Kelly Clarkson was moved to tears on The Voice after 13-year-old Brianna Cameron delivered a performance that drew comparisons to Whitney Houston during the show’s new Cut Week round.
Cameron, a member of Team Kelly, performed Natalie Cole’s “Inseparable” during Monday night’s episode, immediately impressing Clarkson and the rest of the coaching panel.
“It’s like we’re watching young Whitney Houston,” Clarkson said after the performance. “You are insane!”
The performance came during Cut Week, a new twist that forced each coach to cut their team from seven singers down to three ahead of the live shows. Cameron quickly became one of the night’s biggest standouts.
“This is almost unfathomable,” Queen Latifah told her, “that you can sing like this with this poise at this age.”
Riley Green went even further.
“Brianna, you’re by far the most naturally talented person I’ve seen on the show,” he said.
Clarkson returned to the Houston comparison, saying, “I haven’t heard runs like that since Whitney. You’re 13 years old. I just have a really hard time accepting you as a human. You’re like an alien.”
Clarkson ultimately selected Cameron to advance to the live rounds alongside Koumba Diallo and Anna McElroy. Kyle Davis, Brooklyn Marie, Marcus Ladden Jr. and Nina Howland were eliminated from Team Kelly.
Cameron’s performance stood out on a night built around unusually steep cuts. Host Carson Daly warned viewers at the beginning of the episode that more than half of the remaining contestants would be sent home.
“After tonight, more than half of our artists are gonna see their journeys come to an end,” Daly said. “We’ve never faced an elimination this big before.”
Elsewhere in the episode, Green advanced Cade Mower and duo Ferryn & Brinkley, then selected Joe Henley for his final spot after Henley performed Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
Queen Latifah advanced Mia Knight and BigCountry before choosing Lillie Kolich following her rendition of The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love.”
Adam Levine selected Lexi Stephens and Connor Closs, then gave his final live-show spot to Dakota Cohen after her performance of Fuel’s “Hemorrhage (In My Hands).” Levine dubbed Cohen “Baby Miley” following the performance.
The episode marked the first appearance of Cut Week, which is designed to narrow the field before The Voice moves into its live rounds. One eliminated contestant will still be able to return through viewer voting.
The live shows begin next week, with viewers taking a larger role in deciding which contestants advance toward the season finale on Dec. 14.