"The competition is on," Christina Aguilera said during The Voice season two premiere and she wasn't lying!
The hit reality singing competition returned to NBC tonight (earning the coveted post-Super Bowl slot!) and things were as heated as ever between Aguilera and her fellow mentors Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine, who duked it out for several of the contestants, including a single father, possibly the next Taylor Swift and a former Mouseketeer!
So what went down during the first round of blind auditions?
First up was country cutie RaeLynn, a 17-year-old who idolizes Miranda Lambert and decides to take a risk by singing her hit song "Hell on Heels" in front of her husband. Shelton immediately turns his chair for RaeLynn, as does Levine and the two battle it out to be her mentor. "I can make you a country star," Shelton promises, while Levine says he can make her a plain ol' star. In the end, RaeLynn chooses Shelton.
Jesse Campbell, a single father who was homeless at one point and now sings at churches and weddings, wowed all the judges with his rendition of "A Song For You." Shelton is the last to turn and calls himself "a dumbass" for waiting so long. Aguilera promises to "fight" for Jesse, which is the winning edge as he chooses her as his celebrity mentor.
Rocker chick Juliet Simms who has been touring since she was 16 also impressed all the judges, who were a little slow to turn for her at first. Levine tries to win Juliet over by telling her that Aguilera may be the "best singer," but she's not the best coach. Ouch! Aguilera says not to choose Levine because he likes to be the center of attention. Her mentor of choice? Green! "I'm so mad right now," Aguilera says.
Opera singer Chris Mann, 29, performed for his mother, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. Green and Aguilera were impressed by his performance of "Because We Believe," while Shelton admitted he couldn't understand a word of what he sang. Mann chooses Aguilera as his mentor when tells him she "knows what to do with real vocalists."
Aguilera's former Mickey Mouse Club co-star Tony Lucca was the last audition of the night and wasn't sure if the "Beautiful" singer would recognize him. His rendition of "Trouble" impressed all the judges (with Levine also pushing Green's button—a Voice first!), who proceeded to try and lure him to their team. "There's so much real pain and energy in what you're doing," Levine says. Aguilera compliments Tony's singing, not seeming to recognize him. Tony ends up choosing Levine, who is thrilled to get his first team member.
After the show, Aguilera realizes who it was, saying, "That was so weird!" She then goes to find Tony, saying, "I didn't even recognize...and no hard feelings!" Aguilera also reveals Britney Spears had the biggest crush on Tony.
What did you think of tonight's show? Which contestant was your favorite? Which mentor would you choose? Sound off in the comments!
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