The Voice: John Legend hits Playoff Pass button to keep Bryan Olesen on team as Battles round begins

John Legend used his only Playoff Pass to keep Bryan Olesen on his team as the Battles round began on Monday’s episode of The Voice on NBC.

The stunning turn took place right after John, 45, picked Nathan Chester, 27, from Chicago, over Bryan, 50, from Lincoln, Nebraska, as the winner of the Battles round after they both belted out Adele’s Rolling In The Deep.

Just when Bryan was saying his goodbyes Reba McEntire, 68, and new coaches Dan + Shay both pushed their buttons to steal him.

‘Bryan Olesen you are back in the show!’ shouted host Carson Daly, 50.

‘We were not going to let a voice or a talent like that leave this show that quickly,’ Dan Smyers, 36, said.

John then hit his buzzer and used his one and only Playoff Pass for Bryan.

‘I’ve had enough,’ John said. ‘Playoff Pass!’

Bryan got down on his knees in shock.

‘Bryan Olsen goes straight to the playoffs,’ Carson screamed.

Bryan, the lead guitarist of the Christian band the Newsboys, then got up and spun around with excitement.

‘Bryan got the highest honor I could give to anybody on my team,’ John said. ‘Bryan is such a pro, such a superstar vocalist, but he hasn’t had that huge break that I feel like he really deserves. I think he could win The Voice.’

In rehearsals, Bryan said that he said he knew he was the oldest contestant on season 25, but was still thrilled to be on the show. He said the Adele song reminded him of his divorce after 24 years of marriage.

Nathan, who works on cruise ships as an entertainer and previously competed on the show at the age of 14, was excited to learn that Bryan would be staying on.

‘You guys are both really powerful vocalists,’ Chance the Rapper, 30, said.

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‘I’m blown away,’ Dan said. ‘It was so locked in. The vibratos were happening at the same time. You all were up there absolutely killing it.’

‘This version sounded like no other version,’ John said. ‘You both were A plus plus.’

For their battle round, Dan + Shay paired Karen Waldrup, 36, from Mandeville, Louisiana, against Ryan Argast, 30, from Plainfield, Illinois, and had them sing one of their own Dan +Shay songs Save Me The Trouble.

Dan encouraged them to face each other during their performance and to control their breathing.

‘That song is nice,’ John said to Dan + Shay. ‘You guys got a future in this business.’

‘You guys are a great duet,’ Reba said.

‘It was a great collaborative performance,’ Chance said.

‘Karen your voice is so fantastic it reminds me of old country stuff that I grew up listening to, and I love that sound,’ Shay said. ‘Ryan your voice is a powerhouse and I love that.’

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They picked Karen as the winner of the battle.

Reba paired L. Rodgers , 34, from Baltimore, Maryland, up against Tae Lewis, 32, from Goldsboro, North Carolina, singing Carly Pearce’s song We Don’t Fight Anymore.

‘I was just mesmerized,’ Chance said when they finished. ‘I thought it was top to bottom insane.’

‘Tae I felt like your runs were so spot on,’ Shay said.

‘You’re both just fantastic vocalists,’ John said.

‘Everything was perfect,’ Reba said. ‘Whatever happens you can’t step another foot today without saying ”we did good”.’

Reba picked Tae as the winner.

‘I think he can sing anything,’ Reba said.

Chance then hit his buzzer to steal L. Rodgers, but Reba also hit her buzzer to use her Playoff Pass.

‘Queen Reba uses her playoff pass for L. Rodgers!’ Carson said.

L. Rodgers was stunned and hugged Reba.

‘I only get one playoff pass but I felt L was worth it,’ Reba said. ‘L has a beautiful voice. But it’s not only her voice. It’s her attitude.’

Team Chance contestant Gabriel Goes, 21, went up against Kamalei Kawa’a, 27, both from Hawaii, singing Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Gabriel hugged Kamalei after their powerhouse battle.

‘Gabriel, I feel like you are true to your name,’ Shay said. ‘Gabriel goes. From the second that you walked out, you went. You go. I don’t know where you went, but you have gone, and it’s unbelievable. Wherever you go I will follow Gabriel goes.’

‘You’re the man,’ Gabriel said.

‘Kamalei your voice is so graceful, it feels inviting,’ John said. ‘I think just by a little bit, I would say Kamalei was my favorite.’

‘Kamalei, I think you handled it really well with Gabriel coming out like a live wire,’ Reba said.

‘Gabriel everyone likes you,’ Chance said.

‘Everyone likes you too, man,’ Gabriel said.

‘Speak for yourself, Gabriel,’ John quipped.

‘Kamalei, I really respect how you brought the song to life.’ Chance said. ‘I could tell that you were focused on your hometown and what the song was going to mean when you sang it. Gabriel, I feel you just rise to every occasion.’

Chance picked Kamalei as the winner of the battle.

Next, the four-chair turn female trio OK3 from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, made up of Fields Makenna, Sierra Sikes and Courtney Hooker, went up against Zoe Levert, 20, from New Orleans for Team Legend singing The Bones by Maren Morris.

Zoe, who was in the midst of wedding planning, channeled her personal journey into her singing. John helped OK3 in rehearsals on their harmonies.

‘Ladies that was incredible,’ Reba said when they finished. ‘Zoe, you’ve got a very strong broad-range voice. Excellent. OK3 wonderful. Loved your harmonies, very entertaining.’

Reba added that Zoe blew her away.

‘That was fire,’ Chance said. ‘Zoe you really surprised me. You are like a pop star. When you came out, you had a certain presence on stage and moments that felt like a lead vocal.’

‘Zoe, you blew me away with your performance,’ Dan said. ‘Your vocals were incredible. It felt so intentional to me.’

‘You really stepped up,’ Shay said. ‘This is not an easy task. It’s basically three on one. It’s like Barbie coming after you three times.’

‘I was so impressed with the whole performance and now I have a decision to make,’ John said.

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John picked Zoe as the winner of the battle.

‘Zoe came out and just sounded like she was the lead singer and she nailed it,’ John said.

‘I’m like freaking out, that was amazing,’ Zoe said. ‘I’ve been working really, really hard, and that was so much fun working with OK3 and I’m just really glad I made John proud.’

Team Reba contestant Alyssa Crosby, 32, from Binghamton, New York, battled against Asher HaVon, 31, from Selma, Alabama, closing out the show with a powerhouse performance singing Tina Turner’s classic hit We Don’t Need Another Hero.

‘Great job!’ Chance said. ‘Asher your tone was incredible…I’m leaning towards Asher. I think he is going to do amazing things on the show.’

‘Alyssa, I feel like you really stepped up in this performance and that is really a difficult thing to do with such a powerhouse vocalist like Asher,’ Shay said.

‘Asher that was insane dude, just your range, your dynamics, some of that lower stuff,’ Dan said. ‘I was blown away by that.’

Carson asked Reba what she thought of the battle.

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‘Alyssa, I turned for you because I believed in you and you proved me right,’ Reba said. ‘You are a great vocalist.’

Reba also said she loved Asher’s performance, too.

‘Your voice is wonderful, round, full, makes you feel like a nice, cozy blanket,’ Reba said.

Reba picked Asher as the winner of the round.

‘It was really a tough decision but I had to choose Asher,’ Reba said.

‘I am overly happy that I won this battle and I’m glad I’m still here,’ Asher said.

Alyssa was saying her goodbyes when Chance pressed his buzzer to steal her and she was shocked. Alyssa started sobbing on the stage.

‘Alyssa is stunned,’ Carson said. ‘Never saw it coming.’

‘This just made my whole life,’ Alyssa said.

Chance hugged Alyssa.

‘Welcome to Team Chance,’ Chance said.

A final slide flashed on the screen saying the show was dedicated ‘In Loving Memory of Debra Byrd,’ a vocal coach on The Voice who died at the age of 72 earlier this month.

The Voice will return Tuesday on NBC.

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