NIALL Horan and Blake Shelton have nearly come to blows tonight on The Voice.
The two singing coaches became locked in a tense standoff over one contestant.
NBCNiall Horan took a special interest in one contestant[/caption]
NBCWhen Blake Shelton showed the same interest, Niall threatened him[/caption]
On Monday’s episode of The Voice, 15-year-old Ryley Tate Wilson auditioned with the song Dancing On My Own, by Calum Scott.
Almost as soon as the Montgomery, Alabama resident opened his mouth and began to sing the slow ballad, Kelly Clarkson turned her chair.
Moments later, Niall smashed his button as well.
Eventually, both Blake and Chance the Rapper rang in, giving Ryley a rare four chairs.
That’s when the bargaining began.
NAILING NIALL
Niall nearly jumped out of his seat trying to recruit the teen to his team.
“Ryley, my head nearly exploded,” the Heaven singer gushed. “That was the best audition we’ve seen here by a long shot.
“You definitely have that storyteller element to your voice, from the second you opened your mouth.”
Blake was quick to jump in with some reverse psychology.
“I know I’m the ‘country artist’.” Blake said in a depressed voice, assuming he was a long shot.
Then he joked: “I’ve been coaching here for 23 seasons, and I’ve won with all kinds of artists. You pick me as your coach and I will quit coaching after this season!”
BLAKE’S BOUNTY
Blake announced long ago that this season of The Voice would be his last – with or without Ryley.
But he kept the charade going.
“I will walk away,” Blake promised. “I will be satisfied that I got the chance to work with you Ryley. Pick me, let’s win this thing.”
At that point all four judges found themselves talking over each other, making one last desperate plea for the future star.
Niall silenced his competitors when pointed directly at Blake
“Ryley, before you speak, I will go to blows with him, outside in the parking lot,” Niall threatened. “I’m not giving up here.”
In the end, Ryley chose Niall – only adding fuel to the Irish singer’s ongoing feud with Blake.
NIALL VS. BLAKE
While viewers are loving the auditions, it’s the rivalry between Blake and Niall that many are really taken with.
Since the first episode, the pair have traded barbs and jokes.
Niall mimicked Blake’s accent and joked about the star’s repeated references to his final season.
Likewise, Blake cracked jokes at the former One Direction singer’s accent and downplayed his talents to competitors.
BYE BYE BLAKE
Blake announced his departure from the show ahead of season 23.
He revealed the real reason he’s stepping away from the show in an interview.
During an appearance on Today, he confessed that he had contemplated leaving the show for a few years.
The Oklahoma native noted, however, that he was concerned about leaving “everybody in a bind,” so he stayed.
“I think I was close to calling it a day right when Covid hit,” he told host Carson Daly, 49, on the show.
“And then, because of Covid, I didn’t want to walk away from the show and leave everybody in a bind.
“I mean, this show changed my life. I’ll stay here until the world kind of gets back to normal again.”
NBCTeenager Ryley Tate Wilson caused a frenzy among the judges[/caption]
NBCAll four judges turned their chairs[/caption]
NBCEventually the teen selected Niall to be his coach[/caption]
