Texas singers — one ‘masterful,’ the other ‘soulful’ — win ‘The Voice’ battle round

Two singers from Texas won their battle rounds on “The Voice,” on Monday, Oct. 24, advancing to the show’s knockout round.

Kevin Hawkins, a middle school piano teacher from Lancaster, just outside Dallas, showed off his vocal chops as he sang alongside Hillary Torchiana. The duo performed “Preach” by John Legend.

Donning a shiny green suit, Hawkins’ performance proved to be as flashy as his attire.

“Honestly, you are just a really good singer,” Legend, one of the four coaches, told Hawkins. “I love how you can be really soft and heartfelt, then you can be big and soulful.”

Fellow coach Gwen Stefani commented on his personality and stage presence.

“Even when she is singing, I wanted to watch what you were doing with your body language, so that’s incredible.”

Torchiana and Hawkins’ coach, Blake Shelton, picked Hawkins as the battle winner. He called his performance “incredible,” but noted he doesn’t think he’s seen Hawkins’ full potential yet.

Not to be outdone, Kim Cruse wowed the coaches as she performed GIVĒON’s “Heartbreak Anniversary” with David Andrew.

Shelton said Cruse has “some Kim thing that God sprinkled on her voice.”

“This huge dragon comes out of you. It was masterful,” Camila Cabello said of the Woodville native. “You have one of the best voices I’ve ever heard.”

Legend, Cruse and Andrew’s coach, commented on Cruse’s “magical, beautiful, special tone” before choosing her as his winner.

“You are just an elite vocalist,” he said. “We don’t see many artists on this stage that can do all the things that you can do and do it so well.”

The knockout rounds begin Oct. 31.

Watch Kansas paraeducator use ‘crazy range’ to advance during ‘The Voice’ battle round