Template:Infobox reality music competition The third season of the American reality talent show The Voice premiered on September 10, 2012 on NBC.^[1] NBC officially announced The Voice's renewal on May 13, 2012 during its 2012-13 upfront presentation, with the show returning as a fall series.^[2]

For this season, teams increased to 16, up from 12 last season. In addition, during the battle round, opposing coaches have the ability to steal the singer that was sent home by the original coach. If more than one coach hits their buzzer to recruit the singer in question, it's up to the contestant to decide which coach he or she wants to work with. Each coach can save two contestants, which means the battle round will end with 10 singers on each team, rather than eight. Finally, a new two-week "knockout round" will happen after the battle round, where the coaches will reduce their teams to five.^[3]

Auditions were held on July 7 to August 12, 2012 in Memphis, Minneapolis, New York, Dallas and Los Angeles.

Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green will be taking a break as coaches after this season, and will be replaced by Shakira and Usher respectively in the following season.

Auditions

Auditions took place in the following cities:

Location	Date	Venue
Memphis, Tennessee	July 7, 2012	Memphis Cook Convention Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota	July 14, 2012	Saint Paul River Centre
East Rutherford, New Jersey	July 21 & 22, 2012	Izod Center
Dallas, Texas	July 28 & 29, 2012	Irving Convention Center
Los Angeles, California	August 11 & 12, 2012	Los Angeles Convention Center

Coaches and hosts

All original coaches have signed on for season three.

Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, Rob Thomas and Billie Joe Armstrong will be joining the show as advisers for Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera's teams respectively.^[4]

Executive producer Mark Burnett has said that that he intends to do another cycle at midseason, but he's not necessarily keeping Levine, Green, Aguilera and Shelton in their chairs as that would leave them with no time to tour, in order to keep the coaches happy. He said, “He's got to let them continue to pursue their own musical careers outside of The Voice and so he's looking into lining up a new group of judges for season four” but he hopes all four will return for season five.^[3]

Episodes

Episode 1: The Blind Auditions, Part 1

The third season two-hour premiere aired on Monday, September 10, 2012,

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[5]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Terry McDermott _{35, from Aberdeen, Scotland}	"Baba O'Riley"			—
2	De'Borah _{25, from Chicago Heights, IL}	"Hey, Soul Sister"	—			—
3	Gracia Harrison _{18, from Virden, IL}	"I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"			—
4	Garrett Gardner _{16, from Ringwood, NJ}	"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"	—	—	—	—
5	Devyn DeLoera _{20, from Snyder, TX}	"Ain't No Other Man"		—
6	Bryan Keith _{22, from Bronx, NY}	"It Will Rain"
7	Daniel Rosa _{21, from Riverside, CA}	"Somebody That I Used to Know"	—		—
8	Anita Antoinette _{22, from Boston, MA}	"No Woman, No Cry"	—	—	—	—
9	Joe Kirkland _{24, from Fort Worth, TX}	"Gives You Hell"		—	—
10	Jessica Sharpe _{23, from Greensboro, NC}	"Son of a Preacher Man"	—	—	—	—
11	Danny Hunter Jones _{from Los Angeles, CA}	"Superstition"	—	—	—	—
12	Jamie Pickett _{Information unknown}	"Love on Top"	—	—	—	—
13	Odiseas Georgiadis _{15, New York, NY}	"The Lazy Song"	—	—	—	—
14	Trevin Hunte _{18, from Queens, NY}	"Listen"	—

Episode 2: The Blind Auditions, Part 2

The first one-hour episode was broadcast on Tuesday, September 11, 2012.

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[6]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Adriana Louise _{22, from Brooklyn, NY}	"Domino"
2	Casey Muesiggman _{22, from Spencer, IA}	"Sweet Home Alabama"	—		—
3	Aquile _{24, from San Diego, CA}	"Your Song"				—
4	Ryan Fogarty _{28, Nashville, TN}	"Tomorrow"	—	—	—	—
5	Brett Hite _{from Spokane, WA}	"Replay"	—	—	—	—
6	April Joyce Magpantay _{from Chicago, IL}	"Poker Face"	—	—	—	—
7	Matt Carr _{from Hanover, NH / now Boston, MA}	"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"	—	—	—	—
8	MacKenzie Bourg _{19, from Lafayette, LA}	"Pumped Up Kicks"	—		—	—
9	Julio Cesar Castillo _{21, from Chicago, IL}	"La Bamba"	—		—

Episode 3: The Blind Auditions, Part 3

The third one-hour episode was broadcast on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[7]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Samuel Mouton _{19, from Fort Collins, CO}	"Redemption Song"				—
2	Chris Trousdale _{26, from Michigan}	"Glad You Came"	—	—	—	—
3	Mike Squillanté _{from Boston, MA}	"Everybody Talks"	—	—	—	—
4	Jasmin Rose _{Information unknown}	"Mercy"	—	—	—	—
5	Brandon Clark _{Information unknown}	"Colder Weather"	—	—	—	—
6	Nelly's Echo _{32, from Lagos, Nigeria / now in Baltimore, MD}	"Ain't No Sunshine"		—		—
7	2Steel Girls (Krystal and Julia Steel) _{22 & 44, from Nashville, TN}	"Before He Cheats"	—		—
8	Lisa Scinta _{26, from Las Vegas, NV}	"Teenage Dream"	—			—
9	MarissaAnn _{15, from Long Island, NY}	"Part of Me"	—			—
10	Loren Allred _{22, from Salt Lake City, UT / Pittsburgh, PA}	"When Love Takes Over"			—	—
11	DOMO _{26, from Bronx, NY}	"Don't Cha"	—		—	—
12	Nicole Nelson _{34, from Burlington, Vermont}	"Hallelujah"

Episode 4: The Blind Auditions, Part 4

The fourth two-hour episode was broadcast on Monday, September 17, 2012.

A preview of Christina Aguilera's video for Your Body was televised.^[8]

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[9]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Melanie Martinez _{17, from Baldwin, NY}	"Toxic"			—
2	Cupid _{29, from Lafayette, LA}	"Cupid Shuffle"	—	—	—	—
3	Brian Scartocci _{26, from Austin, TX}	"Isn't She Lovely"			—
4	VanJess _{19 & 20, from Lagos, Nigeria / now Rancho Cucamonga, CA}	"Work Out"	—	—	—	—
5	Maddie and Julia _{from Scotch Plains, NJ / now New Paltz, NY}	"Disturbia"	—	—	—	—
6	The Wadsworth Singers _{Information unknown}	"Edge of Seventeen"	—	—	—	—
7	Beat Frequency (Shawn Lewis and Natasha Neuschwander) _{35 & 27, from Vancouver, WA}	"E.T."	—	—		—
8	Tyler Lillestol _{23, from Riverside, CA}	"U Got It Bad"	—	—	—	—
9	Liz Davis _{25, from Madison, MS}	"Here for the Party"		—
10	JR Aquino _{24, from Anchorage, AK}	"Just the Way You Are"				—
11	Agina Alvarez _{22, from San Diego, CA}	"Turn the Beat Around"	—	—	—	—
12	Nicholas David _{31, from Eagan, MN}	"Stand by Me"	—		—	—
13	Alessandra Guercio _{17, from Brooklyn, NY}	"The Climb"			—	—
14	Adanna Duru _{15, from Walnut, CA}	"The Edge of Glory"		—	—	—
15	Kelly Crapa _{15, from New Fairfield, CT}	"Sparks Fly"	—	—	—
16	Paulina _{16, from Los Angeles, CA}	"You Make Me Feel..."	—	—		—
17	Avery Wilson _{16, from Hamden, CT}	"Without You"

Episode 5: The Blind Auditions, Part 5

The fifth one-hour episode was broadcast on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[9]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Trevanne Howell _{33, from Bronx, NY}	"I Have Nothing"	—	—	—	—
2	Collin McLoughlin _{24, from Bedford, NY}	"Wild World"			—
3	Joselyn Rivera _{17, from Pembroke Pines, FL}	"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"	—	—
4	Benji Kuriakose _{24, from Orlando, FL}	"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"			—	—
5	Todd Kessler _{From Chicago, IL}	"Maggie May"	—		—	—
6	Ben Taub _{21, from Princeton, NJ}	"Feeling Good"	—		—
7	Emily Earle _{From Brooklyn, NY}	"Ring of Fire"	—		—	—
8	Lorraine Ferro _{52, from New York, NY}	"Skyscraper"	—	—	—	—
9	Mycle Wastman _{40, from Seattle, WA}	"Let's Stay Together"			—

Episode 6: The Blind Auditions, Part 6

The sixth two-hour episode was broadcast on Monday, September 24, 2012.

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[10]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Michelle Brooks-Thompson _{28, from Sunderland, MA}	"Proud Mary"				—
2	Diego Val _{25, from Lima, Peru / now Miami, FL}	"Animal"	—		—	—
3	Lauren Brooke _{24, from Pawling, NY}	"Cowboy Casanova"	—	—	—	—
4	Suzanna Choffel _{32, from Austin, TX}	"Landslide"		—	—
5	Michaela Paige _{16, from Boca Raton, FL}	"Sober"	—	—	—
6	Ryan Jirovec _{28, from McAllen, TX}	"Amazed"	—	—	—
7	Dez Duron _{22, from Shreveport, LA}	"Sara Smile"	—
8	VJ Rosales _{25, from Bellflower, CA}	"Forget You"	—	—	—	—
9	Alexis Marceaux _{23, from New Orleans, LA}	"Go Your Own Way"	—		—	—
10	Sam James _{26, from Worcester, MA}	"Imagine"		—	—	—
11	Laura Vivas _{33, from West Palm Beach, FL}	"Whataya Want From Me"	—	—		—
12	Lelia Broussard _{From Los Angeles, CA}	"We Can Work It Out"	—	—	—
13	Brandon Mahone _{17, from Chicago, IL / Indiana}	"I Wish It Would Rain"				—
14	Jeffrey James _{25, from Brownsburg, IN}	"A Little Less Conversation"	—	—	—	—
15	Paige Bryan _{26, from Los Angeles, CA}	"You Keep Me Hangin' On"	—	—	—	—
16	Cameron Hovsepian _{From Los Angeles, CA}	"I Need a Dollar"	—	—	—	—
17	LaRae Rhodes _{Information unknown}	"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"	—	—	—	—
18	Jordan Pruitt _{21, from Loganville, GA}	"The One That Got Away"	—	—		—
19	Terisa Griffin _{42, from Chicago, IL}	"Someone Like You"	—	—

Episode 7: The Blind Auditions, Part 7

The seventh one-hour episode was broadcast on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[10]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Sylvia Yacoub _{19, from Alexandria, Egypt / now Muskegon, MI}	"Only Girl (In the World)"	—
2	IJ Quinn _{25, from Warsaw, NC}	"Virtual Insanity"	—	—	—	—
3	Charlie Rey _{21, from Long Beach, CA}	"Home"		—	—
4	Amanda Brown _{27, from Bronx, NY}	"Valerie"	—		—	—
5	Yolanda Barber _{55, from Pittsburgh, PA}	"Get Here"	—	—	—	—
6	Cassadee Pope _{23, from West Palm Beach, FL}	"Torn"

Episode 8: The Blind Auditions, Part 8

The eighth two-hour episode was broadcast on Monday, October 1, 2012.

Key	Coach presses his or her button	Contestant eliminated with no coach pressing his or her button	Contestant defaulted to this coach's team	Contestant elected to join this coach's team

Order	Contestant	Song	Coach's and contestant's choices^[10]
Order	Contestant	Song	Adam	Cee Lo	Christina	Blake
1	Nathalie Hernandez _{15, from Dunedin, FL}	"White Horse"		—
2	Rod Michael _{31, from Allentown, PA / now Atlanta, GA}	"Please Don't Go"	—	—	—	—
3	Caitlin Michele _{20, from Scituate, MA}	"Cosmic Love"		—	—
4	Nicole Johnson _{18, from Denham Springs, LA / now Nashville, TN}	"Mr. Know It All"	—		—
5	Kameron Corvet _{32, from Cincinnati, OH / now Atlanta, GA}	"Crazy"	—	—	—	—
6	Chevonne _{26, from Little Falls, NJ}	"Brass in Pocket"	—		—
7	Kayla Nevarez _{17, from Mission Viejo, CA}	"American Boy"				—
8	Celica Westbrook _{16, from Franklin, TN}	"A Thousand Years"	—
9	Jay Taylor _{from Duette, FL / now Nashville, TN}	"Country Girl (Shake It for Me)"	—	—	—	—
10	Gedina _{Information unknown}	"Ain't Nobody"	—	—	—	—
11	Taylor Wagner _{from Mattoon, IL / now Nashville, TN}	"Mean"	—	—	—	—
12	Jessica Cayne _{26, from Grayson, GA}	"Good Girl"	—	—	—	—
13	Rudy Parris _{46, from Visalia, CA}	"Every Breath You Take"	—		—
14	Cody Belew _{27, from Beebe, AR}	"Hard to Handle"	—		—	—

Episode 9: The Best of the Blind Auditions

The ninth one-hour episode was broadcast on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, recapping some of the best moments of the blind auditions.

Episode 10: The Battles, Part 1

The first part of the Battle Round was broadcast on Monday, October 8th, 2012.

After the Blind Auditions, each coach had 16 contestants for the Battle Rounds. Coaches began narrowing down the playing field by training the contestants with the help of "trusted advisors". Team Adam is advised by Mary J. Blige, Team Cee Lo by Rob Thomas, Team Christina by Billie Joe Armstrong and Team Blake by Michael Bublé.

Each episode featured battles consisting of pairings from within each team, and each battle concluded with the respective coach eliminating one of the two contestants; the eight winners for each coach advanced to the live shows.

A new feature was added in season three, such that after elimination of a candidate in the Battle round, the other three judges have the option of "stealing" the contestant from his original team to theirs. If more than one judge opts for a "steal", the contestant himself/herself chooses which team he prefers to move to. If only one judge opts for the "steal", the contestant moves to that judge's team by default.

– Contestant wins battle