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‘The Voice’ recap: Austin Jenckes and Kat Robichaud depart

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Phew! That was close.

For a minute there I was really worried that Caroline Pennell, whose captivatingly idiosyncratic vocal style and sweetly straightforward persona can make you forget she’s only 17, would leave “The Voice” stage earlier than she deserved to.

But fast-fingered tweeters who tapped her name under the hashtag #VoiceSave swept the distressed damsel out of danger in the nick of time: Thanks to the Instant Save, Pennell will stick around another week as part of the Top 8 and the sole remaining member of Cee Lo Green’s team.

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Alas, Kat Robichaud, another member of Team Cee Lo, and Austin Jenckes, of Team Blake Shelton, were not so lucky. Both of those singers, who with Pennell made up this week’s bottom three, were sent home Tuesday.

The eliminations may have surprised iTunes rock-chart watchers. Robichaud, the beneficiary of last week’s Instant Save, and Jenckes had cracked the iTunes Top 10 Rock Songs chart.

Robichaud had hit No. 4 with her rendition of Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” and Jenckes clocked in at No. 5 with his take on the Outfield’s “Your Love.” (Jenckes’ Team Blake compatriots Cole Vosbury and Ray Boudreaux topped the Rock Songs chart at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.)

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On the other hand, someone had to go home, and it may as well have been Robichaud and Jenckes. This week, Robichaud tried to reach back to her rock ‘n’ roll roots, but her overly choreographed performance apparently didn’t connect with voters. Jenckes, meanwhile, showed his vocal range, but there’s only room in the competition for so many soulful white guys playing guitars -- and, let’s face it, Vosbury’s beard is bushier, his style a bit groovier and more interesting.

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Though I am not happy to see Robichaud and Jenckes go, I’m relieved this week’s disappointed duo didn’t include Matthew Schuler or Tessanne Chin -- or Pennell.

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All three of those performers followed up their Top 10 performances with some fine singing on Tuesday night’s elimination show. Pennell and Chin charmingly dueted on “Royals.” And Schuler joined his coach, Christina Aguilera, and teammate, Jacquie Lee, for a medley that Carson Daly said was “without question” the “best team performance we’ve ever had on this show.” (The rest of the Top 10 also performed in clusters.)

In addition to his opinions, Daly also shared a bit of news on Tuesday night’s show: Adam Levine has been selected by People magazine as this year’s Sexiest Man Alive.

“I want you to know,” Shelton assured his fellow coach, “that I think you’re beautiful for what’s on the inside.”

Ah, bromance.

What did you think of this week’s results?

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