A former “Voice” hopeful returns to the stage — and earns a 4-chair turn

Madison Curbelo didn't make it past the Blinds in season 20, but season 25 is a different story.

If you love a good comeback story, this one’s for you. Madison Curbelo, 21, originally auditioned for The Voice as an 18-year-old back in season 20. At the time, the coaching panel consisted of Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton, and Nick Jonas — and not one of them turned their big red chair for Madison’s version of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Blake advised the Westfield, Mass., native to go out and perform as much as possible to build up her confidence and stage presence. Well, apparently Madison took that advice, gigged her heart out, and she’s back on The Voice stage for season 25 — and this time around, she really makes an impression.

Madison performs her own arrangement of the Ben E. King classic “Stand By Me,” singing the lyrics in both English and Spanish as a way to acknowledge her Puerto Rican roots. By the time she hits the first chorus with her bubbly, confident vocals, both John and coaching country duo Dan + Shay have turned around. Chance the Rapper and Reba McEntire turn not long after. That’s right: Madison Curbelo went from getting rejected in season 20 to a four-chair turn (the only one during night 3 of the Blind Auditions, by the way) in season 25.

All the coaches would love a chance to work with the joyful, bright-voiced pop-acoustic singer, but it mostly winds up being a battle between Team Legend and Team Dan + Shay. John knows he has a strike against him for not turning around the first time Madison auditioned, but he loves that she developed as an artist in the interim, and he can tell this time she’s ready for the competition. “Your voice has this brightness to it and this charisma to it,” he tells her. Both Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney are effusive with the praise, too. “You radiate light and joy,” Shay says. And they love that she used her moment of rejection as a way to “pivot” and come back even better. “She’s genuine and authentic,” Shay notes later. Madison decides to join Team Dan + Shay. The guys are thrilled — not only did they get the talent they wanted, but it’s their first four-chair turn win. John takes away a lesson from the whole thing, too: “The lesson is, if I don’t turn for them and they come back, they’re not joining my team.” Well, at least now he knows.

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

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