Exclusive: Past winners of 'The Voice' to return as Key Advisers this season
The Voice has caught flak in the past for seemingly not supporting its alumni, but that perception is steadily, thankfully changing. In addition to coach Alicia Keys taking on managerial duties for her Season 12 winner Chris Blue, and several popular past contestants starring in the upcoming Hard Rock Vegas residency Neon Dreams, now the show is now bringing back four champions to serve as Key Advisers for the first time ever, Yahoo Entertainment can exclusively reveal.
Starting with the Knockout Rounds on Monday, April 2, Season 3’s Cassadee Pope will advise Team Kelly, Season 9’s Jordan Smith will advise Team Adam, Chris Blue will advise Team Alicia, and last season’s Chloe Kohanski will return to the show to help out Team Blake.
The Key Adviser role in past Voice seasons has been filled by superstar recording artists like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Chris Martin, and Shania Twain. But this season, those who know best how to navigate and win the competition — and have careers after the competition — are offering their unique expertise.
Pope and Smith are the most successful Voice champs to date. Pope’s first album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and in the top 10 of the overall chart; its lead single, “Wasting All These Tears,” went platinum and won Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2014 CMT Awards. Pope has also received nominations at the Grammys, ACAs, and People’s Choice Awards.
Smith is the show’s overall top-selling champ. His debut album, Something Beautiful, entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2. It broke two records: for the highest album sales debut by a new artist in 2016, and for the most first-week album sales for a Voice winner. His subsequent Christmas release, ’Tis the Season, went to No. 1 on the iTunes Holiday Album and Amazon Digital Album charts and cracked the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
Blue and Kohanski, the show’s most recent winners, have yet to release albums, but their careers are off to strong starts. Blue continues to be mentored by Keys, and he premiered his first single, “Blue Blood Blues,” on the Season 13 Voice finale last December. Kohanski is currently in the studio finishing her anticipated full-length debut for Republic Records.
In addition to the four new Key Advisers, this season’s Knockout Rounds will feature another big new twist: the Save, which gives each coach one chance to keep an artist who did not win their respective Knockout.
The Voice Season 14 Knockout Rounds, with Pope, Smith, Blue, and Kohanski, and the Save, commence next Monday; the Battle Rounds conclude tonight, Tuesday. Check out highlights from last night’s Battles below.
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
‘Voice’ winner Chloe Kohanski explains why she lowered her voice to be heard
Q&A: ’Tis the season to catch up with ‘Voice’ winner Jordan Smith
Kelly Clarkson sobs over ‘Piece by Piece’ audition on ‘The Voice’
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