Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Adam Cunningham and Natalie Stovall awaits Blake Shelton’s verdict following their battle round on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

The original American Idol will serve as key adviser for all the teams during the knockout round, which begins next week.

And judging from her guest stint as a judge on the final season of Idol, I’ll be shocked if Kelly doesn’t provide some pearls of wisdom to the remaining 32 contestants.

For Kelly, of course, the timing makes all the sense in the world. Her new album, “The Meaning of Life,” drops Friday. Her adviser stint on The Voice starts the following Monday.

Coincidence? Likely not.

Meanwhile, The Voice bid farewell to two more contestants during Tuesday’s show, which featured just three battles.

Gone are Ignatious Carmouche and Natalie Stovall (boo in both cases, but a bigger boo in Natalie’s). Meanwhile, Megan Rose, the country singer trapped in San Francisco, snagged the final steal of the battle round.

Here’s the recap.

BEST OF THE NIGHT

Team Blake

Matchup: Adam Cunningham vs. Natalie Stovall
Song: “Boondocks” by Little Big Town
Background: A former Christian artist, Adam turned two chairs in the blinds with “Midnight Rider” by the Allman Brothers. Natalie has some of the best pre-show music you’re going to find, but was montaged during the blinds. She earned a spot on Team Blake, singing “If It Hadn’t Been for Love.”
Outcome: Adam Cunningham was named the winner by Blake; Natalie was eliminated.My take:
My take: Easily the best performance of the night as two seasoned pros put on a helluva high-energy show. Honestly, I don’t understand the rationale behind Blake’s battle round pairings. Having heard all the pre-Voice music released by the Season 13 contestants, it’s just tough for me to look at the battle round survivors and understand how Natalie isn’t on that list. But I’m sure producers have pets and a plan. Producers on this show always have a plan. Anyway, I would have given this one to Natalie by an Adam Cunningham whisker. And I would have let her play fiddle.

THE COACH GOT IT WRONG

Team Jennifer

Song: Ignatious Carmouche vs. Eric Lyn
Song: “Unaware” by Allen Stone
Background: Eric, montaged in the blinds, sang “Ooh Child.” Only Jennifer turned. Ignatious showed off great range covering “Latch” in the blinds and got two chairs to turn. He’s The Voice Season 12 snapchat champ.
Outcome: Jennifer names Eric the winner; Ignatious is eliminated
My take: Sorry, I would have gone with Ignatious. He’s the guy who had my attention through most of the performance, partly because of his star appeal, partly because of the vocal risks he took and partly because he seemed so comfortable on stage for someone who arrived at the blinds via Snapchat. That name doesn’t hurt either.

THE COACHES GOT IT RIGHT

Team Miley

Matchup: Ashland Craft vs. Megan Rose **
Song: “A Good Hearted Woman” by LeAnn Rimes
Background: Megan is the country singer trapped in San Fran; she turned both available chairs in her blind audition with “Ode to Billie Joe.” Ashland, from Piedmont, S.C., turned three chairs with “You Are My Sunshine;” it turned out to be the biggest hit of the blinds on iTunes.
Outcome: Miley declared Ashland the winner; Blake used the last battle round steal to grab Megan for his team.
My take: Miley made the right decision here. Ashland’s honky tonk experience shines through, she’s got a special growl in her voice. Not to mention a small army of supporters back in South Carolina. Blake’s save was Megan’s reward for making what might have been a lopsided battle very close.