won her battle against Ryan Argast. They performed “Save Me the Trouble” by Dan + Shay. Karen then won her knockout match with Ducote Talmagd, turning in a dazzling performance of Trisha Yearwood’s “Georgia Rain.”
Madison Curbelo, 21, of Westfield, Mass., turned all 4 chairs in the blinds, singing “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. She ‘lost’ her battle with Kyle Schuesler, but snagged the playoff pass. They sang “Lucky” by Jason Mraz. She, of course, sat out the battle round.
Olivia Rubini, 24, of Wilmington, Del., earned the very last spot on Season 25, performing “Long Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt, landing on Team Legend. She was then stolen after losing her battle with Jackie Romeo. They sang “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks. Olivia won her knockout match with Frank Garcia, performing Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.”
Tae Lewis, 31, of Goldsboro, N.C. turned 2 chairs in the blinds singing Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You.” He then ‘won’ his battle round match with L. Rodgers, though she received the playoff pass. They performed “We Don’t Fight Anymore” by Carly Pearce (ft. Chris Stapleton). After his Team Dan + Shay knockout round match with Asher HaVon, all three of the other coaches tried to steal Tae. He opted to join Team Dan + Shay. Tae had performed “Nothin’ on You” by Cody Johnson.
Prediction: I still think Dan + Shay made a strategic mistake by granting the playoff pass to Madison Curbelo instead of Karen Waldrup. Madison’s one of the brightest young talents on the show — not to mention a literal ray of sunshine. But she needs all the stage experience she can get. Karen’s a virtual pro as a performer. She could skip a round on this show and not miss a beat. In the end though, it will make no difference for this round. Both are likely to advance. The fact that Tae Lewis’s performance was leaked makes me think he’ll get the third spot. Speaking of stragety, Dan + Shay could do worse than send a male country singer into the voting rounds given Voice fans’ voting history.
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