'The Voice' (s.6) – Top 10 – Recap & Predictions

Last week Dani Moz and T.J. Wilkins were sent home, and this week two more talented artists will be leaving the show. It's actually hard this season, because each one is such an amazing singer.
The Top 10 show was opened by the UK band Rixton making their first television appearance in North America. My reflex impression was a British version of a 'boy-bands,' but by the end of the first verse, I really took notice. There was no 'boy-band' feel. There was only a really great band playing a really great song. They introduced themselves on national TV with “Me And My Broken Heart” and what a way to say hello. From the vocalist to the drummer... they were amazing. Rixton can now be found in my iTunes library.

“The Voice” Finally Goes Live – Top 12 – Recap and Bottom 3 Predictions

For the first time this season, The Voice was live with the Top 12 performing. The coaches no longer decide which artist goes home... the choice is now yours. By voting and downloading, the viewers are in control of each artist's fate. Last night twelve performed for your votes, but only ten advance to next week.
Normally when I do a recap for a live show, I have a definitive favorite and can easily come up with my Top Three performances for the night... not so much this time. I could probably come up with my Top Seven or Top Eight – everyone was just really good last night.

The FINAL Playoffs – Team Usher – Recap ('The Voice' s.6)

Credit: Trae Patton/ NBC

Usher was filled with pride last night, and he should have been. Like the other coaches, His team also gave stellar performances.
The Top 12 have been determined, and starting next Monday on NBC, The Voice will be in the Live Shows. The coaches no longer have a say in who stays or who goes home. Those decisions now fall to the viewers and their votes.

I have a feeling that every Live Show is going to be amazing. Each artist seems to grow and get better with every performance, and from what we've seen so far, I can't even imagine how powerful and exciting their live performances are going to be. I can say this... Monday nights are going to be explosive, and I will bet that this season will have the narrowest margins between votes that The Voice has ever seen.

The Playoffs – Teams Shakira & Adam – Recap ('The Voice' s.6)

This is turning out to be the best season of The Voice, so far. The caliber of talent and performances put out by the artists is unreal, and we're not even at the Live Shows. I can't imagine what's to come, but based on what we've seen, the Live Shows are going to be insane!

Last night, Shakira's and Adam's teams took the stage. Ten extraordinary singers gave us their all, but only six moved on. I put out my predictions a few days ago, and only got one right with Team Shakira. But, I'll be the first to admit that after seeing their performances last night, I completely agree with Shakira's choices. Even before she announced her picks, I knew I only had one right. As for Team Adam, I predicted two correctly, and the third could have went either way. But, I think Adam made a good choice for his team.

Playoffs Predictions – 'The Voice' (s.6)

With the exceptional talent The Voice has attracted this season, I do not envy the coaches in having to make the incredibly difficult decisions about who goes to the Live Shows and who gets sent home. Every one in the Top 20 is amazing and will have a great career in music. Honestly, I usually don't have a problem making predictions. For the most part, it's pretty clear, but not this time. All the artists, in their own ways, and in their own styles, are very talented, but... let's do this.

NBC

TEAM ADAM:

Adam's has a remarkably strong team, and these picks were hard to make, because I really like all five artists. They're all a little different. They're all great to watch, and they're all amazing vocalists. I'm almost certain Kat Perkins will go through. I'm fairly sure Jake Barker will advance, but I'm torn by the other three. I'd like to see Delvin Choice make it to the Live Shows, but I think Adam's going to take Christina Grimmie.

Predicted Top 3 – Team Adam

1. Kat Perkins
2. Jake Barker
3. Christina Grimmie

NBC

TEAM SHAKIRA:

I think Shakira's team is the most diverse when it comes to style, so her picks will come down to which direction she wants to go for the Live Shows. Dani has a great voice. Kristen Merlin has an amazing country tone and presence. Deja Hall's vocals are soft and captivating. Tess Boyer is a growing powerhouse, and Patrick Thomson surprises me each time he takes the stage, it's really more of a guess which direction Shakira is going to go.

Predicted Top 3 – Team Shakira

1. Deja Hall

2. Patrick Thomson

3. Tess Boyer

NBC

TEAM USHER:

Usher also has a rather diverse pool of talent on his team. T.J. Wilkins has a strong R&B vibe. Bria is a powerhouse. Stevie Jo came out of nowhere after his one-chair-turn during the Blind Auditions. Melissa has a strong presence on stage. And, Josh has a unique tone. I'm sure about Stevie Jo. I'm kind of sure about T.J. Wilkins, and the third one will be either Melissa or Bria, and, honestly, I can't decide. I think that decision will come down to their song choices, but I am leaning more towards Bria making Usher's Top 3.

Predicted Top 3 – Team Usher

1. Stevie Jo

2. T.J. Wilkins

3. Bria Kelly

Tune in this Monday and Tuesday to NBC as The Playoffs continue.

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The Playoffs – Team Blake – Recap ('The Voice' s.6)

The bitter-sweet Playoffs premiered last night with Blake's Team. All five performed, but only three moved on to the Live Shows.

I'm still not sure what I think of the new format, where the coach chooses the three to advance instead of voting. And, I do think that if it had been decided by votes, the outcome of Blake's Top 3 would have been different.

Audra McLaughlin - Credit: Tyler Golden / NBC

First up last night was Audra McLaughlin. I've got to say that The Voice Hair & Wardrobe are doing a great job this season. Like everyone else, Audra looked fantastic as she took to the stage to sing “Broken Wing.”
I've been a fan of hers since the beginning, and her amazing country tone still captivates. Her range was perfect for the song, and she hit pretty much all her big notes with no problems. When she's on stage, one can't help but be drawn into her and her voice. Her vocals come so naturally and effortlessly, that she is able to connect more deeply to the song and to us. With Audra, you not only hear her sing... you feel her sing.

The Final Battles Recap & The Top 20 Named – 'The Voice' (s.6)

The Final Battles played out last night. Twelve very talented artists fought hard, and all seven of the artists I predicted to advance did move on to the Playoffs. Five battles predicted correctly, and one battle, where I said Blake would use his steal, I got the Win and the Steal flipped.
Everyone did an amazing job last night, and they all showed us how talented they really are. I've become a fan of many of them will continue to follow and support their sure-to-be-growing careers.
Here is the recap and results of last night's Final Battles.

49th Annual ACM Awards - Predictions

Tonight on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will be the Live broadcast of the '49th Annual American Country Music Awards.'

One of the biggest nights for country music, and Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton will co-host the broadcast. Along with the prestigious awards to be handed out, there will be amazing performances from some of the biggest and best country music artists out there - Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Hunter Hayes, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, and more.

The Band Perry will open the show (which will be phenomenal), and Shakira will perform her new duet with Blake Shelton (looking forward to that one).

Though I look mostly forward to the great performances, the awards are kind of special too. So, here are my predictions for the some of the awards to be presented. You should know that this year, the New Female, New Male, and New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year awards have be consolidated into a single award: New Artist of the Year.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Luke Bryan - Miranda Lambert - Blake Shelton - George Strait - Taylor Swift
Predicted Winner: Luke Bryan

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Jason Aldean - Lee Brice - Luke Bryan - Blake Shelton - Keith Urban
Predicted Winner: Blake Shelton

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Sheryl Crow - Miranda Lambert - Kacey Musgraves - Taylor Swift - Carrie Underwood
Predicted Winner: Kacey Musgraves (Should Win: Carrie Underwood)

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Big & Rich - Dan & Shay - Florida Georgia Line - Love & Theft - Thompson Square
Predicted Winner: Florida Georgia Line

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Eli Young Band - Lady Antebellum - Little Big Town - The Band Perry - Zac Brown Band
Predicted Winner: Little Big Town (Should Win: The Band Perry)

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Brett Eldredge - Justin Moore - Kip Moore
Predicted Winner: Kip Moore

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Nominated: Blake Shelton "Based on a True Story..." - Luke Bryan "Crash My Party" - Florida Georgia Line "Here's to the Good Times" - Kacey Musgraves "Same Trailer, Different Park" - Tim McGraw "Two Lanes of Freedom"
Predicted Winner: Kacey Musgraves "Same Trailer, Different Park"

Tune in tonight at 8/7c on CBS for on of the most entertaining and exciting nights in country music!

The Final Pairings (and Predictions) for Battles Round 2 – 'The Voice' (s.6)

Monday on NBC, the Battles Round 2 conclude with the final six battles. Of the twelve remaining contestants, seven more will move on to the Playoffs (six winners and Blake's steal).
For the most part, the remaining pairs are pretty matched and are all great talents in their own styles, and without the song choices (that was closely guarded) predicting the outcomes of the battles is somewhat more difficult. But, here is the list of battle pairs, and my best guess as to who will win and who Blake will steal.

Battles Round 2 – The Voice (s.6) – Recap of 2nd night

The 2^nd night of Battles Round 2 was (with one exception) more laid back than previous Battle Rounds. There were only four battles played out (one was clipped), leaving six more for next Monday.

Sisaundra & Biff - Credit: NBC

1. TEAM BLAKE: Biff Gore vs. Sisaundra Lewis (“It's A Man's Man's Man's World”)
Tremendous and unearthly power – Pretty much all that can be said about this battle. Biff was just a bit more animated. Last battle he gave us a 'Biff Kick,' and this battle we got a 'Biff Shake.' Sisaundra had a touch more 'attitude' (the good kind), and when she hit that nuclear note, I think the world stopped for a moment. Both were flawless. Both were powerhouses. Both received standing ovations from the judges, with Adam adding that he's fairly certain Sisaundra is “not from planet Earth.”

Winner: Sisaundra

Steal: No (Only Adam would have been able to)

Battles Round 2 – The Voice (s.6) – Recap

Last night The Battles Round 2 started. The best of the best go head-to-head once again. If you thought the first round of Battles was intense... you just wait. Last night twelve artists gave us their everything, and they were all amazing. The amount of growth from some of them is undefinable, and for that, I credit the excellent coaching they have received and the pure dedication of bettering themselves. I was beyond impressed with their talent, and I do NOT envy the decisions the coaches had to make.

You can download your favorite winning performances on iTunes here.

Audra McLaughlin - NBC

1. TEAM BLAKE: Audra McLaughlin vs. Megan Rüger (“The Climb”)

Probably one of my favorite songs, and a very good choice for the two of them, this battle was one of my favorites so far on the show. A great showcase of the country power within Audra and the awesome rocker vibe that comes from Megan.

Audra started much softer than Megan, and Megan had a more clear delivery of her vocals, but by the second verse, that power inside of Audra came out. While Megan seemed to have a little more control, the amazing range and power of Audra's vocals were no match for Megan. Both had great energy and gave us an stellar performance, but there can be only one winner. I really enjoy Megan's voice and style (and would buy her songs), but in my opinion, Audra clearly won the battle. Even Adam stated that she was “one of the best singers on the show.”

Winner: Audra McLaughlin

Steal: No (Which did surprise me... but each coach does only have one)