Kelsea Ballerini Used Final The Voice Steal on a Team Adam Contestant She’d Been Waiting ‘So Long’ for — See Who She Chose!

THE VOICE -- "The Battles Part 3" Episode 2708 -- Pictured: (l-r) Kelsea Ballerini, Adam Levine

Kelsea Ballerini and Adam Levine in 2025. Photo:  Trae Patton/NBC

Kelsea Ballerini has tricks up her sleeve!

On Monday, April 14, the country star used her final steal on The Voice to pull Darius J from Team Adam — and she couldn’t be happier about it.

“I have been waiting for this for so long,” Ballerini, 31, screamed after she hit her steal button.

“I think Darius is so special. He has this certainty about him and this joy, quirkiness. I don’t think I have anyone on my beat on that level of full-encompassing performer. I fought so hard for Darius since the jump,” she continued.

Then, a video flashed back to his blind audition, where Ballerini pleaded to have him on her team.

“You are such an artist and my gut is telling me that I can do this with you,” she said.

Back to her one-on-one interview, the “Baggage” singer said happily, “I finally got him… I am so giddy to work with Darius J in the playoffs.”

Darius J was up against Conor James in the knockouts and performed a cover of Estelle’s “American Boy.”

During the feedback portion, Adam Levine complimented his energy and stage presence.

“Darius, first of all, really great job turning this into a more high energy performance. That’s a hard thing to do. You definitely accomplished that today. Congratulations man,” said the Maroon 5 frontman, 46.

Meanwhile, with James, who performed “Forever Young” by Alphaville, Levine complimented him for singing “a very difficult song.”

“You sung the crap out of it,” he said before adding, “Between your voice and Darius your showmanship… honestly this knockout round felt like you were both finalists.”

THE VOICE -- "The Knockouts Part 3" Episode 2711 -- Pictured: Darius J

Darius J. Casey Durkin/NBC

Before Levine made his decision, he said he “had a feeling” the universe would “do as it should” and chose James.

“The possibilities are kind of limitless with Conor. That dude can just sing like very few people can. Just soulfulness. I want to lean into that even more. He’s going to be around a while,” he said.

After the episode aired, Darius shared a black-and-white photo wearing his Team Adam sweatshirt — and holding his new Tecovas boots from Ballerini on Instagram.

‘One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you ‘ 👢👢👢👢 #TEAMKELSEY,” he captioned the post.