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'That's rare': Pharrell Williams compares The Voice contestant Koryn Hawthorne, 17, and her drive to succeed to Beyoncé

Published: 02:04 EST, 7 April 2015 | Updated: 04:15 EST, 7 April 2015

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The Voice contestant Koryn Hawthorne is a 17-year-old high school student who performs at nursing homes and charity events.

She could be destined for bigger things after the coaches on Monday night compared her raw talent to Beyoncé Knowles.

Pharrell Williams, who stole Koryn from Christina Aguilera’s team, noted the similarities between her and Beyoncé as she rehearsed for the playoff show.

High praise: Koryn Hawthorne belted out a hymn that left mentor Pharrell Williams comparing her to Beyonce Knowles on Monday night's episode of The Voice

'She doesn’t sound like Beyoncé, but there’s a drive that Bey has that you see in Koryn and that’s rare,' he said.

The other judges agreed with him after the teenager performed the hymn How Great Thou Art.

'I can see where he’s referencing Beyoncé when he’s referencing you,' Christina said. 'When she gets in her body and just feels this, you can’t teach certain things like that. You just have to own it and you have it.'

Proud mentor: Pharrell told Koryn that her drive reminded her of Beyonce

While Blake Shelton said he had been drawn in by Koryn’s performance, Adam Levine admired the grittiness to her voice.

Pharrell added: 'You’re lighting those living rooms up across the nation and around the world. I felt like you were an antenna and the message was just coming through stronger and stronger. I’m so happy that you are on my team.'

Adam and Christina’s teams were forced to watch from the audience as Team Pharrell and Team Blake fought for their places in the contest’s top 12.

Can't teach it: Christina Aguilera told Koryn that she had rare qualities that can't be taught

Rocker Sarah Potenza was the first contestant to take to the stage after Adam Levine’s band Maroon 5 opened the show with a performance of their hit song Sugar.

Sarah, who revealed she has had a pizza named after her in her hometown of Smithfield, Rhode Island, received praise from all four coaches for her version of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird.

Mentor Blake Shelton described her performance as 'awesome' and refused to take credit for the song choice.

'I want America to know this was her idea,' he said.

How it's done: Adam Levine performed along with his band Maroon 5

Adam said he had been concerned about the focus on the guitar solos in Free Bird, but conceded: 'Your vocals were doing the dynamic the guitar solos were doing.'

Folk singer Sawyer Fredericks, who is 16-years-old and the youngest contestant, stole the show with his version of Trouble by Ray Lamontagne.

While coach Pharrell, who wore a brightly coloured shirt, called him a 'super rare natural', Adam told the teenager: 'It’s so crazy how your soul is way older than you are.'

Power ballad: Sarah Potenza performed a powerful version of Free Bird

Blake quipped: 'I got saved by a woman when I was 16, but that’s a different deal,' before admitting 'It’s hard to watch Sawyer and not think the other coaches here are screwed.'

Brooke Adee from Blake’s team received some criticism for not being loose enough during her rendition of Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do, while Adam told Corey Kent White he wanted more of a climax at the end of his performance of Make You Feel My Love.

Corey’s coach Blake said his rival judge has a point, but added: 'The mark of a great country singer is to move people with a great story and the emotion.'

Nailed it: Sawyer Fredericks impressed the judges with his version of Trouble by Ray Lamontagne

Good job: Blake Shelton talked to a singer about their performance

Pharrell’s contestant Caitlin Caporale channeled her inner Beyoncé Knowles and sang Best Thing I Never Had.

'Beyoncé’s definitely big shoes to fill, but this is definitely the type of artist I want to be,' she said.

Despite her risky song choice, the four coaches waxed lyrical about her performance.

'I can’t say bad words but that was blanking amazing and it doesn’t suck to be you right now. Get it?' Adam quipped.

Big shoes: Caitlin Caporale took on a Beyonce song and was lauded afterward by the judges

While Lowell Oakley was praised for going out of his comfort zone with his rendition of Jealous by Nick Jonas, the coaches loved Hannah Kirby’s high-energy version of I Feel The Earth Move.

The youngster had expressed concerns that she might not be able to connect with a song about love during rehearsals with coach Blake.

'I’ve never had a boyfriend and I feel like a lot of people would think you need to have had that relationship to sing a song like this,' she said.

Hannah, however, shook all signs of nerves and gave an energetic rendition of the Carole King classic.

She connected: Hanna Kirby gave an energetic performance of the Carole King classic I Feel The Earth Move

Colourful shirt: Pharrell wore a colourful shirt to the show while Christina opted for white

Adam praised her fearlessness and Christina, who was sporting Kim Kardashian-inspired slicked back hair, admired her dance moves.

Pharrell added: 'To me, that is entertainment. The way you allow your voice to control your body is awesome.'

There was also high praise for Blake’s contestant Meghan Linsey and Pharrell’s contestant Mia Z.

Great performance: Meghan Linsey performed an upbeat rendition of Love Runs Out by One Republic

Blake confessed that he wished 16-year-old Mia was on his team after watching her sing the Eva Cassidy version of Ain’t No Sunshine.

Describing her as the most underrated person on the show, he said: 'If there was one person I could pick to be on my team that’s not it would be you.'

Christina called Meghan’s upbeat rendition of One Republic’s Love Runs Out a 'great performance'.

While Blake said she should be guaranteed a place in the top 12, her former coach Pharrell added: 'You’re living proof that you should not give up on your dream. No should be your biggest motivation.'

The Voice playoff round continues on Tuesday when Adam and Christina’s teams will take to the stage.