“The Voice” returns to the screens with an impressive selection of vocalists and celebrity coaches to keep you captivated. This blockbuster music competition continues to attract huge audiences, despite the coronavirus-induced setbacks experienced in season 20.
Here’s what you can expect in this guide:
- A recap of “The Voice” season 20 and a preview of the upcoming season
- The coaches panel
- Memorable performances
- A look at the season 20 finalists
- Where to watch the upcoming season
What Happened in Season 20 of “The Voice” in 2021?
The 20th edition of the singing competition premiered on March 1, 2021. Carson Daly appeared in the show as the host for his 20th season. Four celebrity voice coaches and a guest coach worked with teams of vocalists during the live performance shows.
Coaches of “The Voice” in Season 20
In the last season, NBC named Blake Shelton, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and Nick Jonas as coaches. Meanwhile, Kelsea Ballerini served as a guest vocal mentor in her second season with The Voice. Jonas, who skipped the previous season, replaced Gwen Stefani.
Snoop Dogg played a part in the competition as the knockouts mega mentor. Several advisors helped the contestants during the battle rounds. The mentors include:
- Darren Criss for Team Nick
- Luis Fonsi for Team Kelly
- Brandy for Team Legend
- Dan + Shay for Team Blake
What Were Some of the Most Memorable Performances of “The Voice” Season 20?
Several contestants shone in various stages of the competition, including live playoffs and live finale. John Legend’s finalist, Victor Solomon, is one of the contestants that stunned the audience with memorable performances. In one of the vocalist’s acts, he delivered a jaw-dropping performance when he sang Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s “Freedom.”
It’s no surprise that John Legend described the act as the best performance he has ever seen in the competition. On the same night, Cam Anthony also delivered a showstopper that qualified as one of the competition’s greatest moments. His interpretation of Cynthia Erivo’s “Stand Up” was inspirational, modern, and electrifying.
Blake Shelton, who coached Anthony, predicted his artist would be the show’s first superstar.
Here are some additional noteworthy performances.
- Jordan Matthew Young: The vocalist delivered a spectacular performance when he sang Eric Clapton’s “Key to the Highway.” Jordan showcased his impressive talent with a cool and vibe-filled performance. His coach, Blake, commended the artist for rocking the stage.
- Rachel Mac: She captivated viewers and her coach, Jonas, with an angelic performance of Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance.” Rachel’s voice was pure and captivating, making the delivery powerful and memorable. Jonas praised the artist’s depth as she shined throughout the act.
Who Were the Finalists in Season 20 of “The Voice”?
Team members led by John Legend, Blake Shelton, Nick Jonas, and Kelly Clarkson worked tirelessly to become season 20 finalists. In the end, only five names could reach the coveted finale. The finalists survived four-way knockouts, battles, and blind auditions to reach “The Voice” finale.
Finalists of “The Voice” season 20 included:
- Jordan Matthew Young
- Victor Solomon
- Cam Anthony
- Kenzie Wheeler
- Rachel Mac
Here’s a look into the finalists’ journey to the top five.
- Jordan Matthew Young: The artist shone brightly during various stages of the live shows. It’s no surprise that Jordan netted the wildcard instant save in the semi-finals. As a member of Team Blake, he impressed viewers and the coaches with renditions of Keith Whitley’s “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” and The Black Crowes’ “She Talks to Angels.”
- Victor Solomon: Cam and Victor stole some of the limelight in season 20, thanks to the duo’s outstanding performances. For his part, Victor won both his battle and knockout stages following an impressive blind audition. As a member of Team Legend, Victor wowed the judges and fans alike with renditions of John Legend’s “Glory,” and Usher’s “U Got It Bad.”
- Cam Anthony: Representing Team Blanke, the vocalist made a huge impression from the start and maintained a high standard throughout the competition. Cam performed like a superstar when he took on Michael Buble’s “Feeling Good” and Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down.” These performances helped him reach the top five and set social media ablaze.
- Kenzie Wheeler: Stunned the vocal coaches with outstanding performances, including a rendition of Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” Kenzie, who formed part of Team Kelly, dominated season 20’s battles with a well-chosen song – Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ in the Dark.”
- Rachel Mac: A member of Team Nick, Rachel proved her worth at every stage of the competition. Her coach heaped praises by saying Rachel is one of the strongest vocalists to appear on “The Voice.” In the knockouts, she rocked the stage with a rendition of Jewel’s “Foolish Games.”
Who Won Season 20 of “The Voice”?
Season 20 of “The Voice” produced a winner billed to become the show’s first superstar, Cam Anthony. At 19 years old, the singer demonstrated superb talent throughout the show, making vocal coach Blake Shelton glow with pride. Anthony’s talent earned him a cash prize of $100,000 plus a Universal Music Group recording contract.
Some of the songs Cam performed during the competition include “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Stand Up.” Before the finale, the vocalist became the season’s favorite to win the competition. For Shelton, this victory represents the eighth time a Blake team member has come out tops.
When it comes to the final standings, Kenzie was second, Jordan third, Rachel fourth, and Victor fifth. Jordan Matthew Young and Cam Anthony represented Team Blake. On the other hand, Kenzie Wheeler, Rachel Mac, and Victor Solomon represented Team Kelly, Team Nick, and Team John.
What to Know About Season 21 of “The Voice” in 2021
Premiering on September 20, 2021, season 21 of “The Voice” ushers in some format changes. NBC announced that the show will now premiere one cycle annually. Subsequent seasons will air in the fall and the spring accordingly. Thus, season 21 becomes the only edition for the current cycle.
The broadcaster’s chairman announced that the changes to the format will help create a buzz about the blockbuster competition series. Broadcasting cycles provide a viable way to keep the show popular with viewers in America and elsewhere. Likewise, NBC intends to keep “The Voice” on television screens for years to come.
Coaches of “The Voice” for Season 21
Ariana Grande, who takes over Nick Jonas’ red chair, joins long-serving vocal coaches: John Legend, Blake Shelton, and Kelly Clarkson. The 21st edition will be Grande’s first season with the popular singing competition. Carson Daly will retain his role as the host.
Here’s what you need to know about season 21’s panel of coaches.
- Ariana Grande: Grande brings her legion of music fans to the show as she occupies the red chair for the first time. In a tweet, the popular artist expressed gratitude to NBC for giving her the mentoring role. Ariana boasts several platinum-selling albums, and she’s the most streamed female musician on Spotify. In 2016, she performed her song “Into You” on “The Voice” season 10. She also sang the song “Dangerous Woman” alongside Christina Aguilera. The artist went on to perform the song “Faith” with Stevie Wonder.
- John Legend: As one of “The Voice’s” long-serving vocal coaches, Legend has mentored countless artists. He joined the show in season 16 and coached alongside many popular musicians. John boasts an illustrious career and a wide selection of accolades, including an Emmy, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe. Born in 1978, Legend was a winning coach in 2019 when artist Maelyn Jarmon outperformed other contestants.
- Blake Shelton: Shelton has coached artists on “The Voice” since its inception. For Blake, the lengthy stay has turned him into the most victorious coach. His team members won the singing competition eight times. On a more personal note, he met his wife Gwen Stefani on “The Voice.” He has also featured on “Clash of the Choirs” and “Nashville Star” as a judge. When it comes to his music career, Blake boasts 28 number one country singles.
- Kelly Clarkson: Clarkson is another long-serving coach with “The Voice.” She joined the competition series in season 14, and she mentored three winners. One of her winning contestants was 15-year-old Brynn Cartelli, the youngest female artist to grace the show. Kelly is one of the most prominent artists whose album and single sales exceed 65 million. She won an Emmy for her daytime talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” According to NBC, Kelly’s show will take over The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s time slot in 2022.
Is There Still Time to Audition for “The Voice” Season 21?
For season 21, NBC conducted virtual auditions on the 4th and 5th of February 2021. Blind audition filming started in June. If you want to register for future auditions, you need to create an account on NBC’s “The Voice” website. Once you sign up, you can register for open call auditions for upcoming seasons.
Where to Watch “The Voice”
“The Voice” season 21 will air on NBC on September 20. You can watch the episodes via the NBC app or nbc.com/the-voice.
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