Kelsea Ballerini faced a “wildly difficult” crossroads during The Battles premiere on The Voice on Monday evening (March 10).

Team Kelsea singers Tatum Scott and Angie Rey took the stage with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Maren Morris’ “Girl,” an empowering anthem that served as the title track of the Texas-born artist’s 14-track studio album in 2019. Ballerini said she selected the song for Scott and Rey to “hear the other side of heartbreak,” after both singers performed heartbreak ballads during the blind auditions. Scott earned her spot on Team Kelsea with a cover of “vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, and Rey opted for Ballerini’s “Penthouse.” The pair received guidon from mentors Little Big Town, and performed in hopes that their coach would select them to move on to the next round.

“That was great. That was so much fun,” coach Michael Bublé said after Scott and Rey delivered the duet. “Angie, I can’t believe that you were a one-chair turn. Tatum, you were a two-chair turn. You guys are the beauty of this show. You’re going to see people, and you’re gonna watch them grow and blossom. …You two come out and just nail it. I’m really proud for her [Ballerini] because I know that it meant a lot to her to watch you both come out here and rock it like that. I have no idea who she’s gonna choose.”

Coach John Legend agreed that both Scott and Rey were “electric and magnetic. …You both belonged up there.” Coach Adam Levine applauded Rey’s “explosive quality,” and Scott’s ability to remain “very composed” on stage. Soon, the time arrived for Ballerini to make a decision.

“My heart’s already breaking. Can you tell?” Ballerini said. “You know, Tatum, the thing that I love the most about your voice is your ability to go soft and be vulnerable. It almost feels like you just got done crying and you can har it, but you have that ‘oomph,’ too. Angie, I will tell you, you are the biggest surprise on my team. I was blown away and I’m just so impressed with the growth that I’ve gotten to see. Thank you both for just being who you are.

“I’m not sure what’s right,” she admitted. “This one’s really hard for me.”

Ultimately, Ballerini declared Rey the winner of the battle round. Rey and Scott embraced in a hug.

“These decisions are wildly difficult because it’s my first time being a coach. I just care about doing the best service to these artists that I can,” Ballerini said after making her decision. “Angie’s voice — I hear, obviously, like, a little country in there. I hear a lot of pop, R&B and soul. That combination, to me, is so exciting, because as an artist, I love blending things. and I know that I can help her with that. I feel like she’s full of surprises. She’s like my dark horse.”

Rey emotionally exclaimed, “I just want to call my mom,” after she won the battle. Scott, who was also emotional, shared that Ballerini’s music helped her emerge through “a lot of hard times,” and expressed gratitude to her coach “from the bottom of my heart.”

But Scott’s journey on The Voice hasn’t come to an end yet. Before she could exit the venue, one coach decisively slammed the button to steal Scott for his team. Ballerini reacted, “I’m gonna cry.” Watch that moment on The Voice here:

Bob Delmont