Kelly Clarkson Uses Her Steal to Save Marcus Ladden Jr. After Emotional ‘The Voice’ Battle — Queen Latifah Has a Pointed Response

Kelly Clarkson wasn’t about to let Marcus Ladden Jr. leave The Voice without another chance. After the singer and fellow Team Queen contestant Chari delivered a powerful rendition of Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s “On My Own,” Queen Latifah chose Chari as the winner of their Battle. But just as Ladden Jr. appeared to be heading home, Clarkson pressed her steal button, securing him a place on Team Kelly.

The performance was especially significant because the contestants had prepared the iconic duet under the guidance of LaBelle herself. Their rendition impressed all four coaches, setting up a difficult decision for Queen Latifah — and an unexpected opportunity for Clarkson.

Patti LaBelle Encourages the Singers to Find Their Own Style

Queen Latifah admitted she was nervous about asking her artists to perform “On My Own” in front of LaBelle, who originally recorded the song with McDonald.

“Who does that to people they care about in front of the lady herself?” Queen joked before rehearsals.

But Ladden Jr. and Chari quickly eased those concerns. LaBelle praised their vocals during practice and encouraged them to finish the song with the same strength they brought to the rest of the performance.

“You better end that song right. Beautiful!” she exclaimed. “I’m gonna call Michael and let him know that y’all killed our song.”

LaBelle also offered a crucial piece of advice: the singers should not simply imitate her and McDonald’s original recording. Instead, she wanted them to trust their own voices and make the classic duet their own.

“I’m serious,” she told them. “That’s no good. Do you.”

The advice paid off. Their Battle showcased their individual vocal styles while earning enthusiastic reactions from the coaches.

Queen Latifah Picks Chari — Then Kelly Clarkson Makes Her Move

Following the performance, Riley Green praised both contestants, saying he loved every second of the Battle and describing their vocals as unreal. Clarkson drew attention to their contrasting tones, while Adam Levine also expressed admiration for their performances.

Queen Latifah was equally impressed. She revealed that she and LaBelle had already been blown away by the singers during rehearsals.

“Getting to sing that song with her permission to make it your own, I think that is exactly what you did,” Queen told them.

Still, she had to select just one winner. Ultimately, she chose Chari, praising her distinctive qualities and exceptional vocal control.

“She’s just so special,” Queen explained. “Her control of her voice is so deft. I just love watching her.”

Although Ladden Jr. thanked Queen for her guidance, his journey was not over. Clarkson pressed her button to steal him, giving the singer another opportunity to compete.

“I had to use my steal on Marcus. He’s kind of the whole package,” Clarkson said.

She praised his vocal range, tone and ability to convey the emotion that makes a performance memorable. Her decision ensured that Ladden Jr. would continue in the competition, this time as part of Team Kelly.

Queen Latifah Notices the Coaches’ Interest in Her Team

Clarkson’s move also highlighted a growing trend in the Battle Rounds: both she and Green have now used their steals to recruit contestants from Team Queen Latifah.

Queen appeared to take notice, joking that her fellow coaches were paying close attention to the talent on her team.

“These are some smart coaches sitting next to me,” she said. “They would be very smart to pick what’s happening on Team Queen, because I’ve got the singers.”

With Chari advancing on Team Queen and Ladden Jr. joining Team Kelly, both singers remain in the competition after a Battle that impressed the coaches and their legendary advisor.

For LaBelle, the performance was also an opportunity to hear two emerging artists reinterpret one of her best-known duets — and prove that a classic can take on new life when singers bring their own style to it.

The Voice Season 30 airs Mondays on NBC.