With Adam Levine out as a coach and Gwen Stefani back in, Season 17 has shifted the dynamic of The Voice. Shifting dynamics can often mean power shifts, though it's hard to ever count out EGOT winner John Legend as a front-runner especially after his win with Maelyn Jarmon in Season 16. Now we may be only one episode into the new season, but it already appears Chrissy Teigen's husband has nabbed two future front runners in the competition.
It all started with Katie Kadan who opened up Season 17 with a voice Kelly Clarkson compared to Alabama Shakes front-woman Brittany Howard. Kadan kicked off The Voice with a stunning rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Baby I Love You," and got the attention of the coaches real quick.
While it seemed like Katie Kadan wanted to go with coach Kelly Clarkson, an early block by Blake Shelton took her out of the race. Shelton didn't seem to have much of a chance to begin with, but blocking Clarkson only made the scorned coach advocate against him further and throw all support to Gwen Stefani and John Legend. Legend ended up getting the pick, and the Season 17 contestant who has the strongest voice of the competition so far.
The wins didn't stop there for Team Legend either. It's hard to put any contestant in Part One of the Season 17 premiere above Katie Kadan in terms of voice strength, but it's fair to say John Legend also managed to snag one of the most creative acts of the evening. I'm talking of course about Will Breman, who went on The Voice and delivered a truly funky version of The Spice Girls' "Say You'll Be There."
Oh yeah, Will Breman also did a rocking duet of John Legend's "Ordinary People" with the coach, which all but assured he was going to pick him over Gwen Stefani. Sorry Gwen, but when you're gonna keep bending Blake Shelton to your will, it's only fair that other coaches play a little dirty by offering to croon alongside the singers they want on their team.
Plus, the fact that Will Breman rose to the occasion on the spot and was able to sync up with John Legend so well is proof positive there's something special about The Voice contestant. The only unfortunate problem Legend will face now is if Breman and Kadan are forced to go head to head and he ends up losing one of them to one of the other coaches. We already know Kelly Clarkson is jumping at the chance to steal Kadan!
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The Voice premiere continues on NBC Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for updates on the competition, and for the latest on what's happening in television as the fall season is officially underway!
