The Top 8 brought their A-game last night as "The Voice" competition inched closer to the finale and the performers received a helping hand from their esteemed mentors, former "Voice" coaches Cee Lo Green, Gwen Stefani and Usher.
Christina Aguilera welcomed the return of Stefani and having another female on set. The NBC singing competition has never featured two women as coaches in the same season.
"I'm super girl-oriented, and I'm always like, 'When are we going to have another girl in a red chair by me?'" Aguilera joked with Headlines & Global News. "Girl power! Let's do it! She is awesome."
Aguilera also appreciated Stefani's perspective on what she wants from the performers beyond their singing abilities.
"Gwen has a different perspective... she comes from fashion, and that is her ultimate world," she said. "She ended things every time with, 'What are you wearing?' That was so awesome. If Gwen and I were co-coaching, our team would be unstoppable."
Blake Shelton praised his former coach competitor, Cee Lo Green. The hip-hop singer served as a coach during the first three seasons of "The Voice."
"There's no way to emulate what CeeLo does, he's literally like someone from another world and the best you can do is sit back and listen to what the guy says," Shelton said. "He's going to say things that don't make sense, but most of the time he says stuff that will make you stop and think of something in a different way than you probably thought of it before. "
Team Shelton's remaining three contestants offered excellent performances on Monday, but the team's coach would not pick a favorite just yet.
"Do you think for five seconds I'm going to admit that? Not a chance," Shelton joked with reporters.
Joshua Davis returned strong after a shaky performance last week almost saw him booted. He luckily was saved by Twitter fans. He remains the last performer for Team Adam Levine and returned to his singer-songwriter roots last night with a performance of Sting's "Fields of Gold."
"Tonight was really natural, and the song was something like I might write," Davis told HNGN. "I was able to take my time and arrange it so I felt a connection with it."
He also admitted that guest mentor Usher surprised him by doing some prep work on Davis ahead of time.
"He knew about my kids and their ages, when I got a guitar. He watched YouTube videos of mine. He really did his homework," Davis told HNGN. "I know he's crazy busy, but he checked me out and came in prepared. He was so connected and caring and really inspiring."
The extra work and heartfelt performance paid off so much that it had rival coach Shelton singing Davis' praises.
"I love Josh, I definitely don't want to see him go home," Shelton said. "I don't want to see anyone go home, but Josh is a talented guy and the real deal. He really deserves this opportunity, so for that I guess I can put up with Adam being here a little bit longer."
Read below for Headlines & Global News' recap of the performances.
Hannah Kirby - Team Blake
Song: "We Don't Need Another Hero" by Tina Turner
Kirby delivered a theatrical performance aided by a dancing children's choir. She had to thank Cee Lo Green for his input on her performance.
"The song needed to be toned down yet still have an epic vibe," Kirby told HNGN. "So I feel he really made it come across in a way that was powerful and theatrical but beautiful at the same time."
Joshua Davis - Team Adam
Song: "Fields Of Gold" by Sting
Davis returned to his more folksy roots with his song choice this week. Coach Adam admired his classy performance and called it "absolutely stunning."
Kimberly Nichole - Team Christina
Song: "Creep" by Radiohead
Nichole earned high praise for her bluesy, Amy Winehouse-esque reworking of this Radiohead song. Only halfway through her performance, coach Pharrell Williams was already on his feet, and by the end, she had all the coaches giving a standing ovation.
Meghan Linsey - Team Blake
Song: "Something" by The Beatles
Linsey ditched her trademark country twang to show off her powerhouse vocals on this classic Beatles tune. Her performance was one of the night's absolute standouts.
India Carney - Team Christina
Song: "Over The Rainbow" by Judy Garland
Carney delivered a simply stunning performance that had Aguilera gushing, "That was gorgeous." The contestant displayed her vocal calisthenics to the fullest as she performed her all-time-favorite song.
Sawyer Fredericks - Team Pharrell
Song: "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Fredericks' gutsy and soulful delivery of the rock ballad scored many compliments from the coaches. His coach Pharrell pleaded with viewers to vote for the young performer and keep him in the competition.
Corey Kent White - Team Blake
Song: "When I See You Smile" by Bad English
White tamed this song from the hair metal band and put a country spin on it. The choice won him rave reviews and Shelton declared it "your best performance of the season."
Koryn Hawthorne - Team Blake
Song: "Girl On Fire" by Alicia Keys
Hawthorne delivered another powerful performance and also received a standing ovation from all the coaches. "Her voice is effortless," Hawthorne's mentor Stefani raved.
The Top 8 will dwindle to six performers tonight on "The Voice" at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC.
