‘The Voice’ season 24 episode 20 recap: ‘Live Top 12 Performances’ [Updating Live Blog]

Tonight on “The Voice,” the top 12 artists perform live for the first time in front of coaches Niall Horan, John Legend, Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani. Viewers have the chance to vote for their favorite artist overnight. Then tomorrow, the top eight vote-getters will automatically advance to the Season 24 semi-finals while the bottom four fight for the Instant Save.

The four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series returns with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the show’s newest season, which premiered September 25 on NBC. The show’s innovative format features five stages of competition: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Knockouts, Playoffs and Live Performance Shows. 

SEE Everything to know about ‘The Voice’ Season 24: Premiere date, coaches

Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Voice” recap of Season 24, Episode 20 to find out what happened Monday, December 4 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite artists on NBC’s long-running reality TV show, which coach you’re rooting for and who you think will ultimately join “The Voice” winners list for this 24th season. Carson Daly hosts the Emmy-winning program.

Keep refreshing/reloading this “The Voice” live blog for the most recent updates.

8:00 p.m. – “Previously on ‘The Voice’!” In episode 19, Team Legend took the stage in hopes of making the cut for tonight’s Top 12. In the end, Azán (“Adorn”), Lila Forde (“Angel From Montgomery”) and Mac Royals (“Untitled (How Does it Feel)” advanced while Kristen Brown (“Need You Now”), Taylor Deneen (“Get Here”) and Kaylee Shimizu (“You Put a Move on My Heart”) were sent home. But enough about last week, let’s get to the season’s first live performances!

8:01 p.m. – Ahead of tonight’s performances, Carson Daly made it clear that three artists will be eliminated on Tuesday night’s results show and it doesn’t matter what team they are from. In addition, Chance the Rapper, who will return next season as a coach, sat with all of the artists in rehearsal to help prepare them for the live shows.

8:02 p.m. – First up was Jacquie Roar for Team Reba with the current chart-climber “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” Jacquie struggled with how to make the song her own, but Chance reminded her that there is a good portion of the audience that won’t be familiar with the original anyway.

8:07 p.m. – Niall thought tonight was the most comfortable Jacquie has looked on stage all season and Gwen called the performance “tasteful” and “cool.” Reba wanted nothing other than Jacquie to “have a great experience” on the live show and she believes she did just that.

8:10 p.m. – Niall started his team performances with Nini Iris taking on “Lovesong,” a track from The Cure that Adele covered early in her career. Chance was a fan of Nini’s runs, but advised her to “play it straight” through the first verse which Niall agreed with.

8:16 p.m. – John told Nini that she’s one of the biggest talents in the competition and she has “star power on stage.” Niall was impressed by her ability to flip the song on its head and he’s impressed with how confident she is as an artist.

8:22 p.m. – Team Gwen got their first appearance on the live stage with Kara Tenae singing a Chance favorite “Love” by Keyshia Cole. Chance and Gwen worked with Kara on the vocal structure of the song to make it more dynamic.

8:27 p.m. – John reminded the audience that the song Kara sang is a classic R&B song from the 2000s and that she nailed it in the execution. Gwen thinks that Kara “adds an audience” every time she takes the stage and was perfect again tonight.

8:32 p.m. – Tanner Massey was the next Team Gwen artist to meet Chance in the rehearsal studio to work through “Thnks fr th Mmrs.” Chance told Tanner to learn the original pitch of the song first so that he can start with that foundation and then find his own voice within that framework.

8:37 p.m. – Reba told Tanner that he’s improved “baby steps” through the competition and she’s still so proud of him. Gwen thought he did “so good” and she’s rooting for him because he had a tough time finding a song, but it all worked out in the end.

8:38 p.m. – Team Legend finally got their moment with Lila Forde playing the piano on “Closer to Fine.” Because she was seated at the keys for the performance, John and Chance helped her figure out how to find stage presence by stepping away from the seat to make it a more dynamic show.

8:43 p.m. – Niall called it “an insane ability” to make words sound like her own and he thinks everyone should watch out for her. John thought it was the first performance of the night where the artist made it sound like their own concert and brought the audience in to their story.

8:49 p.m. – 16 year old yodeler Ruby Leigh was up next for Team Reba with her take on “You Lie.” Chance was as impressed with Ruby as everyone else has been all season, but helped her work on a few pitch issues. Reba’s concern was that Ruby bear in mind that it’s a sad song and she finds a place for the emotion in the delivery.

8:54 p.m. – Niall said that once again Ruby gave him goosebumps and appreciates that she always performs songs in “the Ruby way.” Reba, fighting through tears, told her she “blew it out of thew water.”

9:00 p.m. – Niall’s next performer was Huntley with his rendition of “With a Little Help from My Friends” which he dedicated to his mom. Niall and Chance told Huntley that performing is “a conversation” and he needs to find the line between passion and connecting with the audience through eye contact.

9:05 p.m. – John reiterated that he sees Huntley as a pro already and added that is voice is “so powerful.” Niall called it a “different league” of performance, especially compared to his rehearsal, and told the audience that he deserves to be around until the end of the season.

9:10 p.m. – John and Chance worked with Azán on “Ex-Factor,” a song that has never been performed on the show before and they needed to get special clearance for from Lauryn Hill. John’s advice was that she give “a little reprieve from the intensity” in order to let the song settle in more to the ballad feel.

9:15 p.m. – Gwen appreciated that they reworked the song to be something new because it allowed her to let go of her obsession with the original. John noted her “passion and emotion” in the performance and how radiant she was.

9:21 p.m. – Team Reba concluded their night with Jordan Rainer‘s rendition of “Stranger in My House.” Reba appreciated that Jordan wanted to play instruments in the performance, but warned her that it’s “a bit distracting” as well.

9:29 p.m. – Niall said that Jordan has a “gravitational pull” as a performer and “it was so cool to watch.” Reba called Jordan a star and noted that she “demands attention” on the stage.

9:33 p.m. – Team Niall finished up with Mara Justine delivering her version of “Lose Control.” Chance was impressed with Mara and Niall had just a few pitch issues to work through with her during rehearsal.

9:38 p.m. – John agreed with Carson that it’s going to be “impossible” for voters to send three people home tomorrow. Niall told Mara that her live performance was the best version she sang all week and “by far” her best of the season.

9:43 p.m. – Mac Royals was the final member of Team Legend to take the stage with his chosen song “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Chance pointed out to Mac that he was too heavily in his chest voice and that he should go falsetto at certain points for a “surprise.”

9:48 p.m. – John called Mac “an elite talent” and said that his decision to “let people in” with this emotional song was a smart decision for the competition.

9:53 p.m. – The night ended with Team Gwen’s Bias and his performance of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” Gwen liked the song choice because it felt consistent with who he’s been on the show, but she needed him to not be so understated in this one.

9:58 p.m. – Reba was proud of Bias for staying true to the country heart and lamented that she was never able to bring him over to her team. Gwen told Bias that she just wants him to continue to be him because it’s working for him.

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