Earlier this season, Kelly Clarkson had to sit out The Voice Battle Rounds due to illness (with Kelsea Ballerini temporarily filling in). And this week, it looked like Kelly’s fellow coach Nick Jonas — who was finally enjoying his first on-set Live Playoffs, after his first Voice season pivoted to remote filming last year due to coronavirus concerns — would also be forced to miss out, just one week before the Season 20 finale. On Sunday, TMZ broke the news that

Nick had been injured and transported via ambulance to the hospital while filming a “super-secret” new show Saturday night, leaving his future on The Voice (and his hosting gig at this coming weekend’s Billboard Music Awards) in doubt.

Thankfully, by the time The Voice top nine competed on Monday night, Nick was back in his red chair, albeit not sitting as comfortably as usual. “Before we get started tonight, Nick, how are you feeling?” concerned host Carson Daly asked him at the top of the show.

“I’m feeling OK. I’ve been better, but I’m doing all right,” an uncharacteristically low-energy Nick answered, gingerly cradling his torso. “Cracked rib from a spill on a bike, and a few other bumps and bruises. But I just want to go ahead and say that, in case I’m not as physically enthusiastic as I usually am. Blake, please don’t make me laugh as much, because it hurts to laugh.”

“You’re just trying to get sympathy votes on the show,” quipped Blake Shelton, who’d previously jokingly accused Kelly of calling in sick just to get out of having to make some difficult Battle Rounds decisions.

“Yeah, the big elaborate plan,” Nick sassed back sarcastically, managing to still have a sense of humor. And he managed to still be enthusiastic, even giving his star contestant Dana Monique a standing ovation later on in the episode. Carson noted that Dana must have been especially stupendous “when Nick Jonas is on his feet, because it hurts him to get on his feet! It’s pain, but we appreciate it.”

It’s a gladdening development that Nick’s bike accident wasn’t as sidelining as America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell’s last year and he was able to return to the set, because Dana wasn’t the only semifinalist who delivered a hurts-so-good performance, and it would have been a shame for Nick to miss out. Monday’s nine contestants each sang twice: once solo, and once in trio performances celebrating the ‘70s that were surprisingly enjoyable, reminiscent of the corny-but-cute step-touch group numbers from American Idol’s heyday.

Cam Anthony, Kenzie Wheeler, and Corey Ward did a “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” that was very Brady Three; Victor Solomon, Pia Renee, and Dana Monique donned earth-toned leisure suits (and in Victor’s case, an Afro wig!) for a Soul Train-worthy rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star”; and Rachel Mac, Jordan Matthew Young, and Gihanna Zoë were California dreamin’ on a harmony-honeyed cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.”

But of course, it is the individual performances that will really drive the votes, determining which five contestants will move on to next week’s finale. So let’s assess, enjoy, and predict: