Two ‘The Voice’ Coaches Battle to Steal Singer After ‘Breathtakingly Beautiful’ Performance of ‘Girl Crush’
The first night of The Voice Season 30 Battles delivered a standout performance — and left two coaches competing for the same singer. Kayleigh Matthews and Lillie Kolich brought Queen Latifah’s team to life with an emotional rendition of Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” earning glowing praise from the coaches and setting up a dramatic double Steal.
The Battle Rounds began on Monday, October 12, following six episodes of Blind Auditions that saw all four coaches assemble teams of 12 artists. Now, the competition is becoming more difficult, as each coach must decide which singers will continue and which will be sent home.
However, losing a Battle does not necessarily mean the end of the road. Coaches can use a Steal to give an eliminated artist another chance, with the singers who advance moving on to the show’s first-ever Cut Week. For Kayleigh, that opportunity turned into a showdown of its own.
A Battle Between Two Four-Chair Turn Singers
Both Matthews and Kolich had turned all four coaches’ chairs during the Blind Auditions, raising expectations for their face-off. Their performance of “Girl Crush” lived up to the anticipation, with the pair delivering a rendition that impressed the entire panel.
Kelly Clarkson was particularly enthusiastic about their interpretation of the Little Big Town hit.
“I’ve heard this song done a lot, y’all. That was my favorite,” she told the singers, describing the performance as “breathtakingly beautiful.” The other coaches shared her admiration and acknowledged how difficult it would be for Queen Latifah to choose between two artists who had both delivered such a strong performance.
For Queen Latifah, the decision came down to what each singer brought to the song. In the end, she chose Kolich, explaining that the singer had a distinctive quality that set her apart. One particular note during the performance had convinced her that Lillie was the artist she wanted to take forward.
Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green Make Their Move
Although Matthews lost the Battle, her journey on the show was far from over.
When host Carson Daly reminded the coaches that Kayleigh was available to be stolen, Clarkson quickly pressed her button. Riley Green followed, turning what had seemed like a straightforward elimination into a contest between two coaches eager to bring Matthews onto their teams.
With both coaches making their moves, Matthews now had a choice of her own to make. Rather than revealing her decision, however, the episode ended on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers waiting to discover whether she would join Team Kelly or Team Riley.
The answer is expected in the next episode, airing Tuesday night.
Watch Kayleigh Matthews and Lillie Kolich perform “Girl Crush” in the video below.