Photo: Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson said choosing between two artists who delivered a powerful Chris Stapleton cover was her “hardest decision” on The Voice: Battle of Champions.
Team Kelly’s Houston Kelly and Tia DuRant took the stage with “Either Way,” which Stapleton released in 2017, during the Battles that aired on Monday evening (March 23). That performance posed the “ hardest decision” for Clarkson, who was nearly unable to choose a winner. Fellow coaches Adam Levine and John Legend were also split. Levine advised Clarkson should select Kelly as the winner, and Legend opted for DuRant to advance in the competition.
“I need help,” Clarkson said as Levine and Legend shared their thoughts. “This has been the hardest Battles for me because I wasn’t able to be there at rehearsals. …I knew that you could both handle this song. You both did such a great job.
“Oh man! I am, like, shaking,” Clarkson said. “I honestly don’t know which one (to choose). I hate this right now.”
Watch the performance below, and continue scrolling to find out which artist Clarkson selected as the winner (warning: spoilers).
The Voice: Battle of Champions airs on Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on NBC. It’s available to stream the next day on Peacock.
“This was by far my hardest decision,” Clarkson said. “Both are incredible singers. But Houston showed in the Battles that he’s got even more in his arsenal that I did not know about. “
Kelly, who covered Marc Cohn's “Walking In Memphis” during his audition, said after the performance: “It makes me feel really good that she wants to take me to the Knockouts, and I’m very hopeful that I can deliver what she’s hoping for. “