The Voice Recap: Kelly Shuts Down Queen Latifah With Her First-In Button

Season 30 ofThe Voice is officially underway. Just one day after the premiere, the show returned with a second episode on September 22 with more Blind Auditions.

Coaches Queen Latifah, Riley Green, Adam Levine, and Kelly Clarkson continued to add artists to their teams, and Clarkson even pressed the First-In button to automatically nab one contestant.

Scroll down for a recap of Episode 2’s performances and to find out where all of the teams stand this season so far.

Koumba Diallo

The first singer of the night was 15-year-old Koumba Diallo. She sang a rendition of Demi Lovato‘s “Stone Cold,” which Clarkson immediately noted was a “big song.” Latifah wasn’t worried, though, and pushed her button right away. Clarkson and Green soon followed, and Levine joined in when Koumba hit the big note.

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“When I was 15 … it’s such a joke where I was at developmentally at 15,” Levine laughed. “You’re just amazing. If this is you at 15, what is it going to be at 16? You’re in a great place. You can’t really go wrong.”

Latifah complimented Koumba using her lower register to start the performance. “It was beautiful. You picked a great song to kind of flex a bit,” she noted. Green called it “the most perfect” and “most powerful” performance he’d seen on the show so far.

Clarkson said, “The reason I didn’t turn around at first is because I knew where it was going, and I wanted to see if you had it.” She also pointed out that her experience as a contestant onAmerican Idol will allow her to help Koumba select the right songs at the right time.

In the end, it was Koumba’s decision, and she picked Clarkson as her coach.

Alt Bloom

The next contestant was Alt Bloom, who sang his own version of Maren Morris‘ “The Bones.” Queen Latifah was the first coach to push her button, and towards the end of the song, Green joined in, making it a battle of the rookie coaches.

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Clarkson praised Alt for not limiting himself to one genre. Levine said, “I thought you were super super strong. It was amazing in the lower register, but when it got up there, there were elements that got away from you a little bit. But you have an interesting voice and I’m happy you’re on the show.”

Green noted that he waited to push his button so he could hear how differently Alt sang Morris’ song. “You made that song your own. It had a lot of soul in it. You got a great voice. I wouldn’t know what genre to put that song in, which was awesome about it.”

Latifah explained that she has “no one” on her team like Alt and praised both his use of lower and higher registers. She also had some background singers join her to serenade Alt with a song about why he should pick her, which prompted Green to continue pitching himself as the best coach.

Ultimately, Alt’s decision was to go with Latifah as his coach.

Johnnie Kapua

Johnnie Kapua sang “Die With a Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. Clarkson hit her button immediately, and Latifah was right behind her. The ladies had to duke it out on this one!

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“There was a little bit of some control issues and I think when you’re maneuvering a song so massive, I just had it under the microscope a little bit,” Levine explained, of why he didn’t turn.

“That was beautiful,” Latifah told the hopeful. “I thought there were a couple spots where you kind of got a little loose with your breath. Those are coachable things. The rest is about getting everybody else out of your head, and that I can help you with.”

For her pitch, Clarkson said Johnnie reminded her of a character fromSing. “You sing with such soulfulness. You have a different cadence to your vibe and style and I really dig it,” she gushed. Clarkson also guaranteed that she would get Johnnie on her team by pushing the First-In button for the singer.

Harmony McKee

For her Blind Audition, Harmony McKee took a risk by singing a country song for the first time ever. She performed Miranda Lambert‘s “Gunpowder & Lead.” Green and Levine turned their chairs, so now it was the guys’ turn to battle.

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When Harmony announced that she’d never sung a country song before, Levine immediately perked up, as he knew it might give him a chance against Green.

“The reason I was so happy is not because I hate country music,” Levine explained. “I love country music and I love Riley, but I just think you can do anything. I think you’re one of the stronger singers that we’ve heard.”

Green compared Harmony to Chris Stapleton, noting that the country singer often has blues influence in his music like Harmony does. With the decision ultimately in Harmony’s hands, she picked Green as her coach.

Ethan Shobert

The next performance was from Ethan Shobert, who sang Noah Kahan‘s “The Great Divide.” He came to the show after having more than a dozen surgeries on his throat from a condition he had as a child.

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Unfortunately, no coaches turned their chairs around for Ethan. “Your voice was super interesting,” Levine noted. “You have to take some deep breaths and calm yourself down because I think it’s getting in the way of how good your voice is.”

Levine urged Ethan to come back and audition again, and Green said, “You’re only going to get better. You got a great start and your voice is extremely interesting.”

Jenie

Another artist who didn’t make it through the Blind Auditions was Jenie.

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Green told her, “The song was just a little busy. Just give your vocals a chance to breathe, give them a little room in the song choice.”

Saniah Jewel

The country singer also had some advice for Saniah Jewel, who also didn’t get a chair turn.

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He urged her to keep working on her craft and assured her that having nerves in a situation like this were normal.

Lexi Stephens

The final performance of the night was from Lexi Stephens, a 23-year-old from New York City. She wowed the coaches with her rendition of “Die on This Hill,” which had Levine pushing his button right away. It became a four-chair turn when Green, Clarkson, and Latifah joined in.

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“I have not heard that thing, that intangible soul, that I need to fight tooth and nail to make them understand I’m the right coach. That was by far probably the best Blind Audition. I think you’re going to winThe Voice,” Levine began.

Latifah called the performance “beautiful” and “masterful,” adding, “I waited a bit because I love that song … and you delivered 100%.” Green said Lexi was “probably the most talented person” to come across the stage so far. “I don’t know if I can coach you, but I want to collaborate with you,” he added, even getting up to shake Lexi’s dad’s hand.

Clarkson then told Lexi why she’d be the best coach by, of course, noting that she’s won the show and been a contestant on a similar show. “I’m really good at navigating a competition,” she said, with Levine jumping in to make sure Lexi knew he’s also won The Voicefour times.

Unfortunately, we won’t know who Lexi chooses until the third night of Blind Auditions on September 23!

Team Queen Latifah
BigCountry
Marcus Ladden Jr.
Mia Knight (First-In button)
Alt Bloom

Team Riley Green
Joe Henley
Ferryn & Brinkley
Caroline Alexis
Harmony McKee

Team Kelly Clarkson
Hazel Gerson
Brianna Cameron
Koumba Diallo
Johnnie Kapua (First-In button)

Team Adam Levine
Destinee Monroe
Owen Uffens

The Voice, Season 30, Episode 3, Wednesday, September 23, 8/7c, NBC

The Voice, Season 30, Mondays, 8/7c, NBC