Cee Lo Green steals cruise ship singer as the battle rounds end on NBC's hit singing competition show The Voice
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Cee Lo Green swooped in for the steal and took a singer left behind by Christina Aguilera on Tuesday night's episode of The Voice.
In the final night of the one-on-one battles on the NBC talent show, Aguilera rejected cruise ship vocalist Stephanie Anne-Johnson, 29, in favour of slim blonde country artist Olivia Henken, 25.
But the corpulent F--- You! singer saved the underdog at the final hurdle - keeping her in the game for another week at least.
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Super battle: Olivia Henken and Stephanie Ann Johnson battled it out on Tuesday night's episode of The Voice
Showing off her cleavage in a crossover top the newly svelte Lotus singer was initially struggling to choose between her two female powerhouses.
‘They can both sing the hell out of this song,’ said the 32-year-old Dirrty performer.
Alongside British singer Ed Sheeran, the Genie In A Bottle singer coached the girls through Done by Nashville musicians The Band Perry.
Digging it: Christina Aguilera closed her eyes as she listened to the music
Back to back battle: Olivia and Stephanie Ann totally went for it
Both came out strong in rehearsals.
'Get the wagging finger out and go wild with that,' advised Sheeran, 22, while noting that he believed the women’s voices technically were pretty evenly matched.
Tax preparer Olivia said she is sick of her current job and keen to get ahead.
'I don’t want to do it any more,' she lamented, while Stephanie-Anne complained about being away from her family too much on the cruise ships.
'I'm ready to hit land,' she said.
In for the steal: Cee Lo stole Stephanie Anne for his team when Christina passed on her
The judges felt the sassy track called for oodles of attitude and, according to Christina, Olivia gave the most oomph on stage.
Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green both disagreed: ‘You both have great voices but because I heard that nugget of grit I am going with Stephanie,’ said Levine, while Green said she ‘gave it real soul’.
Blake Shelton decided to go with the leggy blonde.
‘Is it because Olivia looks like your wife?’ joked the Maroon 5 frontman, referring to Shelton’s partner, fellow country star Miranda Lambert.
Cee Lo used his final save to snag Stephanie Anne for his team.
Stolen singer: Stephanie Anne lost the battle round but was stolen by Cee Lo
New coach: Cee Lo celebrated after stealing Stephanie Anne
The three other judges were also forced to separate the wheat from the chaff in their teams.
First up was a ‘skirmish of the servicemen’ with former army-man Shawn Smith, 32, and air force pretty boy Jonny Gray, 29.
Their mentors Cee Lo and R&B star Miguel assisted them with the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers track Refugee.
‘Here’s a song that suits you both about liberty and freedom and justice,’ said Cee Lo who sided with ‘his military dudes’ by telling them he had ‘voluntarily’ decided to go to a military school.
Military man: Johnny Gray served in the US Air Force before competing on The Voice
A soldier: Former Army soldier Shawn 'Big Sexy' Smith faced off against Johnny singing Refugee by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
In rehearsals Jonny, from Austin, Texas, had the edge with his rockstar attitude and grizzly voice.
‘I’m going to have to step up my game,’ said Shawn, a tattooed father from Utica, New York, who has left partially deaf after driving over an IED in the army.
‘Tom Petty songs are difficult, so I’m impressed with both you guys,” said Adam after the performance, while conceding that Johnny had a slight edge.
The teams: Adame Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton watched as the singers performed
‘Wow. That was hot,’ said Blake, who has admitted that he will ‘never give up booze.’
‘My biggest regret is not pushing for you Johnny,’ said Christina.
The Danger Mouse singer chose Jonny to go on to knock-out rounds.
‘He cuts through, I can hear him clearer, I can see his path more clearly,’ Cee Lo said.
We got a winner: The Voice host Carson Daly raised Jonny's hand after Cee Lo picked him to stay on his team
Adam was ‘getting goose bumps’ from a soul singer showdown between Barry Black and Preston Pohl
With the help of Ryan Tedder – who has written songs for One Republic, Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé – the two men attempted to perfect the track I Wish It Would Rain by The Temptations.
Texan Christian singer Preston impressed the judges with Electric Fields in his auditions - but was the slight underdog in rehearsals.
‘There was a falsetto he couldn’t get…and you just can’t do that on TV,’ said mentor Ryan.
‘You can’t just go back and try again.’
Professional mentors: Adam Levine and his guest mentor Ryan Tedder offered their singers some help
Barry Black, a quirky 27-year-old from American Samoa, was unsure whether to bust out his signature ‘human horn’ beatbox move.
‘It’s kind of who I am…but they don’t me to be too gimmicky,’ he mused.
Aguilera thought Preston was the ‘definite winner.'
Helping out: Cher gave advice to singers on Blake's team
‘You have the kind of voice that can’t be bought with vocal lessons,’ she told the vintage-sounding singer.
Preston also got CeeLo's endorsement when he flatteringly compared him to Temptations legend Davis Ruffin.
Preston won the night after Levine told him he felt ‘moved’ by the performance.
The winner: Preston was picked to stay on Adam's team
From Blake’s team, with the mentoring of Cher, blonde cutie Holly Henry also progressed to the next round.
With the benefit of vocal maturity Brandon Chase, 27, won against 15-year-old farm girl Emily Randolf.
Later a belting rendition of Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) helped Gospel singer Tamara Chauniece win against Keaira LaShae on Cee Lo’s team.
Staying alive: Holly Henry remained on Blake's team following her battle with Cilla Chan
Stronger singer: Brandon Chase won his battle round to remain on Blake's team
Moving on: Tamara Chauniece won her battle round to stay on Cee Lo's team
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Kevin Alexander, Stanton CA, United States, 4 hours ago
BTW, it's Daivd Ruffin, not Davis.