Snoop Dogg cuts The Voice contestant who sang ‘one of the hardest songs you could ever give somebody to sing’

Two words: Whitney Houston.

Snoop Dogg had an emotional night Monday on The Voice.

Surprisingly, he said goodbye to Aliyah Khaylyn, a 23-year-old from Philadelphia who knocked the judges out with her performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”

Snoop himself said Khaylyn would be “performing one of the hardest songs that you could ever give somebody to sing on this show.” And she nailed it.

Like costars Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, and Gwen Stefani, however, the rapper had to make hard choices trimming his team from the five members he brought into the Playoffs to the two he can take to the final live shows. He and McEntire were up.

Snoop Dogg coaches ‘The Voice’ Playoffs.Tyler Golden/NBC

The rapper stole Khaylyn from Team Bublé in the Battle Round, and the other coaches acted as if they would have stolen her again, if only they’d had steals available.

Even as she sang the final note, Stefani said, “I’m in shock right now.”

In her signature twang, McEntire said, “If you don’t have music out soon, I’m gonna cry, ’cause I love your voice. You’re so good.”

While Snoop himself was wowed, it wasn’t enough. After mentoring the contestants, this week with the assistance of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, and seeing them perform, the rapper selected Jeremy Beloate and Christina Eagle to move forward.

About Eagle, he quipped, “She had one wing when I met her, and then she got a second wing and, as you can see, the eagle has landed.”

For Beloate, a 25-year-old from New York City, his passionate performance of “The Impossible Dream (My Quest)” by Josh Groban sealed his fate in the Live shows.

“Damn, Snoop!” Bublé said. “Dude, that is one of my favorite performances so far.”

Both Snoop and McEntire were in tears over the Broadway-caliber performance.

Eagle secured her place with a rendition of McEntire’s own “Fancy,” of which the country queen approved.

“Really?! Oh my gosh, that was incredible!” McEntire said. “I loved the way you changed it around. Your choreography was great. You were passionate about it. Wonderful, wonderful job!”

Snoop also said goodbye to Austyns Stancil, who sang “Adore” by Prince in full and unwavering falsetto, and Mikaela Ayira, after her beautiful take on “Love” by Keyshia Cole.

For her own team, McEntire, who worked with Lainey Wilson this week, chose to keep Adam Bohanan, who performed “Think I’m in Love With You” by Chris Stapleton, and Danny Joseph, after his cover of Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Katie O, Edward Preble, and Lauren-Michael Sellers all went home.

Playoffs conclude Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC.