Idol Chatter & Voice Views

John Legend celebrates landing an artist Blake Shelton wanted on The Voice Season 17. (NBC Photo)

Entering Monday night’s episode of The Voice, just four spots — one per team — remain on the Season 17 cast.

That means Monday’s show will serve a dual purpose — completing the teams and kicking off the battle round.

And entering the pre-taped battles, it appears John Legend assembled the strongest team in Season 17.

So far, eight singers turned all four chairs during the blinds; five opted to join Team Legend.

Add up the chairs artists on each team turned, and John’s team turned 34 in the blinds. Members of Team Blake Shelton, the next closest, turned 27.

Anyone who’s watched The Voice for long knows blind audition chair turns can be deceptive. They’re based on a single two-minute performance. Several one-chair turns have made the show’s finale.

But during the battle and knockout rounds, coaches do tend to be a bit more protective of the artists all the coaches wanted during the blinds.

Why was John so successful during the blinds?

I have a hunch.

The Voice puts a lot of stock in the coaches’ playful bantering. Too much, in my opinion, since I prefer it when all attention is focused on the talented new singers we’re meeting.

John’s seldom the focus of that banter. He’s the one coach who seems more zeroed in on what’s happening on stage than what’s happening in the big red chairs to his left or right.

Here’s a look at the teams entering Monday’s show. The links attached to each name will take you to a bio of that artist. If the artist responded to my blind audition interview questions, you’ll find a link to the interview as well.

Team John Legend (34)

Dane and Stephanie (2) — blind audition interview
Destiny Rayne (2) — blind audition interview
Jared Herzog (3) — blind audition interview
Katie Kadan (4) — blind audition interview
Khalea Lynee (4) — blind audition interview
Marybeth Byrd (4) — blind audition interview
Matt New (3) — blind audition interview
Max Boyle (2) blind audition interview
Mendeleyev (4) — blind audition interview
Preston C. Howell (4) — blind audition interview
Will Breman (2)

Team Blake Shelton (27)

Cali Wilson (3) — blind audition interview
Cory Jackson (3) — blind audition interview
EllieMae (1) — blind audition interview
Joana Martinez (3)
Jordan Chase (2)
Josie Jones (2) — blind audition interview
Kat Hammock (2) — blind audition interview
Marina Chello (2) — blind audition interview
Ricky Braddy (3)
Ricky Duran (4)
Zach Bridges (2)

Team Gwen Stefani (23)

Brennen Henson (2) — blind audition interview
Calvin Lockett (3) — blind audition interview
Elise Azkoul (1) — blind audition interview
Jake HaldenVang (3) — blind audition interview
James Violet (2) — blind audition interview
Jessie Lawrence (1) — blind audition interview
Kiara Brown (2) — blind audition interview
Kyndal Inskeep (3) — blind audition interview
Myracle Holloway (2) — blind audition interview
Rose Short (2) — blind audition interview
Royce Lovett (2) — blind audition interview

Team Kelly Clarkson (22)

Alex Guthrie (2) — blind audition interview
Brennan Lassiter (4) — blind audition interview
Brooke Stephenson (3) — blind audition interview
Damali (1) — blind audition interview
Gracee Shriver (2) ** blind audition interview
Hello Sunday (1) — blind audition interview
Injoy Fountain blind audition interview
Jake Hoot (1) blind audition interview
Lauren Hall (1) — blind audition interview
Melinda Rodriguez (2) — blind audition interview
Shane Q (4) — blind audition interview
Steve Knill (1) — blind audition interview