The Voice Just Changed the Game with a Surprise Twist

The Voice is raising the stakes in Season 16.

In its bid to be the only reality singing competition that matters, the show is incorporating a surprising new element that pits coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, and newcomer John Legend directly against each other.

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Starting Monday, April 15, the Cross Battles will see the remaining 32 artists go head-to-head, live, over the course of two weeks. Eight pairs will perform on Monday, with the winner of each battle revealed on Tuesday. Every Cross Battle will begin with two coaches facing off in a "live school yard pick," selecting an artist from their team to go up against the competition. The twist here is that America will decide who gets voted through to the next round, meaning there's a possibility that a coach will enter the Top 24 with an uneven number of artists.

And for the first time ever, coaches will have an opportunity to save or steal an eliminated artist right then and there. But they must choose wisely because they only get one shot and just 10 seconds to decide whether that person is worth saving.

The Cross Battles begin Monday, April 15 and continue until Tuesday, April 23. Viewers can vote for their favorite via the Voice app or online at NBC.com/VoiceVote.

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.