Jordan Smith advanced into next week's semifinals of "The Voice" during the live results show Tuesday night on NBC.
There was little question the Lee University student would move forward after his interpretation of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" shot to No. 2 on iTunes' singles chart within an hour after the conclusion of Monday night's show. Enough fans downloaded the song that Smith bumped pop star Justin Bieber from the No. 2 position. Smith still held the second spot at showtime Tuesday night.
Show host Carson Daly informed viewers that "Voice" history was made Monday night when seven of the top 10 spots on the singles chart were occupied by "Voice" contestants.
"We have never seen that happen before," Daly said of the record-setting precedent.
In the judges' critiques following each singer's performance Monday night, coach Blake Shelton joked with Smith that it was becoming "boring" to talk with him because "we always say the same things - fantastic, beautiful." Coach Pharrell Williams described Smith's vocals as "very effortless, the way you skate through the scales." Smith's coach, Adam Levine, said that in his opinion, Smith was "one of the best singers in the world."
Contestants with ties to Tennessee were the first two names called by host Carson Daly as semifinalists. Also advancing was Emily Ann Roberts, the 17-year-old country singer from Knoxville. The teen sang Patsy Cline's "She's Got You."
The nine semifinalists will sing next Monday night, before five are slashed from the competition Tuesday leaving four finalists to perform Dec. 14.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
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