OK, it’s in your hands now, America. The Voice‘s Tuesday, November 15, elimination episode whittled down its finalists by one to the top 11. Sa’Rayah went home after Aaron Gibson prevailed in Instant Save, a lightning-quick live five-minute voting period on Twitter pitting the top 12’s bottom two vote-getters against each other.
And how about that show-stopping Alicia Keys performance of her new — and timely — song “Holy War”? Keys said she decided to play the antiwar song after recent events (read: the presidential election) instead of another one of her new songs, “Blended Family.”
“Thank you for believing in me,” the departing Sa’Rayah told her coach, Keys. “I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
An emotional Keys told Sa’Rayah, “There’s no denying the beauty and power of your voice.… You already won.”
Left standing was Gibson. “He deserves to stay in this competition,” Miley Cyrus said of her Team Miley member. Gibson said, “I just feel the love every time you’re in the room.”
Both Sa’Rayah and Gibson looked vulnerable heading into Tuesday’s episode. The iTunes returns for her cover of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and his cover of Father John Misty’s “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” from the November 14 performance show were the weakest of the top 12.
Twitter fans have also been frosty on Team Miley’s Darby Walker, in addition to her lukewarm iTunes results from her “Ruby Tuesday” cover on Monday. But Walker — championed by her equally quirky coach, Cyrus — will live to compete until at least next week.
No-brainer advancers were front-runners Billy Gilman and Wé McDonald — both of whom dominated this week.
Here is what some fans were tweeting about the episode.
I never participate in these but OH MY GOD SHE NEEDS TO STAY #VOICESAVESARAYAH #VOICESAVE
— Michaela (@M_VR97) November 16, 2016
#VoiceSaveAaron ?? ? @aarondgibson deserves to be there!!! #TeamMiley #VoiceResults #VoiceSave
— Ilissa Fern (@ilissa_malia) November 16, 2016
If Sa’Rayah is not saved tonight, I’ll kill somebody #VoiceResults #TheVoice #VoiceTop11
— MATT (@mattsobral) November 16, 2016
Yes they saved Billy @NBCTheVoice #thevoicetop11 #TheVoice
— Willy P (@TruthReality84) November 16, 2016
Sundance Head is NOT going anywhere, folks. He’s easily a finalist.#TheVoice #TheVoiceTop11
— Edward_U (@EdwardIbeh) November 16, 2016
I seriously almost threw up watching @NBCTheVoice @SundanceHead should have been one of the first to be saved! #TheVoice #CurrentlyCrying
— Linda Gutierrez (@LLGutierrez13) November 16, 2016
I’m pretty sure #Darby from #TheVoice made my ears bleed.
— Angela Alvarez (@Ice_Cold_Blaze) November 15, 2016
Tell Us: Were you surprised by who went home? Is your favorite still looking strong?
The Voice airs next Monday, November 21, at 8 p.m. on NBC.