The Voice: Kelsea Ballerini fills in as guest coach for ailing Kelly Clarkson as Battle Rounds start

Surprise guest coach Kelsea Ballerini sat in for an ailing Kelly Clarkson on Monday’s first Battle Rounds episode of The Voice on NBC.

Although Kelly, 38, had tested negative for coronavirus, strict on-set guidelines meant that the coach had to watch her team from home.

Country-pop artist Kelsea, 27, had previously served as an advisor for Team Kelly and toured with the talk-show host, so she felt she knew what Kelly wanted.

‘Just pretend I’m Kelly!’ Kelsea joked to her new castmates.

Asked if he had any advice for the guest coach, John Legend, 42, said, ‘No! We’re still trying to defeat you Kelsea, as though you were Kelly Clarkson.’

Nick Jonas, 29, said that Blake Shelton, 44, would no doubt try to get the upper hand.

‘In all the advice I’ve gotten from Kelly, the main one is, ”Keep the rivalry going”,’ Kelsea acknowledged.

Close connection: Country-pop artist Kelsea, 27, had previously served as an advisor for Team Kelly and toured with the talk-show host, so she felt she knew what Kelly wanted

Battle rounds: Kelsea joined John Legend, Blake Shelton and Nick Jonas as the Battle Rounds began on the NBC singing competition show

‘I like this show better already with you here instead of Kelly,’ Blake teased.

Team Kelly’s first battle paired two pop singers with a delicate touch: Gean Garcia, 19, from New York City, and Ryleigh Modig, 18, from Spencer, Massachusetts.

Kelly had them sing Ariana Grande’s POV, and chose as their mentor Despacito hitmaker Luis Fonsi, 42.

Tough pairing: Team Kelly’s first battle paired two pop singers with a delicate touch: Gean Garcia, 19, from New York City, and Ryleigh Modig, 18, from Spencer, Massachusetts

‘I am so impressed with the level of artistry,’ Luis said after his first listen. ‘I did not see that coming.’

On performance day, a sick Kelly called in to tell Kelsea that Gene and Ryleigh were one of her best battles, and added, ‘If I could give you any advice: ‘Don’t. Trust. Blake.’

Onstage, the contestants were evenly matched, and Blake crowed, ‘I love that this is [Kelsea’s] first battle.’

Loving it: Onstage, the contestants were evenly matched, and Blake crowed, ‘I love that this is [Kelsea’s] first battle’

Kelsea noted that Kelly was sad not to see the singers in person, but ‘I’m super-stoked that I can.’

‘Since I’m keeping this seat warm for Kelly, I’m going to call her,’ Kelsea added, ringing the coach.

When Kelly picked up, she immediately apologized for pairing Gean and Ryleigh but reassured Kelsea, ‘You should feel safe picking whoever, ’cause I don’t think either one of them is going home.’

Checking in: ‘Since I’m keeping this seat warm for Kelly, I’m going to call her,’ Kelsea added, ringing the coach

‘Kelly sounds just fine to me,’ cracked Blake, who sat nearby. ‘She’s laughing, she’s talking… I think I heard ocean waves in the background.’

After some deliberation, Kelsea saved Ryleigh, who ‘nailed every note,’ while Gean was stolen by John.

The EGOT winner immediately crooned the ‘Team Legend’ song that he sang to all of his contestants.

Nailed it: After some deliberation, Kelsea saved Ryleigh, who ‘nailed every note’

Stolen singer: Gean was stolen by John and remained in the competition

‘You know I had to steal for you,’ John warbled. ‘Kelly didn’t even show up for you. It’s Gean and John Legend!’

Team Blake was next to do the battle rounds, with mentoring from country artists Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, aka Dan + Shay.

Blake chose two very different men to sing the rockabilly-flavored Waylon Jennings’ tune Ain’t Living Long Like This: Connor Christan, 23, from Gallipolis, Ohio, and Aaron Konzelman, 39, from Waco, Texas.

Original song: ‘You know I had to steal for you,’ John warbled. ‘Kelly didn’t even show up for you. It’s Gean and John Legend!’

After their performance, Kelsea noted that Aaron had a wonderfully smoky rasp.

She also told Connor that his fiery take made it seem like he was giving his own concert.

Blake saved Connor, admiring how much work he’d been putting into the song. 

Clashing styles: Blake chose two very different men to sing the rockabilly-flavored Waylon Jennings’ tune Ain’t Living Long Like This: Connor Christan, 23, from Gallipolis, Ohio, and Aaron Konzelman, 39, from Waco, Texas

Good times: Kelsea laughed as she joined the coaches on the NBC show

For his second battle round, the seven-time show winner had two ‘super-young, super country’ artists face off.

Ethan Lively, 17, from Coalfield, Tennessee, and Avery Roberson, 20, from Rutherfordton, South Carolina, were given James Otto’s Just Got Started Lovin’ You.

‘It’s not a cakewalk vocally,’ Blake told the teens. ‘You’ve definitely got your work cut out for you here.’

Young singers: Avery Roberson, 20, from Rutherfordton, South Carolina, and Ethan Lively, 17, from Coalfield, Tennessee were given James Otto’s Just Got Started Lovin’ You by Blake

Onstage, they sounded like seasoned pros, and Avery even flirted with Kelsea from his perch.

Asked which one she’d choose, Kelsea suggested either would be great—then privately texted Kelly,

‘It made me want to go down to Broadway [in Nashville] and have a drink, so that in itself is country music,’ she opined, telling Blake, ‘I don’t know, Pops. You got a good decision on your hands.’

Blake chose Ethan as the winner of the battle, but Kelsea stepped in to steal Avery after Kelly texted back, ‘You have to get him for me.’

Battle winner: Blake chose Ethan as the winner of the battle

The guest coach smashed her red button three times, then yelled out, ‘Did I get it? Yesss!’

Team Nick was up next, and ‘Bonus Jonas’ Darren Criss, 34, served as its mentor.

Nick matched vocal powerhouses Dana Monique, 41, from Houston, and Devan Blake Jones, 36, from Denver, on Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s Stuck With You.

Strong voices: Nick matched vocal powerhouses Dana Monique, 41, from Houston, and Devan Blake Jones, 36, from Denver, on Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s Stuck With You

Darren called Dana a ‘walking hurricane’ who was ‘full of charisma,’ though he liked how Devan’s confidence improved with coaching.

The other coaches loved Dana, too, and she was named the winner of the duet.

But at the last moment, Nick also saved Devan, telling him, ‘Don’t go anywhere yet.’

Duet winner: The other coaches loved Dana, too, and she was named the winner of the duet

Sticking around: Nick also saved Devan, telling him, ‘Don’t go anywhere yet’

For his second battle of the night, Nick picked the song You Say by Lauren Daigle.

He assigned it to soulful singers Jose Figueroa, 34, from New York City, and Awari, 36, from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Darren called Awari’s voice ‘God-given,’ and he was equally wowed by Jose’s acrobatics.

Soulful singers: Jose Figueroa, 34, from New York City, and Awari, 36, from Virginia Beach, Virginia were assigned the Lauren Daigle song You Say by Nick

In the end, Jose’s runs won the day, and Nick decided he would keep him.

Team Legend asked R&B star Brandy Norwood, 42, to join as mentor for the season.

The song John chose for his first battle was Brandy’s own 1994 hit Baby, which he called ‘my jam.’

Strong runs: In the end, Jose’s runs won the day, and Nick decided he would keep him.

To sing it, he brought together ‘two charismatic, cool women’ from the team: Pia Renee, 37, from Villa Park, Illinois, and Christine Cain, 28, from Pasadena, California.

They did a ‘grown-up version’ of Brandy’s song, the singer herself said.

John felt Pia did it just a little better and she stayed on his team.

The Voice will return next Monday on NBC.

Strong rendition: Christine Cain, 28, from Pasadena, California, and Pia Renee, 37, from Villa Park, Illinois, were tasked with Baby by Brandy Norwood by their coach John

Battle victor: John felt Pia performed just a little better and she stayed on his team