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Kelly Clarkson chooses Holly Band over Ali in 'The Voice' 2023 Playoffs, slammed for 'dumb decision'

Kelly Clarkson was moved to tears by Holly Brand's rendition of 'Bring On the Rain', ultimately selecting her to move on to semifinals

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA: The Playoffs for Season 23 of 'The Voice' are well underway, and coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan, and Chance the Rapper have completed selecting their teams for the live shows. Last week, Blake and Chance had to make some tough decisions and reduce their teams to just two artists each, leaving a Top 8 to compete in the Live Shows starting on May 15. Blake chose NOIVAS and Grace West, while Chance went with Ray Uriel and Sorelle. The stage is now set for the remaining artists to give it their all and compete for a chance to be crowned the next Voice champion.

In the latest episode, it was Team Kelly and Team Niall's turn to take the stage and showcase their talents. The artists delivered some incredible performances, making it challenging for Kelly Clarkson to pick just two singers out of her remaining five to advance to the live semifinals. Kelly was moved to tears by Holly Brand's rendition of 'Bring On the Rain' by Jo Dee Messina, ultimately selecting her to move on to the semifinals. However, fans were disappointed with her decision and hoped to see Ali make it through instead of Holly. It's clear that the competition is heating up, and with so much talent on display, the upcoming live shows are sure to be unforgettable.

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Kelly Clarkson picks Holly Brand instead of Ali

It was a night of heart-stopping performances on 'The Voice,' and one that left the coaches reeling with emotion. One of the standout performances was by 22-year-old Holly, who wowed the audience with her rendition of a "song I've known since high school." Her coach, Kelly, was moved to near-hysterics during rehearsals and was still wiping away tears as she praised Holly after her show-stopping performance. "I started laughing, I was crying so much!" Kelly told her, through the waterworks. She went on to commend Holly for showcasing another facet of her talent with the emotional song. "Obviously, your voice is ridiculous," she marveled. "You bring us to that place... That's a really cool thing, that few artists can do."

Niall and Chance were also impressed by Holly's performance, noting that they hadn't seen that side of her before. "The first line that you sang made everybody sit up," Chance the Rapper agreed. "You have an amazing voice, great control. I do feel bad for Kelly, I didn't realize how stacked [her] team is!" It was a tough decision for Kelly to choose only two artists to move on to the live semifinals, and one of her picks was D S,ooth, but it was Holly who stole the show.

Meanwhile, another standout performance came from Ali, who was born completely deaf but stunned the coaches and the audience with her rendition of 'Never Alone' by Tori Kelly. All four coaches were on their feet, moved by Ali's incredible voice and her inspiring story. "You just bring it every time," Niall Horan told Ali, while Chance the Rapper commended her for impressing him every week. Blake Shelton acknowledged that the song "got away" from Ali at some points, but he couldn't imagine her not moving forward. In the end, Kelly went with her gut and chose Holly and D SMooth from her team, leaving Ali's fate up in the air. 

'Kelly you blew it'

The latest episode of 'The Voice' has left fans divided, with many expressing their disappointment on social media after Kelly chose to advance Holly to the live semifinals instead of Ali. It was a difficult decision for Kelly, who had been blown away by the amazing performances of both artists. But unfortunately, not everyone was happy with the outcome. One fan expressed their disappointment on Twitter, saying, "I love you to pieces, Kel, but I'm so upset over your choices. Ali is a unique standout & so special; I'm shocked u didn't choose her as one of your 2. And Holly over Cait? Nah, no way. I wish you luck, but I'm guessing you've sunk yourself this season." Another viewer echoed this sentiment, stating, "You lost me on that Kels Neil and Ali was so much better than Holly."

Some fans felt that Ali's incredible talent and inspiring story should have earned her a place in the live semifinals. "I am SO disappointed that you didn't put Ali through to the lives! She has not only an amazing voice but she had a totally unique voice that is SO likable," one fan wrote. "On the other hand, although Holly has a pretty voice, it's similar to other voices." "Really how could you pick Holly over Chair," one user posted, while another added, "Dumb decision by Kelly. Ali is the best singer ever to compete on," were also seen. 

'The Voice' Season 23 releases new episodes every Monday at 8 pm ET on NBC.

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