Desz dazzled with a powerful performance of a Tina Turner hit as the Top 17 sang Monday on The Voice during the first live show of season 19.
The 30-year-old Houston singer performed first during the two-hour episode and set the standard early with her rendition of the 1984 song What’s Love Got To Do With It.
Desz shined bright in a floor-length, long-sleeved red gown as she got her coach Kelly Clarkson, 38, and John Legend, 41, to stand up and dance.
Live show: Desz dazzled with a powerful performance of a Tina Turner hit as the Top 17 sang Monday on The Voice during the first live show of season 19
Show host Carson Daly, 47, noted that normally a live audience would be ‘freaking out’ over her performance, but said their virtual audience from across the country was dancing ‘in their little boxes’.
‘You’re like an assassin out there,’ John told Desz as he praised her rendition of the popular song that served as a comeback vehicle for Turner, 81, who reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the single at age 44.
Texas native Kelly praised Desz for wonderfully representing their home state.
‘You are everything that Texas women love about Texas women. You are so confident, you’re fun, but can also be very serious and very seductive and very sexy,’ Kelly told the four-chair turn.
First up: The 30-year-old Houston singer performed first during the two-hour episode and set the standard early with her rendition of the 1984 song What’s Love Got To Do With It
The judges: Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Blake Shelton watched their singers perform live
Killed it: Desz shined bright in a floor-length, long-sleeved red gown as she got her coach Kelly Clarkson, 38, and John Legend, 41, to stand up and dance
Texas women: ‘You are everything that Texas women love about Texas women. You are so confident, you’re fun, but can also be very serious and very seductive and very sexy,’ Kelly told the four-chair turn
The episode opened with Connecticut singer Taryn Papa, 30, being named the winner of the 4-Way Knockout while sharing the stage with competitors Julia Cooper and Larriah Jackson.
Ryan Gallagher also competed on the 4-Way Knockout, but withdrew from the show before the winner was announced and the results were based on votes for the remaining three singers.
Taryn had little time to savor her victory as she soon had to perform later as part of the Top 17.
The host: Carson Daly hosted the live two-hour show from Universal Studio Hollywood
The field will be culled during the results show Tuesday from 17 to nine singers with the final spot being determined by an Instant Save.
Viewers were given the option of voting for their favorite singers on The Voice app, on NBC.com and via Google Assistant by saying, ‘Hey Google, vote for The Voice’.
Carson also announced that performances from this season of The Voice will be available for streaming exclusively on YouTube Music.
Knockout results: The episode opened with Connecticut singer Taryn Papa, 30, being named the winner of the 4-Way Knockout while sharing the stage with competitors Julia Cooper and Larriah Jackson
The moment: Taryn reacted as she learned that she won and was among the Top 17
Desz started a string of Kelly’s singers that included Madeline Consoer, Tanner Gomes and Cami Clune.
Madeline, 24, showed her strength as a country singer with her strong version of the 2019 song What If I Never Get Over You by Lady Antebellum.
Cami, 30, particularly impressed with her unique rendition of the classic INXS song Never Tear Us Apart.
Country singer: Madeline Consoer, 24, showed her strength as a country singer with her strong version of the 2019 song What If I Never Get Over You by Lady Antebellum
Guitar player: Tanner Gomes played guitar and sang during his performance
Unique rendition: Cami, 30, particularly impressed with her unique rendition of the classic INXS song Never Tear Us Apart
Gwen Stefani, 51, went into the playoffs with Ben Allen, Carter Rubin, Joseph Soul and Payge Turner.
Carter, 15, wanted to show that even though he was just a sophomore in high school that he still belonged in the competition.
He proved it with a rendition of Hero by singing superstar Mariah Carey that left Gwen with tears in her eyes as she said that Carter was ‘mind-blowingly good’.
Fan favorite: Gwen Stefani, 51, went into the playoffs with Ben Allen, Carter Rubin, Joseph Soul and Payge Turner
Teen talent: Carter, 15, wanted to show that even though he was just a sophomore in high school that he still belonged in the competition
Turning up: Payge Turner showed her range and guitar skills
Country star Blake Shelton, 44, had a leading five singers among the Top 17 thanks to his singer Taryn winning the 4-Way Knockout.
She was joined in the live playoffs by Blake’s singers Ian Flanigan, Sid Kingsley, Jim Ranger and the family trio Worth The Wait.
Ian received a standing ovation from all four coaches for his rendition of Make You Feel My Love.
Country star: Blake Shelton, 44, had a leading five singers among the Top 17 thanks to his singer Taryn winning the 4-Way Knockout
Piano man: Sid Kingsley played piano while singing the Leon Bridges song Beyond
Standing ovation: Ian received a standing ovation from all four coaches for his rendition of Make You Feel My Love
Worth The Wait also stepped it up and delivered their best performance yet to Love Is Alive by The Judds.
John’s four singers were next including Tamara Jade, Chloe Hogan, Bailey Rae and frontrunner John Holiday.
Tamara showed her incredible range while performing the Gnarls Barkley hit Crazy, but was unable to share a hug with Carson afterward due to social distancing protocols in place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Best yet: Worth The Wait also stepped it up and delivered their best performance yet to Love Is Alive by The Judds
Strong squad: John’s four singers included Tamara Jade, Chloe Hogan, Bailey Rae and frontrunner John Holiday
Incredible range: Tamara Jade showed her incredible range while performing the Gnarls Barkley hit Crazy, but was unable to share a hug with Carson afterward due to social distancing protocols in place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Chloe also knocked it out of the park with her rendition of the Billie Eilish song My Future, while country singer Bailey found her sound with the 1977 song Sweet Music Man by Kenny Rogers.
Texas vocalist John reminded viewers why he’s emerged as the frontrunner with a stellar version of Fly Me To The Moon.
The Voice will return Tuesday on NBC.
Cool song: Chloe Hogan also knocked it out of the park with her rendition of the Billie Eilish song My Future
The frontrunner: Texas vocalist John Holiday reminded viewers why he’s emerged as the frontrunner with a stellar version of Fly Me To The Moon