‘The Voice’: Sawyer Fredericks Wins, Kelly Clarkson And Meghan Trainor Perform

Caila Ball-Dionne | May 20, 2015 5:36 am

It’s like the State Fair meets The Grammys on the Voice finale! On one hand, it’s the return of the mostly forgotten fallen contestants of the Top 20, saying a quick hello for the Top 4’s bring-back performances before very likely hitting the State Fair circuit this summer. On the other hand: Kelly Clarkson! Maroon 5! Meghan Trainor! Sheryl Crow! Some country friends of Blake Shelton’s! Kelly Clarkson again! Coaches Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Pharrell and Adam Levine!

Yes, it was Finale-polooza in the two hours leading to the announcement of the Voice champion (more on that later). It all started off with the entire Top 20 doing fun.’s “Carry On” and “Some Nights” – but really, it was Joshua Davis, Koryn Hawthorne, Sawyer Fredericks and Meghan Linsey singing “Carry On” and the rest of them trying to have one last nationally-televised moment of glory during “Some Nights.”

Grant yourself Voice Super Fan status if you can write down every person in the Top 20’s name by the end of the song!

Keeping with the reunion theme of the night, Joshua Davis brings back Bryan Johnson, Deanna Johnson, Corey Kent White and Kimberly Nichole to sing “She Talks To Angels” by The Black Crowes. The weeks off did the returners good; they all sound their best on rested vocals.

Blake’s Season 8 advisor Meghan Trainor sings “Dear Future Husband.” She adds a ukulele to her stripped down version of her latest single, which brings its adorable level to the max.

In Kelly Clarkson’s first performance of the night (yes, there’s another!), she joins Koryn Hawthorne to sing “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James. “She can sing, y’all,” Kelly chimes in at the end, which is a pretty glowing endorsement from Koryn’s idol/Idol.

Meghan Linsey brings fellow Nashville-ite and former Team Blake member Sarah Potenza back to duet. The two are – fittingly – high on the rasp quotient for their cover of Janis Joplin’s “Piece Of My Heart.” Sarah is pretty fantastic, though – how did Blake let that one go so early?

The boys of Maroon 5 perform their seasonal single “This Summer’s Gonna Hurt.” It’s another overplayed summer anthem in waiting, but – on the plus side – a welcome break from “Sugar.” Blake Shelton reacts with an enthusiastic standing ovation for his bromance partner in (primetime) crime.

John Fogerty takes a break from his tour to perform a CCR medley with Sawyer Fredericks. Unfortunately, Sawyer’s mic faces some technical difficulties for much of the performance of “Born On The Bayou,” “Bad Moon Rising” and “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.” Fortunately for him, the votes have already been tallied.

Former Voice mentor Sheryl Crow returns to sing “Give It To Me” with Joshua Davis. Say what you will about Joshua’s bland performances…in the comments section.

It’s not a Voice finale without a little bit of country. Much to Blake’s delight, Luke Bryan performs “Kick The Dust Up,” and busts out some dance moves that only Blake could envy.

Koryn Hawthorne brings back Lexi Dávila, Mia Z, Tonya Boyd-Cannon, India Carney and Caitlin Caporale for her “super girl group.” Super Girl Group sings Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” and though there is more denim going on in this performance than rhythm, the fun females deliver vocally.

Remember how awesome prison choir director Tonya Boyd-Cannon was?

Voice mentor Ed Sheeran takes his turn in the finale to perform “Photograph.” The stripped down performance is lovely, but a little Sawyer Fredericks cameo in there would have taken it to a whole new level. Is this a sign that there’s a future, post-Voice, for a contestant, or just a sentimental observation on the last night of Season 8?

Showing up all those lazies who just sang one song, Kelly Clarkson hits the stage for a second time to belt out “Invincible” with Meghan Linsey. Though Meghan is quite a powerhouse, it’s hard to hold a candle to Kelly “Queen of All Reality Singing Competitions” Clarkson singing her own song. Valiant effort, though.

Sawyer Fredericks uses his bring back to perform with Mia Z, Brooke Adee and Lowell Oakley, giving Mia Z the honor of being loved by more than one finalist! Sawyer and friends, as they are literally described on The Voice website, sing Jonny Lang’s “Lie To Me.”

Coaches Pharrell, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine sing what is on everyone’s mind moments before the results are announced. Together, the coach super group performs B.B. King’s “The Thrill is Gone.” It certainly is, guys, but must your sentiment be so on the nose?

And the results are…

Taking a cue from the “we’re over it” anthem from the coaches, Carson Daly finally announces the results. As easy as it would be to preface this with “You’re all winners here,” let’s just be real. From most disappointed to least disappointed, here they are…

#4 Team Pharrell’s Koryn Hawthorne #3 Team Adam’s Joshua Davis #2 Team Blake’s Meghan Linsey #1 Team Pharrell’s Sawyer Fredericks

Amongst a spirit war’s worth of confetti cannons, Sawyer is immediately handed a mic and told to sing again. He somehow pulls it off while hugging his parents, avoiding confetti suffocation and dodging some weird, age-inappropriate affection from Christina Aguilera (who dressed like Liza Minnelli for the occasion.) A true professional, that Sawyer: let’s hope it takes him even further than the hallowed stage of The Voice.

Congrats to new champ Sawyer Fredericks, and – ya know – snaps to the rest of the finalists. Who knows, this might even be the season that one of them breaks out of the reality competition constraints and makes it big. Either way: see you for your guest appearances on Season 9!

What did you think of this season’s winner? Let us know below!