The Voice Season 30 officially entered its live phase on Monday, November 9, as six of the remaining 13 artists performed during “Top 13 (Part 1)” and competed for viewers’ votes.

By the end of the first half of the round, five singers had secured places in the Top 10: Mia Knight, Dakota Cohen, Connor Closs, BigCountry and Lexi Stephens. Lillie Kolich was eliminated.

The results left Team Adam’s three performers from the night intact, while two of Team Queen’s three artists advanced.

A two-week Y2K celebration begins

Carson Daly announced that the next two weeks of live shows would salute the Y2K era. The theme began with a group performance of the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” before the six individual numbers.

Monday’s lineup featured the remaining artists from Queen Latifah and Adam Levine’s teams. Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green’s singers are scheduled to take the stage next Monday, including the artist voted into the Top 13 the previous week.

Mia Knight opened the individual performances with Kelly Clarkson’s “Miss Independent.” Latifah encouraged the 16-year-old Team Queen singer to bring “all the sass and style” she could to the number.

Knight delivered a confident performance that included several big vocal moments, despite a few brief signs of nerves. She also received Clarkson’s approval before ultimately being voted through to the Top 10.

Team Adam’s Dakota Cohen followed with Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” the anthem written for the 1998 movie Armageddon. Levine pushed Cohen to perform the song in its selected key rather than lowering it by a half-step.

Cohen brought grit, growl and several explosive moments to the performance, earning a standing ovation from the coaches. Viewers also responded, sending her safely into the next stage of the competition.

Lillie Kolich exits after Britney Spears reworking

Kolich became the night’s only eliminated artist following her interpretation of Britney Spears’ “(You Drive Me) Crazy.” Her arrangement significantly reworked the song, beginning with a moody introduction that highlighted her vocals before moving into a more dramatically altered version of the track.

Although the performance contained standout moments, the rearrangement proved uneven. Kolich did not receive enough support to join the five other performers advancing from Part 1.

Connor Closs then performed the *NSYNC love ballad “This Is Promise You,” dedicating it to his new fiancée, Sarah, following their recent engagement.

Closs combined vocal runs, powerful belts and falsetto during the emotional performance. Levine praised him as one of the competition’s best singers, and Closs secured his place in the Top 10.

BigCountry supplied one of the night’s less predictable song choices with Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.” His excitement contributed to some pitch problems early in the number, but the Team Queen singer recovered as the performance continued. The viewers’ decision kept him in the competition.

Lexi Stephens closed the broadcast with Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You,” a selection made by Levine. After an uncertain opening, Stephens found firmer ground approaching the first chorus and delivered the power the song required. She became the third Team Adam artist of the evening to advance.

ShowBiz Take

The opening live round immediately turned Season 30’s Y2K theme into a consequential test rather than a simple nostalgia exercise. Every artist had to place an individual stamp on a familiar song while facing the season’s first live vote.

The outcome also showed the potential risks of extensive rearrangement. Kolich’s Britney Spears performance offered memorable vocal moments, but its altered structure did not carry her into the Top 10. By contrast, Cohen, Closs and Stephens each found songs that closely matched their established vocal strengths, allowing Team Adam to finish Part 1 without losing an artist.

With five Top 10 spots now filled, the second half of the round will determine which performers from Teams Kelly and Riley join Knight, Cohen, Closs, BigCountry and Stephens.

What Happens Next?

The Y2K salute continues next Monday when the remaining artists from Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green’s teams perform live. Those appearances will complete the Top 13 round and establish the rest of the Top 10 lineup.