“The Voice” kicked off the first of the Battle Rounds for season 22. Coaches Blake Shelton, John Legend, Camila Cabello and Gwen Stefani pitted their teammates against one another to start eliminating singers from the competition.
SPOILER WARNING: Spoilers for season 22’s first Battle Round are below. Do not read on if you do not want the episode that aired on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, spoiled for you.
‘The Voice’ Season 22 Battle Rounds Episode 1 Live Recap
The episode started with the introduction of the coaches by host Carson Daly.
Team Blake: Austin Montgomery vs. Tanner Fussel
First, Austin Montgomery was revealed as the winner of Blake Shelton’s first Battle, which aired at the end of last night’s episode. The two sang Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”
Montgomery was declared the winner. Fussel was sent home.
Team Gwen: Jillian Jordyn vs. Rowan Grace
For Jillian Jordyn and Rowan Grace, Stefani chose the song “Fingers Crossed” by Lauren Spencer Smith. Going into the performance, Battle Advisor Sean Paul suggested the two sing toward each other more, and Stefani suggested they both work on their body language. Their performance was captivating, and all of the coaches seemed very impressed with it.
Stefani said she thought she could tell Jordyn was nervous, but she added that she loves her voice. She went on to call Grace “mind-blowing.”
Stefani chose Grace as the winner of the battle. Jordyn did not seem available for steal or save, likely because the battle was taped later in the session. Jordyn was sent home.
Team Legend: Valerie Harding vs. Dia Malai
Team Legend’s Battle Advisor was Jazmine Sullivan, and she was perfect for this battle because Legend had Harding and Malai singing Sullivan’s “Bust Your Windows.” The advice to each of the singers was to get more into character. Sullivan told Malai to channel Catwoman, and Legend told them to make it “a little less pretty.” They received a standing ovation from Cabello, and Legend was really proud of them.
“You two scared me a little bit,” Shelton said, adding that he liked Malai’s consistency and Harding’s “explosive” voice.
Legend chose Harding as the winner of the battle. Malai was sent home.
Team Camila: Steven McMorran vs. Morgan Myles
Cabello brought on Charlie Puth as her advisor for the Battle Rounds. Cabello had the “belting” singers perform “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus, which she thought might be “super pop” for them. Cabello and Puth suggested they sing the song to each other. They proved themselves, showing a range of emotions throughout the song and performing together beautifully. Myles is well on her way to cementing her place as a fan-favorite with this performance.
Stefani was shocked by how good the voices sounded together, and Legend called both performers “really good singers.” Cabello said she thought both singers were “really, really special.”
Cabello chose Myles as the winner of the battle. She used her save on McMorran.
Neither Myles nor McMorran went home.
“I see something in Steven that I want others to see,” Cabello said.
Each Coach Had 14 Contestants on Their Team Going Into the Battle Rounds
Here’s what the teams look like going into the Battle Rounds:
Team Camila:
- Morgan Myles
- Orlando Mendez
- Reina Ley
- Devix
- Chello
- Andrew Igbokidi
- Ava Lynn Thuresson
- Sasha Hurtado
- Sydney Kronmiller
- Eric Who
- Zach Newbould
- Grace Bello
- Steven McMorran
- Constance Howard
Team Blake:
- Kate Kalvach
- Bryce Leatherwood
- Kevin Hawkins
- Brayden Lape
- The Dryes
- Madison Hughes
- Tanner Fussell
- Eva Ullman
- Hillary Torchiana
- Ansley Burns
- Bodie
- Austin Montgomery
- Benny Weag
- Jaeden Luke
Team Gwen:
- Ian Harrison
- Jay Allen
- Alyssa Witrado
- Sadie Bass
- Cara Brindisi
- Julia Aslanli
- Tanner Howe
- Kayla Von Der Heide
- Destiny Leigh
- Kique
- Daysia
- Jillian Jordyn
- Rowan Grace
- Justin Aaron
Team Legend:
- Omar Jose Cardona
- Emma Brooke
- David Andrew
- Peyton Aldridge
- Valerie Harding
- Morgan Taylor
- Parijita Bastola
- SOLsong
- Kara McKee
- The Marilynds
- Lana Love
- Dia Malai
- Kim Cruse
- Nia Skyfer