Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys Prove Their Power in 'The Voice' Season 11 Preview
Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys made their debuts as the newest coaches on The Voice's post-Olympics sneak preview special on Sunday, and they’re clearly ready to shake things up in the upcoming season.
Following the Rio Games' closing ceremony, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine welcomed the latest musical superstars to sit in the iconic spinning red chairs, and it was evident from the first blind audition of the night that there was going to be a very feisty, competitive energy to this season.
The premiere kicked off strong with the first singer of the night, 17-year-old We McDonald, who performed an epically powerful cover of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" that got all four coaches to turn their chairs.
WATCH: Blake Shelton Calls Out Miley Cyrus' 'Antics': She's Actually an 'Incredible Singer'
Each coach fought hard to win the young vocal virtuoso to their team, but it was clear from the beginning that Keys has won her heart when she said, "You're so beautiful, and you're so perfectly yourself. I just feel so much inside of you and that's what we need in music."
"It's phenomenal that you say something like that to me, because I was bullied for the longest time," We responded with tears in her eyes, "and I was ashamed of who I was."
“I'm not playing. I'm not joking. I'm so serious, and I'm serious in a place in my heart," Keys said after the other judges made their pitches. "I was working on music, trying to figure out who I am… since I was 14 years old. I don't want to be like anybody else. And I don't want you to be like anybody else. You were born to show people what love sounds like."
After a speech like that, how could McDonald pick anyone other than the "Girl on Fire" artist?
Between the episode's two auditions, Shelton poked a little fun at Cyrus -- a theme that will no doubt continue throughout the season -- rocking the same denim-covered-in-giant-flowers ensemble as the "Wrecking Ball" singer and then pretending to be upset that they wore the same outfit.
The second blind audition of the night was 17-year-old singer Darby Walker, who came out strong with a powerful and soulful performance of "Stand By Me," that made every coach -- except for Levine -- spin around.
Walker proudly wore her grandmother's flower-embroidered vest, which Cyrus couldn't help but love, especially since she's got a picture of her grandmother tattooed on her forearm.
After the two singers bonded over "grandma power," Cyrus jumped on stage with Walker. The two belted out a lively cover of the Dolly Parton hit "Jolene," and their chemistry was clear.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus Says She Won't Have Any Drama With Alicia Keys on 'The Voice'
Walker also used the opportunity to tell Keys that her 2007 hit "No One" was her favorite song as a child, leading to the two sharing a small duet that was Key's attempt to win the singer's heart from Cyrus, but to no avail.
By the end of the special, there was some serious girl power happening, with both of the new female judges showing up the show's stalwarts and nabbing two of the strongest voices on the show.
To close things out, Keys, Cyrus, Shelton and Levine teamed up for an all-star cover of Aerosmith's "Dream On" in front of a huge crowd of screaming fans and it was clear, despite their friendly rancor in competition, that the four coaches this season are surprisingly compatible and know how to entertain.
After a super-cut of scenes from the upcoming season -- which appeared to show that Fuller House star Candace Cameron Bure's daughter, Natasha, is in fact auditioning for the show -- The Voicepaid tribute to the late Christina Grimmie with a photo of the singer and the dedication, "In loving memory of our friend."
The Voice season 11 kicks off Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT on NBC.