‘This a number one champion sound’: Darius J is ‘The Voice’ Season 27’s new belle of the ball

Adam Levine made a big, big mistake when he pitted this ballgowned showman against Conor James.

Team Adam’s “outfit-fluid” Darius J, right, steals the show, and then gets stolen, during ‘The Voice’ Knockout Rounds. (photo: Tyler Golden/NBC)

Until this week, prodigal coach Adam Levine, returning for his first Voice season since his dramatic resignation in 2019, seemed like the Season 27 coach to beat — possibly on his way to his first victory since Team Adam’s Jordan Smith triumphed a decade ago. But then Adam surprisingly eliminated his only country contestant — a move that made sense artistically, but not strategically — and this week, during Season 27’s final episode of Knockout Rounds, he foolishly, bafflingly pitted his two most unique and compelling artists, Darius J and Conor James, against each other.

This decision did not make sense, in any way, and new coach Kelsea Ballerini (foreshadowingly) protested: “There is no world where there is anyone going home! It can’t happen! It’s illegal!” Adam even told Darius and Conor that during their Knockout, it “honestly felt like you were both finalists,” so I do not know what the hell he was thinking here.