Team Dan + Shay: ‘The Voice’ Season 25 photos, bios, artist rankings

Marcus James Dixon
·9 min read
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For the first time ever, there was a “double chair” twist on “The Voice” in Spring 2024 as a coaching duo sat on the panel together: country pop stars Dan + Shay. These three-time Grammy winners for “Tequila,” “Speechless” and “10,000 Hours” had a history with the program as they previously performed on the live shows in Seasons 15 and 19, served as Blake Shelton‘s battle advisors in Season 20, and filled in for an absent Niall Horan during the Season 24 knockouts. Now that the Season 25 blind auditions, battles and knockouts have wrapped up, can Dan + Shay prevail for the first time on NBC’s reality TV show?

Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) for a closer look at Team Dan + Shay on “The Voice” Season 25, including photos, bios and artist rankings. Also see our features for Team Chance the Rapper, Team John Legend and Team Reba McEntire.

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1. Madison Curbelo (4-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 21
Hometown: Westfield, MA
Resident: Westfield, MA

Madison auditioned for Season 20, which was a life-changing experience. At the time, she was a freshman at Berklee College of Music. Disappointed by not receiving a chair turn, Madison left the stage alone as her parents could not attend due to the early stages of the pandemic. After being advised by Blake to gain more experience, she took that to heart and continued to sing at various venues. Madison now feels more confident, supported by her parents and armed with years of gigging experience. She graduated college and remains dedicated to her music, finding her own style and sharing her music online. She has worked as a drama director, given private music lessons and taught musical theater to support herself financially.

2. Karen Waldrup (2-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 36
Hometown: Mandeville, LA
Resident: Nashville, TN

Karen’s passion for singing earned her a scholarship for the orchestra choir at the University of Southern Mississippi, leading to local popularity through performances at parties, football games and bars. Her viral cover videos have gained more than 437 million views, propelling her to amass over a million followers. She has released singles, an EP and album, with one single featured in Rolling Stone’s “Top 10 Country Songs of the Week.” Her music videos also have been showcased on CMT. Karen values personal connections through music and later collaborated with World War II D-Day veteran Jim Martin on a record called “Normandy.” The record received recognition from Fox News and military outlets. In her downtime, Karen enjoys scuba diving and engages in charitable work, including collaborations with Mission of Hope in Haiti.

3. Anya True (2-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 17
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Resident: Encinitas, CA

Anya is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter and actress from Southern California who has been performing her entire life. She artfully translates her day-to-day life experiences into authentic original music that her audience can relate to and connect with. With a natural ability for singing, songwriting and guitar playing, she has passionately pursued her craft by choosing online schooling to immerse herself fully in music and acting. This dedication led to memorable performances at Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe and Tin Roof. In her beachside community, Anya’s local performances showcase her vibrant spirit and love for music. Always creating, she continually writes, records and innovates, which is shaping her unique musical journey. Anya is more than an artist, she’s a driven yet down-to-earth girl who loves making music and living her dreams.

4. Tae Lewis (2-CHAIR TURN) — STOLEN IN KNOCKOUTS
Age: 31
Hometown: Goldsboro, NC
Resident: Nashville, TN

Tae is no stranger to struggle. Deciding to go against his gospel upbringing and follow his country dreams, he ventured off to various cities trying to break out. Constantly getting denied for gigs, Tae says people were confused by a Black country artist. At one point, he found himself homeless and living out of his car for six months. However, his fortunes turned when he connected with the Black Opry and started to make a name for himself. He has gained recognition, appearing on CMT and securing a placement on the show “Shameless.” Tae has also found success as a shoe stylist, leveraging his love for vintage country fashion. He has since sold hundreds of cowboy boots and admittedly grown his collection. Coming from a family of pastors, Tae initially pursued gospel music but found a deep connection to country music. He hopes to impress his father and prove his success.

5. Olivia Rubini (1-CHAIR TURN) — STOLEN IN BATTLES
Age: 24
Hometown: Wilmington, DE
Resident: Wilmington, DE

As the daughter of a music producer and drummer, Olivia grew up taking naps in guitar cases, playing around on piano keys and singing in vocal booths. At age 5, she wrote and recorded her first single, “If I Could Fly.” At 13, she wanted to start taking it seriously and asked her dad to be her producer. They continued to record together through her teen years, and in 2021 she released her first album, “Silhouettes.” While her parents supported her musical dreams, they emphasized the importance of education. During college, Olivia explored international relations & political science. However, music remained her priority. Along with music, Olivia has an eye for thrift shopping and anything ’70s is her vibe, which aligns with her love for that era’s music. She takes inspiration from artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.

Frank Garcia (1-CHAIR TURN) — ELIMINATED IN KNOCKOUTS
Age: 19
Hometown: Roma, TX
Resident: New York, NY

At the age of 11, Frank appeared on the singing competition shows “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento” and “La Voz Kids” as a Mariachi-style soloist. However, he also faced cyberbullying and assumptions about his sexuality as he was in the spotlight, making him hesitant to express himself due to his conservative upbringing. Music became his solace and he gained the confidence to embrace his true self over time. Eventually, Frank came out to his parents and received their full support. Frank’s passion for music stemmed from his Grammy Award-winning musician father falling in love with Mariachi music. He performed extensively with his school’s Mariachi band and cherished those experiences. During his senior year of high school in 2020, Frank became involved in social justice activism, establishing a Gay Straight Alliance chapter and organizing a successful pride festival. Frank now attends Columbia University and balances singing in his free time.

Ducote Talmage (2-CHAIR TURN) — ELIMINATED IN KNOCKOUTS
Age: 20
Hometown: Auburn, AL
Resident: Auburn, AL

Ducote, the youngest of seven, grew up in a family that embraced outdoor activities like mud play, ATV riding, fishing and camping. Singing around the campfire with his dad playing various instruments, Ducote formed a band with his brothers and performed at local events. While pursuing a career as a firefighter, which covers his school expenses, he also nurtures his passion for music and aviation. He balances his education with performing solo gigs and booking gigs for weddings and parties. Ducote faces the challenge of choosing between his firefighting career and wholeheartedly pursuing music.

Ryan Argast (1-CHAIR TURN) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES
Age: 30
Hometown: Plainfield, IL
Resident: Plainfield, IL

Ryan’s journey from the city of Chicago to the cornfields of Plainfield is a story of passion, resilience and a whole lot of music. Growing up, his love of performing became the focal point of bullying. Amid these challenges, Ryan formed his first band in middle school. However, during his college years, he laid the foundation for what would become the pop rock band Marina City. The band has toured nationwide, gracing some of the most prestigious stages, including Warped Tour, Riot Fest and South by Southwest. The band ventured into podcasting to better connect with fans and the music community. “Confessions of a DIY Musician” aims to impart valuable insights and tips to fellow independent musicians. Ryan has turned his success as a musician into a career as a motivational speaker, visiting schools, industry panels and camps to inspire others to follow their dreams.

Ryan Coleman (1-CHAIR TURN) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES
Age: 25
Hometown: Chalfont, PA
Resident: Chalfont, PA

Ryan grew up on a farm in southeastern Pennsylvania. Everyday life for Ryan and his brothers consists of feeding livestock, maintaining equipment and working their land. In college, Ryan studied agribusiness and finance at Penn State to, one day, help run the family farm. After graduation, Ryan landed a job in sales for a global construction manufacturer where he still works. However, since age 8, Ryan’s true passion has always been making music. During his senior year at college, Ryan was involved in a traumatic car accident that left him with several injuries, including a severed vertebrae. The accident inspired him to pursue his music more by sharing his personal experiences and helping others relate. His second single, “Take It From Me,” is a true testament to his resilience. Now, he is dedicated more than ever to writing new songs, performing live with his band and collaborating with other musicians.

AJ Harvey (2-CHAIR TURN) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES
Age: 25
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Resident: Norman, OK

AJ is a Kansas-born Native American with roots in the Ponca, Pawnee, Osage, and Northern Hidatsa tribes. He enjoys the music and traditions of ceremonial tribes and believes that music, dance and story hold deep meaning and feelings. Bedecked in rich culture, AJ participates in Pow Wows all over Oklahoma. Adorned in majestic regalia that epitomizes his Native American heritage, AJ ties together traditional and modern ways. At the age of 7, AJ learned to play guitar from his father and first performed in his local church. At 14, AJ began to perform in local venues, learning fast and growing a love for blues, rock ‘n’roll and pop music. He balanced gigs while doing his best to be a good older brother and stick to his native values amid his parents’ separation. AJ now resides in Norman, Okla., and performs regularly.

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