‘The Voice’ is back for Season 20 and so is Nick Jonas

We are still processing the fact that it is somehow March again, and while the world continues to be topsy turvy and largely unpredictable, one thing we can count on is a new season of The Voice (Mondays and Tuesdays at 8pET on CTV) giving us a few hours of pure joy every Monday and Tuesday night. 

Season 20 kicked off on Monday night with the first set of the Blind Auditions. Coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton and returning coach Nick Jonas we're back along with host Carson Daly to celebrate the power of music, the importance of connection and why it's great to have friends you can lovingly tease on national television. 

https://t.co/KxKTKGy7Rd pic.twitter.com/rOKO5Wv3Dg

— The Voice (@NBCTheVoice) March 2, 2021

Monday also introduced viewers and contestants to this year’s team gifts... some much better than others. Team Kelly members received a satin jacket as per usual. Team Nick members got their very own Nick’s Notes journals delivered at top speed from a box lowered from the roof, which seems like a huge insurance liability.

Team Blake members got a bobblehead that was part Nick Lachey, part Ben Affleck, part Jonah Hill and no parts Shelton. Team Legend members got serenaded by the EGOT winner. We would probably take the jacket. It’s tough to find something that is casual but still office appropriate. 

Don’t y’all worry cause there are more @JonahHill bobbleheads to give out! See y’all tomorrow! #TeamBlake #TheVoice pic.twitter.com/gZrnEY5jQ5

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) March 2, 2021

KENZIE WHEELER – TEAM KELLY

Kenzie may only be 22, but he’s got the voice of a singer who's been around a rodeo for decades. Season 20's first performer stunned with his incredible performance of “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and his equally incredible mullet. Mullet aficionado Blake Shelton was quick to point out that Kenzie had the rare trifecta of a party in the back, shaved sides and a widow’s peak, making him a mullet unicorn. Vogue has been scooped again by Blake Shelton.

Kenzie would have been a four-chair turn, but Kelly was quick to use her only block to take Blake out of the running. John was next to turn, and Nick wasn’t far behind, attempting to use his block on Blake as well. Kelly held her ground literally for Kenzie, staying on her feet during the entire pitch session and eventually securing her win as the coach with the most country experience… minus blocked Blake of course. 

VICTOR SOLOMON – TEAM LEGEND

The only reason Victor Solomon didn't end up with a four-chair turn during Monday's Blind Auditions is because Kelly figured she didn't stand a chance winning an artist covering a John Legend song. Nick thought he may be able to sway Victor with his similar background of growing up in the church and Blake? Well, Blake had absolutely no idea that “Glory” was John Legend's song. Excuse us, his Oscar-winning song.

Blake, Nick and John made it all the way through their pitches before the coaches realized that Blake had no idea whose song Victor had covered. He guessed Jesus, which as Kelly pointed out wasn't that far off (Jesus Christ Superstar is the best of all the live-action TV plays, don’t @ us). Victor's cover was so moving it actually made him the first artist John has ever turned for who covered his song. The pair even performed an impromptu duet of “Ordinary People” which TBH was not nearly long enough.  

“There were a lot of times when I thought, ‘Is this John singing?’” said Kelly. “He was better than me,” added John. It seemed as though there is no way Victor could choose any other coach. Right? Amen.

CAM ANTHONY – TEAM BLAKE

At 19, Cam Anthony has already enjoyed a massive career that has included performances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and at the White House for the Obamas during the annual Easter Egg Roll. Cam brought that professionalism to his smooth and strong cover of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down” and earned chair turns from Blake, Nick, and John. Well, kinda John. The blocks were flying tonight and Nick used his to keep John out of the running.

Nick told Cam he would bring his new, young energy to his coaching style to help Cam get to the finals. Blake may not have used a block, but he did go big by promising to not add any singers that sounded like Cam to his team. Nick’s block went to waste and Blake’s guarantee proved to be the winning strategy. 

PETE MUROZ – TEAM BLAKE

Pete Muroz gave a solid performance of “Can’t Find My Way Home” that was rock, pop and blues all at once, earning chair turns from John and Blake. But the real entertainment came when Pete pointed directly at Blake after the country singer turned his chair. “It sounds like there’s some history there and that’s usually not a good thing with me,” said Blake before Pete revealed to the coaches that he previously performed under the stage name Pete Mitchell and was part of a group called The Young Riders, a group that once counted Blake Shelton as a member.

Quickly jogging Blake’s memory from 25 years ago, Pete reminded his potential coach that when Blake left The Young Riders, he stole Pete’s bass player. “I gave your bass player a job!” countered Blake, which is fair. There are obviously no hard feelings since Pete skipped the opportunity to stick it to Blake by picking Team Legend and instead reunited with his fellow now-middleaged rider. 

RAINE STERN – TEAM NICK

We got our first bona fide rock star on Monday night with a performance of MGMT’s “Electrical Feel” by Raine Stern, whose name is as cool as her stage presence. Showing off some serious guitar licks, the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist earned three chair turns late in her performance from John, Nick and Blake.

“Even without a live audience in the room, you were working the performance,” said John, who called Raine a "rare find." “It was so electrifying, no pun intended,” said Nick, who undoubtedly wrote down that pun-intended line in Nick’s Notes. Connecting with the returning coach’s energy and drive, Raine earned herself a crisp new notebook on Team Nick.

Watch new episodes of The Voice every Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

BEFORE YOU GO: Prince Harry opens up to James Corden on ‘The Late Late Show’

[video_embed id='2149462']BEFORE YOU GO: Prince Harry opens up to James Corden on ‘The Late Late Show’ [/video_embed]