Heartbreak on ‘The Voice’: Felsmere’s Departure After Knockout Stage

During Tuesday night’s episode of the popular television show The Voice, fans bid farewell to a contestant who had gained admiration from all four judges. It was a tense and emotional episode as Felsmere, a 31-year-old from Los Angeles, impressed the judges with her rendition of Dusty Springfield’s «Son of a Preacher Man.» One of the show’s coaches praised her performance, stating, «Felsmere, you are a full package,» highlighting her exceptional vocals and dynamic stage presence.

Despite the commendations, it was not enough for Felsmere to move forward in the competition. Coach Gwen Stefani, who was joined by fellow mentors Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, and Niall Horan, ultimately chose to advance another contestant, Gabrielle Zabrosky. The 25-year-old from Oxford, Pennsylvania, delivered an emotionally resonant cover of Miley Cyrus‘ «Used to Be Young.» The performance was so moving that Snoop Dogg mentioned it gave him chills, reinforcing the difficult decision Stefani had to make. «That was hard,» she acknowledged after making her choice.

The decision came as a surprise to some, especially given the positive feedback Felsmere had received during rehearsals with Stefani and mega-mentor Sting. «I think all of the big singers in the world are instantly recognizable. It’s important to develop that uniqueness that you have,» Sting had noted, while emphasizing Felsmere’s «pure, pure tone» and her ability to sell the performance effectively.

Felsmere, who previously appeared on the inaugural season of The Voice in 2011 under the name Kelsey Rey, became emotionally reflective, notably because of the personal significance of her song choice. «I grew up listening to this song because of my dad,» she confessed, recounting her father’s passing eight years prior. «He was here for the very first season. He’s always been my biggest fan. This was our dream together.»

Another competitor in the three-way Knockout round was Kay Sibal, a 24-year-old from Los Angeles, who presented her take on Ariana Grande‘s «One Last Time.»

In other events from the episode, Reba McEntire chose to advance 18-year-old Katie O. from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Playoffs with her team. McEntire also exercised her option to «steal» 19-year-old Edward Preble from Team Michael Bublé, after Bublé had opted to keep Shye, who performed Katy Perry‘s «The One That Got Away,» over Preble’s rendition of «Send in the Clowns» by Stephen Sondheim or «Kiss from a Rose» by Seal.

Fans can look forward to the conclusion of The Voice Knockouts, scheduled to air on Monday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.