The Voice
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The Voice announced that country icon Reba McEntire will serve as the Mega Mentor for the upcoming 23rd season of the show when it returns on NBC on March 6. McEntire will be on hand to join new coaches Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan as well as returning chair turners Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton, who is making his final spin on the series as the only original cast member after a 12-year run.
McEntire and the coaches will mentor the acts who make it through the Battle Rounds as the teams prepare for the Knockouts that begin on April 17. McEntire was a Battle Advisor to Shelton’s team during season one, which makes her return for Blake’s final curtain even more poignant.
A release announcing McEntire’s return also noted that the show will add some important changes to the format that will make the competition even more fierce this time around. Starting on March 27, the new “Playoff Pass” will let both artists in a battle advance, with one “Pass” winner snagging a big advantage when they skip the Knockout Rounds and automatically advance to the Playoffs.
Each coach will have one Playoff Pass and one steal during this round, with seven artists from each team advancing — six to compete in the Knockout rounds and one Pass artist. During the Knockouts, artists will be paired against each other and pick their own songs to perform individually while their competitors wait and watch from the sidelines. The coaches will then choose the winner, with the artist not selected available to return via a steal; each coach has only one steal during this round as five artists per team advance.
Finally, during the return of the playoff rounds beginning on May 1, the 20 remaining acts will face off as each coach has to pick two to advance to the live semifinals. This season’s live shows will kick off on May 15. The season 23 premiere of The Voice airs on NBC on March 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
Kelly Clarkson invited Niall Horan to the set of her eponymous talk show on Wednesday (Feb. 22) to tease his debut alongside her as a coach on The Voice.
Naturally, the two artists had plenty to chat about, especially considering that the both got their respective starts on other reality singing competitions. “So your big break was obviously on X Factor and I came up on [American] Idol. You came up with a group, which I think is cool,” Clarkson pointed out as the audience erupted into screams at the mention of One Direction.
“But no, I was very lonely off the top,” she continued. “And I think that must’ve been cool. Like, that you had buddies to lean on.”
The host then asked Horan whether he and his former bandmates — Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik — still lean on one another. The former One Direction-er responded, “Yeah, especially on the show we were so lucky. ‘Cause you would see all the other artists melting all the time over everything. We were just 16, 17, 18, 19, whatever we were. … It was so fun. I’d do it again. That’s why I’m doing The Voice.” (“Of course, we speak constantly,” he added later, without going into specifics about his relationships with each member of the group.)
Hilariously, Clarkson also revealed during their chat that she was initially very mistaken on a key aspect of 1D history: She was certain the quintet actually won their season on the U.K. version of The X Factor way back in 2009.
“I thought One Direction won,” she confessed. “I mean, ’cause you did, in life! Like, you actually came in third and I was like, ‘What?!’ ‘Cause I didn’t watch, I just knew that’s where you came from, but, like, congratulations, you killed it, my friend.”
Nowadays, Horan is readying the release of his third solo album, The Show, and many fans have theorized that the record may or may not contain a duet with Styles.
Watch more of Clarkson and Horan’s interview — including the latter’s pitch-perfect imitation of fellow coach Blake Shelton — below.
Kelly Clarkson brought a special guest to help open the Thursday (Feb. 16) episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show: Corey Ward of The Voice.
To kick off the “Kellyoke” duet, the superstar and her former protégé harmonized on “Falling Slowly” from John Carney’s 2007 musical film Once. “I don’t know you but I want you all the more for that,” Ward crooned, strumming an acoustic guitar before Clarkson joined him in singing the chorus: “Take this sinking boat and point it home/ We’ve still got time/ Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice/ You’ve made it now/ Falling slowly, sing your melody/ I’ll sing along.”
Ward was part of Team Kelly back in 2021 during Season 20, where he was eliminated in the Live Semifinal round before Cam Anthony eventually took the trophy for Blake Shelton’s team. Some of his most memorable performances on The Voice include his audition with Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” as well as covers of Clarkson’s “Already Gone,” Lewis Capaldi’s “Bruises” and “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.
Later in the show, Clarkson interviewed Ward about his time on the reality singing competition, his mom’s cancer diagnosis — which led him to initially audition for Season 19 — as well as his new single “Close to Love.”
In recent days, the original American Idol winner has also covered everything from Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again,” Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” Mark Morrison’s “Return of the Mack,” Camille Yarbrough’s Fatboy Slim-sampling “Take Yo’ Praise” and more.
Watch Clarkson and Ward duet on “Falling Slowly” below.
The Voice could have had a very different vibe if producers had gotten their first choice of judges to fill one of the iconic red spinning chairs. In an interview with ET Online country legend Reba McEntire was asked who she thought would make a good replacement for soon-to-depart OG coach Blake Shelton, revealing that it could have been her they were looking to re-cast.
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McEntire reminded ET that she was originally offered a role on the reality singing series before it debuted in 2011, with producers then offering the gig to Shelton, who will end his 12-year-run with the show after Season 23, which premieres on NBC on March 6. “Who could fill Blake’s shoes?” McEntire asked with a smile according to ET.
“I got [a look at] the Holland version of The Voice. They sent it to me and I said, ‘I can’t see me doing that,’” she said of her feelings after seeing the original version of the show that has spawned a global franchise. “Because, you know, I’m a gypsy at heart,” McEntire, 67, said, noting that she’s not sure she could be committed to one project for so long and stay in one place.
Whoever does permanently fill Blake’s shoes has their work cut out for them, McEntire said. “To fill Blake’s chair? Wow. That’s gonna be tough,” she predicted. “He did a great job and kudos to him.” McEntire didn’t totally blow producers off, though, agreeing to serve as a mentor to Team Blake during the show’s premiere 2011 season and returning again in 2015.
The upcoming season of The Voice will feature new coaches Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper joining Shelton and returning cast member Kelly Clarkson.
For now,
Blake Shelton is leaving The Voice, but that doesn’t mean that he’s going to be soft on his fellow coaches. On Wednesday (Jan. 25), NBC released the first season 23 promo of The Voice, which sees the country star reflecting on it being his last on the show, and competing with his fellow coaches, both new and old.
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The trailer kicks off with Shelton telling a contestant, “This is my last season as a coach on The Voice after 23 seasons.” Kelly Clarkson, who is making her return to the show, chimes in and adds for the country singer, “He’s so tired.” Shelton points to his fellow coaches, which now includes first timers Chance the Rapper and former One Direction member Niall Horan, and adds, “I am tired of this.”
Shelton also recognized Horan as a formidable force this season, telling the audience and contestants that “Niall is already stealing my incredible artistic expression.”
In a separate clip, the “Heartbreak Weather” singer cheekily tells the nine-time Grammy nominee, “I feel like a young you.” Shelton’s response? “I can see it now.”
Before the promo concludes, the country singer let the audience and coaches know one crucial thing: “I just want everyone to know that there is one king of The Voice. Only one.”
And he’s not wrong — season 22 of The Voice saw Shelton earn his ninth overall win after Bryce Leatherwood was crowned champion.
Season 23 of The Voice is scheduled to premiere on NBC March 6. Watch the promo for the new season above.
NBC’s The Voice just wrapped its 22nd season, which saw Camila Cabello joining the panel as a coach for her first season. In the upcoming season, Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper are set to sit in the spinning red chairs for the first time.
Over the reality singing competition’s history, Blake Shelton remains the statistically best coach in terms of winning seasons — having crowned a champ from his team in nine of the show’s 22 seasons.
When The Voice premiered as NBC’s answer to FOX’s juggernaut American Idol, the inaugural cast of coaches consisted of Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, Shelton, and CeeLo Green. (Shelton is the only coach to have stayed on the rotating panel since the beginning of the hit show.)
Apart from Shelton’s supreme reign as king of The Voice, a plethora of star-studded musicians have appeared as coaches to try their hand at the crown including Ariana Grande, Shakira, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Nick Jonas.
Below is a complete list of which coach won at the end of each season.
That’s a wrap! Season 22 of The Voice concluded on Tuesday night (Dec. 13) and saw contestant Bryce Leatherwood Tuesday night’s (Dec. 13) finale marked Stefani’s last appearance on the show. and add yet another victory notch to Blake Shelton‘s belt. But when the cameras stopped rolling, fellow coach Gwen Stefani — who is married to the country star — was inconsolable, and not because she lost.
“I walked over to Gwen’s chair after the cameras went off and she’s over there literally sobbing,” the country singer told Entertainment Tonight of the No Doubt singer, who has coached on and off since season seven. “She was like, ‘This is our last time that we’re going to do this together.’”
Shelton added, “It will be the last time she and I do this together, and it is crazy to think of how the show changed my life.” The couple met on the show in 2014 during season seven. “I was so wrapped up in this that I didn’t even think about that.”
Earlier in the month, the “Hollaback Girl” singer spoke with ET about how bittersweet it has been working with Shelton on season 22 of The Voice has been, as the upcoming season 23 will be the country star’s last as a coach. “It’s just been a really amazing season, too short,” the 53-year-old said on Dec. 6 just before the show’s semifinals, getting teary-eyed. “It’s mine and Blake’s last season … I can’t even get the words out of my mouth ’cause it sucks.”
Following the show wrapping on Tuesday night, Stefani took to Twitter to celebrate the end of season 22. “Aaand that’s a wrap!!! forever thankful to @NBCTheVoice, this show has changed my life in more ways than i can count. szn 22 forever !!!! ❤️ gx #TheVoice,” she wrote, later adding “tonight is so bittersweet” in a massage to a fan.
See Stefani’s tweets below.
aaand that’s a wrap!!! forever thankful to @NBCTheVoice, this show has changed my life in more ways than i can count. szn 22 forever !!!! ❤️ gx #TheVoice— Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) December 14, 2022
With a record nine wins on the board, The Voice coach Blake Shelton is feeling pretty confident about making it an even 10. In fact, in a new promo video for the show’s upcoming season 23 shared by EW just hours before Shelton’s season 22 charge country singer Bryce Leatherwood took home the title on Tuesday night (Dec. 13), Shelton pretended that he didn’t even know who one of his new co-workers was.
“Do you think I’ve got a chance of beating you in your final season,” asks Niall Horan in the video teasing the season slated to kick off in March 2023. “No,” says Shelton confidently to a gobsmacked Horan. “Strong words from a big man,” says the former One Direction star while brushing some stage make-up onto Shelton’s cheeks in what seems like a new guy hazing ritual.
Next up is fellow newbie Chance the Rapper, who asks returning coach Kelly Clarkson to asses his odds on the singing competition. “Do you think I have a chance of beating you?” he asks the singer and daytime talk show host. “A chance?” Clarkson says with a stage laugh as she and the MC joyfully dance it out together.
“I think my biggest competition is probably Kelly,” Chance adds. “But I’mma still win, though.”
The 30-second sneak peek ends with Kelly asking Blake to share his thoughts about the new kids on the block, which Shelton answers with his typical tall guy confidence. “Who are they again?” he quips as Chance and Niall point to themselves in another frame. “Blake is now my dad… no offense to my dad,” Horan says while hugging his new TV pops. Clarkson posits the upcoming season as “the vets versus the newbies,” as Horan promises that no matter what they’re going to have a lot of fun next year.
The sole remaining original coach, Shelton announced in Oct. that the upcoming season will be his final spin in the show’s signature red captain chair. He’ll be flanked by Clarkson, who appeared on seasons 14-21, with her sibling trio, Girl Named Tom, taking home the trophy during season 21. And while Horan will be making his Voice debut, he, of course, began his career as a contestant on the UK’s The X Factor, where he was teamed up with the rest of the One Direction gang.
The upcoming season of The Voice will premiere on March 6 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Click here to watch the promo.
After months of thrills, and near spills (certainly for Morgan Myles), America has chosen Bryce Leatherwood as the winner of The Voice 2022.
The country singer was guided throughout by Blake Shelton, and hadn’t hit a bum note during his ride.
Based in Statesboro, Georgia, the 22-year-old singer gives Shelton a record ninth victory. Shelton will get a chance to reach double figures in the win column before he steps away from the show at the end of the 23rd season.
Earlier, during the first part of NBC’s two-day finale, Leatherwood impressed with covers of Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”.
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He wasn’t done there. During the finale, Shelton joined forces with his protégé for a performance of his 2011 hit “Hillbilly Bone”.
In the closing moments, Leatherwood out-pointed fellow Team Blake singers and Bodie, Team Camila Cabello’s Morgan Myles (Team Blake’s Brayden Lape and Team Legend’s Omar Jose Cardona were eliminated in the closing stages).
For Leatherwood, who is blessed with a name that resonates with country music, Christmas arrives early. His victory spoils include a recording contract with Universal Music Group and $100,000 in cash.
Prior to the nail-biting conclusion, The Voice finale also featured performances by Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Maluma OneRepublic, BRELAND and Adam Lambert, who debuted his cover of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World.”
Watch the closing moments below.
The Voice is down to its final contestants ahead of tonight’s live finale. During the Monday (Dec. 12) episode, Bodie dialed up the soul for his rendition of Harry Styles‘ “Late Night Talking” and turned the hit into a sultry pop track that fit his unique style.
Bodie kicked off the performance on The Voice stage solo with trilling piano notes to accompany him, and started by singing the track’s chorus, and then going into the first verse. The singer injected the lyrics with several immaculately placed vocals runs before upping the ante — and the tempo — halfway through the showcase, when dancers clad in monochrome blue and orange suits, much like Styles’ fashion.
“We’ve been doin’ all this late night talkin’/ ‘Bout anything you want until the mornin’/ Now you’re in my life/ I can’t get you off my mind,” Bodie sang, clad in a gray suit decorated with sequined stars.
“Late Night Talking” was released as the second single from Styles’ third album, Harry’s House, on June 21. The track peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September, and spent a total of 24 weeks on the chart.
Bodie is on Team Blake, and is currently up against contestants Morgan Myles, Brayden Lape, Bryce Leatherwood and Omar Jose Cardona. On Tuesday’s finale of The Voice, the singer will perform a duet with Blake Shelton and will see if he becomes the season 22 champion.
Watch Bodie’s performance in the video above.