When Jerrell Melton and Ralph Edwards sang “I Lose Control” on NBC‘s The Voice, they weren’t telling the whole truth.
Team Snoop’s singers went toe-to-toe Monday night (Oct. 27) for season 28’s fourth and final Battle night, hitting a rendition of Teddy Swims’ mega-hit from 2024. Both oozed control, not a lack of it.
Edwards, the 30-year-old native of Fresno, California, with his burly, oak-flavored tones, and Melton, the 29-year-old from Fayetteville, Georgia, whose soulful voice has a hint of sweetness, could barely be separated.
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Mind, this is no ordinary song. “Lose Control” in July became the first number in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to spend triple-digit weeks on the chart, as it cleared its milestone 100th frame.
Niall Horan “loved” Melton’s voice, remarking that it’s “really pure, really clean.” And Edwards, the Irishman remarked, his energy, his power and rasp, “it’s aggressive but it’s controlled.”
Reba McEntire read from her notes a performance she described as “powerful, smooth like butter. Raspy, smooth like velvet.” The country ace admitted the decision to split them would be a tough one. If she had to, she’d pick Melton.
Both contestants laid it all out. Melton with a “gorgeous smoothness,” was reminiscent of the very best in the business, Michael Bublé remarked. While Edwards, or “Wreck-It Ralph,” as the Canadian crooner and others like to call him, should “go far on the show.”
Just how far was up to Snoop Dogg, who had the final call.
“You just showed the world that you two are superstars,” the rap legend noted. “Jerrell, you overachieved. We gave you something that was out of this box, and you did what you were supposed to do,” he added. “Ralph, knock it out of the park. This is what we do.”
Snoop took a moment to consult with the “Gangsta Holy Ghost” and he called it. “Wreck-It Ralph” Edwards wins, and progresses to the Knockouts, which start next Monday, Nov. 3. Melton won’t be there, an unlucky loser.
The Knockout episodes will air every Monday on NBC until Nov. 24. Then, the Playoffs will beam out on Monday, Dec. 1 and Monday, Dec. 8 on NBC, with the Season 28 Live Finale set to spread over the two nights of Dec. 15 and 16.
Watch Melton and Edwards’ Battle below.
