Blake Shelton played dirty pool as the season 20 blind auditions concluded Monday on The Voice.
The 44-year-old country superstar stole a singer from Kelly Clarkson by alluding to his friendship with former coach Adam Levine, 42.
Blake was trying to nab Keegan Ferrell, 21, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who had just done a note-perfect cover of Maroon 5’s She Will Be Loved.
Country star: Blake Shelton played dirty pool as the season 20 blind auditions concluded Monday on The Voice
‘First of all, I happen to be buddies with the guy that wrote and sang that song,’ Blake told Keegan. ‘And I want you to look for just a second at this coaching panel. Take note of who’s missing and who’s in that chair.’
Kelly had filled Adam’s chair when he left after season 16, and gaped in disbelief.
‘Now I’m not saying Kelly got Adam fired,’ Blake joked, ‘but he’s gone and she’s sitting there.’
The reason for Adam’s departure was once unclear, but in 2019 he told talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres that he’d left to concentrate on his family with wife Behati Prinsloo, 32.
Blind auditions: The 44-year-old country superstar stole a singer from Kelly Clarkson by alluding to his friendship with former coach Adam Levine
John Legend, 42, noted suspiciously that Kelly had picked up a talk-show since returning to The Voice, as the coaches wondered how much sway she had.
‘This network stands for ”Nothing But Clarkson”,’ Blake teased. ‘If Maroon 5 inspires you, then I don’t know if I would go for a coach that is their archnemesis.’
‘We toured together!’ protested Kelly, 38, referring to Adam’s band.
Strong cover: Blake was trying to nab Keegan Ferrell, 21, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who had just done a note-perfect cover of Maroon 5’s She Will Be Loved
‘And then you got him fired,’ Blake burbled.
‘See, what I heard is that John and Blake approved me being on this show, but the last word was with Kelly,’ said Nick Jonas, 28, backing up his pal.
‘They are all liars!’ Kelly yelled, before admitting that she was fine with being ‘Khaleesi’—the powerful Daenerys Targaryen played by Emilia Clarke on Game Of Thrones.
Teaming up: ‘See, what I heard is that John and Blake approved me being on this show, but the last word was with Kelly,’ said Nick Jonas, 28, backing up his pal
Kelly tried to appeal to Keegan’s love of pop music, and noted that she’d turned around first.
‘I was afraid to turn around,’ Blake cracked. ‘I didn’t want to get fired.’
‘Do you want to work with a liar?’ Kelly asked Keegan.
Pop fan: Kelly tried to appeal to Keegan’s love of pop music, and noted that she’d turned around first
‘You could be with Jon Snow or Khaleesi,’ Nick pointed out, as Keegan picked Blake as his coach, and filled his team.
The other three coaches also filled their teams on Monday, ahead of the Battle Rounds beginning next week.
Denisha Dalton, 22, from Warwick, New York, was the last contestant John won this season.
Team complete: Denisha Dalton, 22, from Warwick, New York, was the last contestant John Legend won this season
She had been in several girl groups as a teen and was inspired by her mom, who turned down a recording contract to raise her.
Denisha’s cover of Zayn’s Pillow Talk had John calling her ‘fearless.’
‘Your smile is infectious, your style is infectious,’ he raved.
Winning Denisha prompted John to belt out his catchy theme song, ‘Welcome to Team Legend’ for the last time.
Swan song: Winning Denisha prompted John to belt out his catchy theme song, ‘Welcome to Team Legend’ for the last time
Nick was the next coach to complete his team for the season.
He went after Air Force veteran Awari, 35, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who did a sexy take on SWV’s Weak that also led Kelly to turn.
‘I’m making an album now that’s got a lot of those same influences,’ Nick told Awari, noting that his wife Priyanka Chopra, 38, liked SWV. ‘I’d love to just make a lot of noise with you, man.’
Sexy song: Air Force veteran Awari, 35, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, did a sexy take on SWV’s Weak and rounded out Nick’s team
Awari bypassed Kelly’s offer of a jacket and nabbed the last spot on Nick’s team, saying, ‘If I choose Nick, he might put me on the new album.’
Kelly then wrapped up her team with Ainae, 21, a marketing major at Howard University in Washington, DC.
Ainae’s parents and grandparents were in the music industry, and she wanted them to know that their support of her hadn’t been in vain.
College student: Kelly then wrapped up her team with Ainae, 21, a marketing major at Howard University in Washington, DC.
She sang Best Part, by Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R., which dealt with feeling gratitude for a relationship.
‘It takes so much air to do what you just did,’ Kelly marveled as Ainae joined her team. ‘It means you’re ready to go.’
‘I’m ready to go,’ Ainae agreed.
The Voice battle rounds will begin next Monday on NBC.
Killed it: Ainae sang Best Part, by Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R., which dealt with feeling gratitude for a relationship and completed Kelly’s team