Niall Horan may be the returning champion of The Voice, but the Country Queen is a force to be reckoned with.
Country music icon Reba McEntire visited Oklahoma native singer Jordan Reiner along with Horan and returning coaches Gwen Stefani and John Legend during the Season 24 premiere Monday night. McEntire made her debut on the NBC singing competition following the departure of longtime coach Blake Shelton.
McEntire and Reiner connected over their shared Oklahoma roots after Reiner’s fiery performance of McEntire’s “Fancy.” But the pair’s conversation was interrupted by Horan, who pressed a button on his chair to play complimentary messages such as “Niall is a global superstar” and “Niall is a handsome guy” in Shelton’s voice.
In response, McIntyre pulled out a shiny scepter and walked over to Horan’s chair to block his view of Reiner. “I’m the queen. You can’t talk,” McIntyre said.
Ultimately, Horan’s endorsement of Shelton did not live up to McIntyre’s icon status, as Reiner chose McIntyre as her coach.
“Unfortunately, not even the king of The Voice could help me with Jordan, and now I have to deal with the queen of country,” Horan said. “I’m really against it.”
Here’s what else happened on Monday’s episode.
Reba McEntire loses ‘impressive’ teen singer Niall Horan after the coronation
Even queens have to be the center of attention from time to time.
Teen vocalist Sofia Hoffman, who failed her Season 23 audition, won over McEntire and Horan with her soulful rendition of Demi Lovato’s “Tell Me You Love Me.”
Horan praised the 18-year-old for her precociousness as a singer. “There was a lot more grit and maturity in this movie than I expected,” he said. “You showed us all sides of your voice and it was so impressive.”
McIntyre, who grabbed her scepter and donned a matching crown, flexed her triples and threw shade at her fellow trainer.
“I’m dead glad you’re back. This one didn’t work out for you,” McIntyre told Hoffman, referring to Horan. “I’ve been in this business for a long time, not only on Broadway and television, but also a lot of time on stage, so I’d like to share my experience with you.”
However, McIntyre’s showbiz status was no match for Horan’s charm. Hoffman decided to join Niall’s team.
“Queen Reba wore the crown and she wore it well, but Prince Niall is here too and he’s coming for you all,” Horan said.
Gwen Stefani ‘very upset’ by country singer’s loss to Reba McEntire
Gwen Stefani may be married to royalty, but McEntire’s reign remains supreme.
Country singer Jackson Snelling beat out McEntire and Stefani with his warm cover of Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.”
“I grew up on a working cattle ranch: I’m a third-generation rodeo kid. So country music is my life, my foundation,” McEntire said. “To hear you come (to the show) and to sing you like you did today makes me so proud to be in the country music business and proud to have you represent us.”
Stefani talked about her country know-how, citing her marriage to Shelton and their pair of country hits.
“I’ve had two No. 1 hits at country radio,” Stefani said, to which McEntire responded, “I’ve had more than two.”
McEntire’s track record seemed to prevail as Snelling chose the country music veteran as his coach.
Stefani said she was “very upset” to lose the Indiana singer to McEntire. “I really want a country artist on my team,” she said.
John Legend captivated the “magic” four-chair singer with an impromptu duet?
All’s fair in love and musical war on The Voice.
New Jersey singer Mara Justin wowed the coaches with her powerful rendition of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” earning the 21-year-old four chairs.
Legend endeared himself to Justine by noting that he was the first trainer to spin in the chair. “They just didn’t have the foresight that I did to realize what a magical gem you are as a vocalist,” he said.
Horan took a page from his father “The Voice” Shelton’s playbook to win over Justine. The One Direction alum pressed a button on his chair to release an enlarged red foam finger from the ceiling with the words “pick Niall” written on it (Shelton used the same tactic last season). “He taught me to do absolutely anything to get a team member,” Horan said.
But Legend wouldn’t let Horan have the last word or singing note. The Grammy Award winner invited Justine to perform an impromptu duet of his song “All of Me” on stage, which left Horan lying on the floor in despair.
“It was very exciting for all of us,” McIntyre told Justine. “Who do you choose as your coach?”
Viewers will have to wait to find out which coach emerges victorious. Justine’s decision will be announced in Tuesday’s episode.
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