Abby Kasch Advances To Live Cross Battle Rounds On 'The Voice'

PALOS PARK, IL — Live performances begin this week on NBC’s “The Voice,” and the excitement is building as Palos Park native Abby Kasch gets ready for the live cross battles. Kasch advanced in the battle rounds on April 8 after her duet, “Bring In The Rain,” with Team Kelly-mate Jackson Marlow. Marlow was eliminated.

This season, “The Voice” is shaking up its format by introducing a new exciting round called Live Cross Battles, touted to be a game-changer for the long-running show.

“Live cross battles have never been done before on ‘The Voice,’” The 20-year-old singer said. “We’ve never gone live this early.”

For the first time in ‘Voice’ history, coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will be selecting one artist from their team to compete against an artist from an opposing team during the Live Cross Battle performances. America will get to decide the winner of each Cross Battle. The winner will earn a spot on the Top 24 live show. Sounds like a lot of pressure.

“It’s a lot of pressure but I really enjoy it,” Kasch said, who now lives in Nashville where she is a rising star on the music scene. “That’s why I enjoy Nashville, because it’s so fast paced and competitive. I enjoy the competition of ‘The Voice.’”

Since her blind audition, Kasch said her parents are going insane, especially her mom, Brenda.

“My parents are losing it,” Kasch said. “They’re really excited, my mom is over the moon. They never thought I’d end up on the show when I told them was going out for it.”

Kasch loves the support she’s received from Palos Park residents, including former classmates from Stagg High School and Palos South Middle School.

“I’m hearing from a lot of different people,” she said. “A lot of teachers are reaching out, which is so crazy. I’m hearing from a lot of younger kids at my old school Palos South. They’re reaching out saying that I’m inspiring them to try different things. That’s the whole reason I’m here.”

Also in the running is fellow south suburbanite, 20-year-old Oliv Blu, of Flossmoor.

Blake Shelton saved his steal to nab Blu after she was eliminated in the Battle Round by 16-year-old Kayslin Victoria. Shelton immediately snatched Blu up after being eliminated.

“I stole Oliv because there's really nobody else in the competition that fills Oliv's lane,” Shelton said on the show. “It's very jazzy, but I think there's more to it than that, and I can't wait to see where it goes.”

The Live Cross Battles air the next two weeks on Monday and Tuesday nights, April 15, April 16, April 22 and April 23. All the artists that survive their battle rounds will be seated on stage. Kasch will find out with the rest of America when she’s chosen to go head to head with an opposing artist on live television.

Then get ready to vote for Abby (or your favorite contestant). Viewers can vote using App Voting and Online Voting during the April 15 and April 22 broadcasts. Voting opens at the end of the ET/CT broadcast on The Voice Official App (App Store or Google Play) and at NBC Voice Vote. For official rules, visit Voice Vote Rules. Voting will remain open from 8:55 p.m. until 6 a.m. local time the next morning. Viewers may vote online up 10 times per artists per email address, during the voting window.

"The Voice" airs on NBC from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 15 and April 22, with the results airing from 8 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 and April 23 local time.