Ep 13. Knockouts Premiere

The Voice season 12 episode 13 is entitled "Knockouts Premiere" and marks the beginning of a new phase in the competition. After the auditions, battle rounds, and blind auditions, the coach's remaining contestants will now enter the knockout rounds. In this stage, the artists will only perform solo, and will have to prepare their own songs and arrangements.

Each coach has eight artists remaining, and they must trim down their teams to just four by the end of this round. They will have the help of guest advisers: John Legend for Team Adam, Celine Dion for Team Gwen, DJ Khaled for Team Alicia, and Luke Bryan for Team Blake.

The episode opens with clips of each coach discussing their strategies with their advisors. Adam Levine says he is looking for unique voices and strong emotions, while Gwen Stefani is hoping to find a well-rounded artist with a distinctive style. Alicia Keys wants her team members to push themselves out of their comfort zones, while Blake Shelton emphasizes the importance of song choices and the ability to connect with the audience.

The first knockout of the episode features two members from Team Alicia: Vanessa Ferguson and Autumn Turner. Vanessa sings "For Once In My Life" by Stevie Wonder, while Autumn performs "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. Both ladies deliver powerful and impressive performances, but ultimately, Alicia chooses Vanessa to move forward in the competition.

Team Gwen's contestants Brennley Brown and Stephanie Rice are up next, with Brennley singing "Fly" by Maddie and Tae and Stephanie performing "Every Breath You Take" by The Police. Gwen is visibly torn between the two, but ultimately decides to keep Brennley on her team.

Team Blake's Knockouts are filled with surprises, with the coach choosing young artist TSoul over experienced singer Josh Hoyer. TSoul's rendition of "These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding earns him a spot in the Top 12, while Josh is sent home.

Finally, Team Adam's Johnny Hayes and Julien Martinez face off, with Johnny singing "Hard to Handle" by Otis Redding and Julien performing "Hey Ya!" by Outkast. Adam is impressed by both, but ultimately chooses Julien to advance.

The episode also features several segments showcasing the artists' journeys and personal lives. Vanessa Ferguson talks about her experience singing at church and being part of a family of singers, while Brennley Brown shares her passion for horses and advocates for animal rights. Julien Martinez, a Mexican-American artist, speaks about the importance of representing his culture in his music.

Overall, the Knockouts Premiere is an exciting and emotional episode, filled with powerful performances and tough decisions for the coaches. Viewers will be left eager to see who will make it to the next round and continue to vie for The Voice crown.