Dan + Shay are the new kids on the block at "The Voice," but they’re already pros at smack talk.
The country-pop duo, consisting of singers Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, joined the coaches' panel for the NBC singing competition's Season 25 premiere Monday night. Country music icon Reba McEntire, R&B maverick John Legend and hip-hop superstar Chance the Rapper returned to compete for musical dominance.
Dan + Shay went head-to-head with McEntire and Chance the Rapper for Justin & Jeremy Garcia, a duo comprised of 17-year-old identical twin brothers. The Garcia siblings charmed with their warm harmonies and tender cover of One Direction's "Story of My Life."
"I turned around because I grew up in a singing family. We were The Singing McEntires: Pake, Susie and myself," McEntire said. "I absolutely love your enthusiasm, the way you look at each other when you’re singing … I was really moved by it."
But Mooney was quick to call McEntire out for pulling "the family card" in her pitch. "We might not have been as cool as The Singing McEntires, but we were the singing Mooneys and I had two sisters," Mooney quipped. "So, we know all about the family harmony, OK. Just in case that gave Reba a leg up, don't let her sweet talk you."
Mooney's sass seemed to do the trick, as Justin and Jeremy chose Dan + Shay to be their coach.
"We've been a duo for over 10 years," Smyers said. "Lessons we've learned along the way onstage or in the studio, I feel like we're going to be able to imprint that on those guys."
Chance the Rapper may have taken a season off, but he didn't miss a beat in his return.
Singer Dani Stacy won over the coaches with a serene acoustic rendition of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," earning the 31-year-old a four-chair turn. "You were just so connected through the whole performance. From the jump, I was hyped at the possibility of working with you," Chance told Stacy.
But one coach was robbed of the opportunity to work her "sweet talk" on Stacy. McEntire was blocked from pitching by one of the other coaches, much to the "Fancy" singer's annoyance.
"I am so disappointed in my fellow coaches," McEntire said. "I'm glad you're on 'The Voice.' You're going to have to put up with these guys."
In the end, Stacy opted to join Team Chance, only for it to be revealed moments later that Chance had used his block button on McEntire. "I had to use my block 'cause Reba's just a real power," Chance said. "She’s a real problem."
Country singer Tae Lewis wowed Legend and McEntire with his heartfelt performance of “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban.
Legend was quick to talk up his “Voice” track record, as well as discredit McEntire’s focus as a coach. “I took a country artist to the lives with me because she didn’t have to compete with the three, four, five country artists that are going to be on Reba’s team,” he said.
“John’s name is Legend, but according to Wikipedia and my mama, I am legend too, you know,” McEntire shot back.
Legend then encouraged Lewis to make the “unexpected” choice of rejecting “the advances of the queen of country music,” which prompted McEntire to pull out a megaphone. “John, I am ready to complete this,” she said. “Let’s ask him which one he would like to go with.”
McEntire was able to hold onto her country reign, with Lewis choosing to join Team Reba. “John Legend was getting on the queen’s very last nerve,” McEntire said in a post-audition interview as she held her signature sparkly scepter.
Chance the Rapper John Legend Impersonator made an unexpected appearance on “The Voice” stage.
Chance and Legend vied for singer Nadége, who slowed things down with a heavenly cover of “Get You” by Daniel Caesar and Kali Uchis. “When I was listening to you, I was just thinking about how stylish your musical choices were,” Legend said. “You have a real sense of who you are as an artist.”
When asked about her musical influences, Nadége cited Legend’s R&B hit “Ordinary People.” The shoutout prompted Legend to join the 26-year-old vocalist for an impromptu performance of the song, a tactic the coach has previously used on the show.
But Chance was unimpressed by Legend’s show-offy move. “John just did so much,” he told Nadége. “I’ll sing ‘Ordinary People’ with you too.” And with that, Chance took the stage with Nadége for a cover of Legend’s song, impersonating the singer’s soulful rasp.
In a surprising turn of events, borrowing from Legend’s playbook gave the rapper a victory. Nadége joined Team Chance.
Oklahoma girl group OK3 floored the coaches with their powerhouse vocals and playful cover of Meghan Trainor’s “Made You Look,” earning the group a four-chair turn.
“My heart is racing right now because I want you guys so bad,” Mooney of Dan + Shay said. “That was my favorite performance that we’ve seen so far.”
But Legend was determined to make a case for his team. The “All of Me” singer hit his chair button, which brought to life an inflatable tube man on the side of the stage that read “Pick Team Legend.”
“I need a partner to help me advocate for OK3,” he said. Legend wasn’t the only coach to resort to flashy self-promotion. During her pitch to OK3, McEntire pulled out the golden gramophone from one of her Grammy awards.
“I am the queen of country music,” she told the group. “I would love to have you in my kingdom.”
Dan + Shay put a bow on the coach peacocking by asking the studio audience to raise a series of signs that contained their individual names.
“Who do you choose as your coach?” Legend asked OK3.
Viewers will have to wait to find out which coach emerged victorious. OK3’s choice will be revealed on Tuesday’s episode.
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