‘The Voice’: CORii and Ms. Monet’s Show-Stopping Battle Stuns the Coaches, Leads to a Double Steal

Reba McEntire was knocked out by the talent of her team during The Voice‘s Battle Rounds!

The country legend put Ms. Monet and CORii together for a Battle on Monday’s all-new episode, and even in the rehearsals, the powerful pairing blew her away with their rendition of Patti LaBelle’s “New Attitude.” Following one run-through, Reba dramatically dropped to the floor to show just how impressed she was by the duo.

However, she also knew that would make her Battle Round decision extra difficult. “I can’t steal my own artist, but can I steal them back? Yes! Watch out,” she quipped to the cameras.

Reba’s fellow coaches were just as impressed by the pair’s on-stage performance, with Niall Horan kicking himself for not turning for CORii during the Blind Auditions, while telling Ms. Monet, “That could have been your song!”

Gwen Stefani, who also turned for Ms. Monet — a former background singer for Gwen and hubby Blake Shelton‘s holiday duet “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” — praised the soulful singer saying, “I am so literally blown away by you.”

“But then, CORii… it was like, wow, she has range and power,” she continued. “It just kept getting better and better. You both have incredible stage presence and character.”

John Legend also praised the power in CORii’s voice, but noted that Ms. Monet was “consistently amazing.”

As for their coach, Reba had nothing but praise for the pair as she agonized over her decision.

She told CORii, “You really stepped up with your stage presence and your vocal range today. It was amazing,” while adding to Ms. Monet, “I’m just a huge fan. The way you carry yourself is just so professional.”

The choice was a tough one, with Reba even asking host Carson Daly for some help making the difficult decision. “I don’t like this part!” she complained, as her fellow coaches commiserated.

Ultimately, Reba picked Ms. Monet as the winner of the Battle, however, CORii didn’t have to wait long to find out her fate. As she started to walk off stage, both Niall and Gwen hit their buttons to try and steal the talented singer. After asking Reba to try and weigh in, to no avail, CORii ultimately decided to join Team Gwen!

ET spoke with Gwen ahead of this season’s Battles, where she opened up about how surreal it is to return to The Voice without Blake by her side. The Cowboy departed the NBC singing competition earlier this year, after 23 seasons.

“It feels kind of like [my] first season, before I knew he existed,” she shared. “It’s kind of weird, but it’s also like, I’m having so much fun.”

“Like, I’m only here because it’s fun,” Gwen added. “The coaching and actually getting to know your team after the Blinds is my favorite thing, ’cause it’s like, the dream’s there.”

She admitted, however, that it is a little nerve-wracking to look to Blake’s chair and instead see The Voice‘s newest coach — the Queen of Country herself.

Of how Reba’s handled her first season so far, Gwen recalled the Blind Auditions with a laugh.

“She did great. She didn’t have to do anything,” she remembered. “She’d be like, ‘I think you were great. I’d love to have you on my team,’ and then they’d be like, ‘I pick you!'” 

The Voice airs Mondays at 8 p.m. PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. PT on NBC.

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