Contestant Ryan Gallagher faced a difficult challenge on Monday’s episode of The Voice as he learned his mother was hospitalized with coronavirus.
The 31-year-old member of Kelly Clarkson’s team had to sing Celine Dion’s I Surrender, but all he could think about was his mom and her diagnosis.
Ryan, who hailed from Ada, Michigan, was tasked with facing off against Marisa Corvo, 33, from Staten Island, who had already been performing the song for years.
Sick mother: Ryan Gallagher faced a difficult challenge on Monday’s episode of The Voice as he learned his mother was hospitalized with coronavirus
He tried to put his own personal spin it, drawing on memories of his family, but thinking about them just caused worry to cloud his mind.
The night before Ryan’s battle, his mom ended up in the hospital.
‘I’m hoping for the best still, and I think she’s gonna pull through; she’s a strong woman,’ Ryan said of his mom, who also had multiple sclerosis.
He planned to sing his heart out, since he knew the woman would be watching.
Battle round: The 31-year-old member of Kelly Clarkson’s team had to sing Celine Dion’s I Surrender, but all he could think about was his mom and her diagnosis
The winner: Marisa Corvo was declared the winner of the battle by Kelly Clarkson
‘I worked on this song through probably the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life,’ Ryan shared. ‘If I were to win this battle, it would mean more to me than just winning. It would be kind of a life battle for me, too, that I’m winning.’
Kelly’s advisor Leon Bridges, 31, noted Ryan’s state of mind, saying, ‘It was definitely evident that Ryan was channeling his pain. That emotion—that’s what resonates with people.’
During battles, there was a moment in which it seemed Ryan might be off the show, as Kelly, 38, initially chose Marisa and her powerful voice, but she then she saved Ryan, too.
Emotional rehearsal: Kelly’s advisor Leon Bridges, 31, noted Ryan’s state of mind, saying, ‘It was definitely evident that Ryan was channeling his pain. That emotion—that’s what resonates with people’
Stolen singer: During battles, there was a moment in which it seemed Ryan might be off the show, as Kelly, 38, initially chose Marisa and her powerful voice, but she then she saved Ryan, too
‘I just don’t want him to go home,’ Kelly said. ‘He’s so gifted and I think his voice is so moving.’
The two-hour episode was the last of The Voice’s battle rounds for season 19.
Ryan wasn’t the only contestant dealing with something on the show; so too was James Pyle, 30, from West Hills, California, who struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Also stolen: James Pyle also was stolen by country star Blake Shelton from John Legend’s team
As a member of John Legend’s team, James joined four-chair turn Cami Clune, 20, from Buffalo, New York, on a reinvented version of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game.
During the battles, John, 41, chose to save Cami, whom he said had an ‘angelic’ voice that reminded him of season 16 winner Maelyn Jarmon, 27.
James started to walk off the stage, and Blake Shelton, 44, cried out, ‘Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! I wanna see if this still works.’
High praise: During the battles, John, 41, chose to save Cami Clune, whom he said had an ‘angelic’ voice that reminded him of season 16 winner Maelyn Jarmon
With that, he pushed his button to steal James from John’s team.
‘He’s just got this under-the-radar talent,’ Blake told the cameras. ‘The ones that people don’t expect to break out, those are the ones you gotta keep your eye once they do it, because it’s hard to stop them after that moment.’
Team Gwen had earlier opened the episode with a ‘big song for big voices,’ as her advisor Julia Michaels, 27, put it.
Under radar: ‘He’s just got this under-the-radar talent,’ Blake told the cameras about James
Gwen, 51, paired up two talented teens, Carter Rubin, 14, from Shoreham, NY, and Larriah Jackson, 15, from Sacramento, California, on Meghan Trainor’s Like I’m Gonna Lose You.
The song was one that John had been featured on, and it was intimidating for the young performers to sing it in front of him, but he liked what they did with it.
‘You both were just wonderful,’ John said. ‘Usually I’m very judgy when it comes to songs that I’ve recorded, but I was thoroughly impressed with your take on the song.’
Teen talent: Gwen Stefani paired up two talented teens, Carter Rubin, 14, from Shoreham, NY, and Larriah Jackson, 15, from Sacramento, California, on Meghan Trainor’s Like I’m Gonna Lose You
Intimidating song: The song by Carter and Larriah was one that John had been featured on, and it was intimidating for the young performers to sing it in front of him, but he liked it
Gwen struggled to come to a decision about who to keep, saying, ‘Every second that goes by, I’m changing my mind,’ but she ultimately went with Carter.
‘He has such a beautiful tone,’ Gwen explained, as Carter broke into tears backstage.
Seconds later, she pushed her button to save Larriah, too, as Carter yelled, ‘Yes! Yes!’
Beautiful tone: Seconds later, Gwen pushed her button to save Larriah, too, as Carter yelled, ‘Yes! Yes!’
‘Larriah, since rehearsals, I have not stopped thinking about you,’ Gwen said. ‘I just feel it.’
In her second battle, Gwen had two singer-songwriters combine forces.
Liam St. John, 29, from Spokane, Washington, and Ryan Berg, also 29, from Dallas, pulled out all the stops on Aloe Black’s I Need A Dollar.
Battle winner: Ryan Berg, from Dallas, pulled out all the stops on Aloe Black’s I Need A Dollar and won his battle
After watching their battle, Gwen kept Ryan, admiring the ‘swag’ he brought to the stage.
Team Blake went next, pairing two raspy, distinctive voices on a classic song.
He matched Aaron Scott, 37, from Tomah Wisconsin, with Ian Flanigan, 30, from Saugerties, New York, on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
Raspy voice: Ian Flanigan, 30, from Saugerties, New York, battled it out to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Have You Ever Seen The Rain? and was declared the winner
They battled, and Blake saved Ian, saying, ‘he’s just got the most unique voice I’ve ever heard on The Voice. He’s a dark horse.’
Finally, Team John brought together two soulful singers whose vocals shook the room.
Rio Souma, 28, of Detroit, formed a powerhouse duo with Casmé, 39, from New Orleans, on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s You’re All I Need To Get By.
Soulful singers: Rio Souma, 28, of Detroit, formed a powerhouse duo with Casmé, 39, from New Orleans, on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s You’re All I Need To Get By
‘I do not feel like I’m in a competition setting right now,’ Gwen said after listening to them battle. ‘I feel like I’m on the Grammys.’
John called their duet ‘the most thoroughly joyful, engrossing, well-put together battle we’ve seen,’ and picked Casmé.
‘Everyone loves Casmé,’ he observed. ‘Her energy is so infectious, she’s so soulful and charming; her presence onstage is just superstar quality.’
Fan favorite: ‘Everyone loves Casmé,’ John observed. ‘Her energy is so infectious, she’s so soulful and charming; her presence onstage is just superstar quality’
In briefly shown battles, Kelly also saved singer Kelsie Watts, 29, from Lubbock, Texas, over Emmalee, 20, from Clarksville, Tennessee.
Blake chose Ben Allen, 42, from Estero, Florida, over Sam Stacy, 27, from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Gwen picked Van Andrew, 29, from Cooper, Texas, over Tori Miller, 26, from Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
The Voice will return Tuesday on NBC with the start of the Knockout Rounds.
Moving forward: In briefly shown battles, Kelly also saved singer Kelsie Watts, 29, from Lubbock, Texas, over Emmalee, 20, from Clarksville, Tennessee.
Guitar player: Blake chose Ben Allen, 42, from Estero, Florida, over Sam Stacy, 27, from Lincoln, Nebraska
Texas singer: Gwen picked Van Andrew, 29, from Cooper, Texas, over Tori Miller, 26, from Siloam Springs, Arkansas