The Voice recap: Which Artists Made the Top 13?

Things are getting serious on The Voice. After last night’s marathon Live Playoffs, our Top 20 will be cut down to a Top 13. That’s a lot of cutting! Here’s how it’s going to go, and per usual with this show, there are so many rules!
Currently, each team has five members. The two artists on each team with the highest audience votes from last night will automatically move on. Out of the three members left, the coach of that team will pick one artist to save and put into the Top 13. If you’re still following, that leaves two members on each team. Out of those two, the one with the higher audience vote will be eligible to perform one last time and fight for the 13th spot through the Wild Card Instant Save. The other person is automatically sent home.

It sounds like a lot, but through the power of song and a handy rundown of everyone’s fates below, we will get through it together. It’s sort of thrilling in a “this stress might give me an ulcer” sort of way, no?
TEAM BLAKEAmerica’s Picks: Ricky Duran, Kat HammockCoach’s Save: Without much hand-wringing — you can tell Blake’s thought this out — he chooses Cali Wilson!Wild Card Contender: Gracee Shriver!Officially Eliminated: Ricky Braddy

TEAM GWENAmerica’s Picks: Rose Short, Joana MartinezCoach’s Save: Woweee could Gwen have more different artists to choose from here? She goes with Myracle Holloway.Wild Card Contender: Jake HaldenVangOfficially Eliminated: Kyndal Inskeep

TEAM KELLYAmerica’s Picks: Max Boyle, Jake HootCoach’s Save: No surprise here, unlike Blake, there is MUCH hand-wringing, but Kelly wants someone versatile who can keep changing it up, so she saves Shane Q.Wild Card Contender: Hello SundayOfficially Eliminated: Damali
TEAM LEGENDAmerica’s Picks: Katie Kadan, Marybeth ByrdCoach’s Save: John remains impressed by the charisma and performance value — he just can’t quit Will Breman!Wild Card Contender: Alex GuthrieOfficially Eliminated: Khalea Lynee

WILD CARD INSTANT SAVE ROUND
So those results were pretty much what I expected (although, Joana? A surprise!), which means this battle for the 13th spot isn’t as do-or-die as one might hope. Give me the drama, you know? Instead, we have four very fine artists, all of whom would be fine nabbing that last spot. It’s all fine, okay? Fine!
Team Blake: Gracee Shriver, “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
Oh, this is much better than last night’s “American Honey.” There are still some control issues, but Gracee shows much more power and emotional connection. It doesn’t hurt that she’s singing a song that makes some of us (I won’t name names) cry instantly upon hearing it. Blake tells Gracee he knew if she ended up in this final four, she’d have a real shot. That’s nice but also extremely risky.

Team Gwen: Jake HaldenVang, “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” by Shawn Mendes
Last night was Adele, tonight Shawn Mendes? Who is this Jake guy? He seemed to sail through earlier rounds relying on his classic rock vocals but has since been trying to show off a more contemporary sound. Gwen says he feels like he was plucked out of the ’80s and brought here, which honestly if that’s the truth, that should be added to Jake’s intro packages. That’s a story right there.

Team Kelly: Hello Sunday, “All By Myself” by Celine Dion
Within seconds, you can tell Hello Sunday’s harmonies are much tighter than they were the evening prior — once again showing off their professionalism in a high-pressure situation. The ladies make Celine sound easy to do. Kelly stands in shock. “Let’s be real,” she tells them, “not even people on the radio can hit those notes.” And then Kelly spells it out: They should’ve done this song last night. If only!

Team Legend: Alex Guthrie, “Stay” by Rihanna
Alex is the best technical singer in this final four, his range remains, as ever, insane. This performance is perhaps not as exciting as last night, but honestly, great pick in singing a song called “Stay” at this moment. You gotta put it out into the world, ya know? John Legend praises Alex’s storytelling voice and thinks it is much too soon to say goodbye to him.

Before we get to the Wild Card announcement, we have a much bigger, much more important announcement to discuss: Blake Shelton, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive 2017 is, as Carson Daly puts it, “passing the sexy torch” to the 2019 winner: Mr. John Legend. John thanks Blake for being an inspiration and, really, a mentor in how to be sexy. Blake presents John with some bedazzled Daisy Dukes that I hope he wears in the near future. What a time to be alive!

Oh, right, someone’s dreams hang in the balance. After the Instant Save Vote, the Wild Card spot goes to…Hello Sunday!
And we’ve got ourselves a Top 13, friends. How’s everyone feeling? Any big misses tonight? Let’s hear your front-runners. Is anyone else sweating? Cool, cool, cool.
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