Montgomery's 'singing dentist' Jerome Godwin III advances on 'The Voice'

Montgomery talent continued to shine Tuesday on NBC’s “The Voice” during the final night of the duet battle rounds — but it was also a night that would cut season 23’s Alabama presence from four to three.

Celebrity coach Niall Horan said Montgomery college student Jerome Godwin III and Talia Smith of New York were Team Niall’s “two big voices.” Godwin — who's been called "the singing dentist" — clearly brought it while they were singing Sam Smith’s “Like I Can.” He was Horan’s choice as the battle winner, and earned praise from the other coaches.

“Jerome, I thought you smashed it,” said Chance the Rapper. “You can sing anything. I think you’d be really good with gospel and soul, but I also think you could do Broadway stuff.”

With the win, Godwin moves forward to the Knockout rounds, while Smith announced she had something exciting ahead as well — a baby on the way.

Back in Montgomery, Godwin is a pre-dental student at Auburn University Montgomery, and has recently been promoted to dental assistant at his job. Still, Godwin said he’s at a career crossroads between dentistry and music.

“My dad is very academic. He’s like, the secure route is dentistry,” said Godwin, a native of Ashford. “My mom is, you do what your heart feels. It is pretty stressful being in this position because my parents’ opinions definitely matter. I just want to make them proud. I don’t want to go off onto the wrong road.”

JB Somers shines in 'Light On,' but his 'The Voice' journey ends

While rehearsing for Maggie Rogers’ song “Light On,” Montgomery native JB Somers and duet partner Rachel Christine were so strong that coach Kelly Clarkson said they should form a group.

“JB has this beautiful tone,” Clarkson said. “It’s pure, but it’s also a little broken. He bares it all, and that’s rare.”

This episode, Somers also talked about coming out a year ago, something he discussed with the Montgomery Advertiser in 2022 during the release of his debut single "There For Me." It's a song he described as an anthem for people struggling with letting others know they're part of the LGBTQ world.

“I want to impact people’s lives by being my most true self,” said the pop artist, who lives in Nashville.

When it came time to perform in the battle, coaches said their version of "Light On" was a little off the rails at the beginning, though they brought it back.

Clarkson picked Christine’s performance to win Tuesday’s battle round, pushing her into the knockouts.

That marked the end of this run for Somers, since Blake Shelton held onto his final steal to use later in the show to bring Noivas onto his team.

“It was really hard to see JB go,” Clarkson said. “If you would have told me that was going to happen in the blinds, I would never have believed you.”

It's almost time for knockouts, and Reba

In two weeks, the knockout rounds begin, and “The Voice” is bringing in mega coach and country icon Reba McEntire to work with the singers.

While Godwin will be in the knockouts, Montgomery’s other two singers on this season — Montgomery resident D.Smooth, 25 of Team Kelly, and 15-year-old Montgomery native Ryley Tate Wilson of Team Niall — will be skipping that part of the competition.

D.Smooth and Ryley Tate each received a playoff pass to push them past knockouts into the playoff rounds.

On Monday 7 p.m., "The Voice" continues on NBC with a look back on the competition so far — "Best of the Blinds, Battles and Blake." The coaches will also perform Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery 'singing dentist' Jerome Godwin III advances on 'The Voice'