'The Voice': Ariana Grande's team nearly wiped out in Top 8 reveal; Gwen Stefani makes comeback
"The Voice" is bringing back some familiar faces.
Former coach Gwen Stefani and Season 19 winner Carter Rubin, the show's youngest male winner ever, returned to the NBC competition during Tuesday's results show.
It marked Stefani's first time back since marrying Blake Shelton in July. "This is actually the first time we've been at 'The Voice' together since we've been man and wife," said Stefani, who gave her husband a sweet smooch on commercial break. (Fun fact: Host Carson Daly served as their wedding officiant — "You married us!")
Stefani introduced Rubin, who debuted his new single "Horoscope." Rubin won "The Voice" in 2020, handing Stefani her first win as a coach.
Grande looks to do the same, but her odds of becoming the third coach to win their first season drastically plummeted on Tuesday following the "shocking" Top 8 reveal.
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Blake Shelton's team remained intact, with all three of his singers advancing. But the same could not be said about Grande, whose team was nearly wiped out as only one of her singers advanced to the semifinals.
Only two other coaches in "The Voice" history have won on their first season as coach — and they are rubbing shoulders with Grande. Clarkson won on her first attempt as coach in 2018 with Brynn Cartelli and John Legend won in 2019 with Maelyn Jarmon.
Here's what happened during Tuesday's elimination:
Viewers' saves
The seven artists with the most viewer votes automatically advanced, in no particular order.
Team Shelton’s Paris Winningham, Wendy Moten and Lana Scott, the competition's lone country artist, all moved on to the semifinals. It marked the third week in a row that all of Shelton's artists advanced by viewer votes.
Shelton celebrated by taking "a drink on national television." He tweeted, "Cheers to ALL of Team Blake moving on to next week!!! Thank you America!!!"
Team Grande's father/son duo Jim and Sasha Allen advanced.
America voted through Team Clarkson's sibling trio Girl Named Tom and Hailey Mia, the youngest singer in the competition at 14.
Team Legend's Joshua Vacanti was also voted into the Top 8.
Wildcard Instant Save
The three artists who received the fewest votes went head-to-head for the wildcard spot in the Top 10: Jershika Maple (Legend), Jeremy Rosado (Clarkson) and Holly Forbes (Grande).
"How is this the (bottom) three? It doesn't make sense," Grande questioned.
Rosado laid his heart on the line during an emotional rendition of Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts The Most." The lyrics were poignant: "What hurts the most/Is being so close."
"This is such a brilliant 'save' song," Clarkson said. "You get to showcase your voice… and you just showed them that."
Forbes selected to sing Clarkson's own "Because Of You."
"I was actually extra surprised to see you in this position tonight," Shelton said. Grande agreed, calling Forbes a "vocal titan."
Maple showcased her powerhouse vocals on Veronika Bozeman's "What Is Love."
"You have been one of the best people on this season," Legend said. "You have given your best performance. It was so powerful, so emotional."
In the end, Maple advanced.
Eliminations
Rosado (Clarkson) and Forbes (Grande) were eliminated after failing to clinch the Wildcard Instant Save.
Clarkson offered Grande some comforting words: "It’s awesome to win this show, it is, but it’s a stepping stone to whatever your next move is."
Grande also offered some parting words to Forbes on Twitter: "oh my god i love you so much @hollyforbes. this is absolutely just the beginning and i cannot tell you how excited i am for everything you’re going to do. i’m here every step and you are entirely unstoppable, my brilliant friend."
Final team count
Team Shelton: 3
Team Clarkson: 2
Team Legend: 2
Team Grande: 1
The Top 8 will perform live in the semifinals Monday on NBC at 8 EST/PST.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gwen Stefani returns to 'The Voice'; Carter Rubin performs new single