Kelly Clarkson was moved by 13-year-old Brianna Cameron’s performance on The Voice, comparing the young singer to Whitney Houston during the show’s new Cut Week round. Cameron, a member of Team Kelly, sang Natalie Cole’s “Inseparable” on Monday’s episode.
“It’s like we’re watching young Whitney Houston,” Clarkson said after the performance, adding, “You are insane!” She later praised Cameron’s vocal runs, saying she had not heard anything like them since Houston and marveled that the singer was only 13.
The other coaches also praised Cameron. Queen Latifah said it was remarkable that she could sing with such poise at her age, while Riley Green called her the most naturally talented person he had seen on the show.
Cut Week required each coach to reduce a team of seven singers to three before the live shows. Clarkson chose Cameron, Koumba Diallo and Anna McElroy to move forward. Kyle Davis, Brooklyn Marie, Marcus Ladden Jr. and Nina Howland were eliminated from her team.
Host Carson Daly warned that more than half of the remaining artists would leave the competition that night, describing it as the show’s biggest elimination yet. The episode introduced Cut Week, with one eliminated contestant still able to return through viewer voting.
Green advanced Cade Mower and the duo Ferryn & Brinkley, then chose Joe Henley for his final spot. Latifah advanced Mia Knight and BigCountry before selecting Lillie Kolich. Adam Levine chose Lexi Stephens and Connor Closs, with Dakota Cohen taking his final place after performing Fuel’s “Hemorrhage (In My Hands).” Levine called Cohen “Baby Miley.”
The live shows begin next week, with viewers taking a larger role in deciding which contestants advance toward the season finale on Dec. 14.
Sources: Billboard.