The Rise and Fall of the Most Memorable Contestants of “The Voice”

Since first airing in 2011, *The Voice* has become one of the most iconic singing competitions in the world, and it’s going stronger than ever a decade later. Many iconic judges, such as Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, and Kelly Clarkson were judges on the show, but have you ever wondered what happened to the show’s contestants? After many years on air, *The Voice* produced 20 winners and hundreds of legendary contestants—and some of them went on to do great things. Take a look back at the most popular contestants to ever take part in this show and check out what they've been up to since.

Javier Colon (Season 1) – Then

Javier Colon was crowned as the winner of the first season of *The Voice*. Before ever auditioning for the show he had already recorded two albums and collaborated with such artists as Joss Stone and Darius Rucker, but the show gave him a chance to become a household name. Colon knocked the judges off their feet with his rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s "Time After Time" during the blind auditions. He ended up choosing Adam Levine as his mentor and eventually went on to win $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Republic Records.

Javier Colon – Now

Unfortunately, Colon’s time with Universal was short. He left the studio only a year after releasing his album *Come Through for You* in 2011, claiming that the album didn’t receive enough promotion, leading to him selling just 46,000 copies. Parting ways with Universal didn’t lead to overnight success for Colon. His album *Gravity* from 2016, released by Concord Records, went largely unnoticed. His singing talent, however, didn’t fade away and you can see him share amazing singing videos on Instagram and TikTok.

Jermaine Paul (Season 2)– Then

Jermaine Paul is the second winner of *The Voice*. He had a pretty successful start in the music industry even before joining the show and sang backing vocals for Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige. He auditioned for the second season with an epic version of "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne and never looked back. The duet of Sam and Dave’s "Soul Man" with his mentor Blake Shelton in the Season 2 finale led to his big win.

Jermaine Paul – Now

Paul scored his first track on the Billboard Hot 100 with his winning song "I Believe I Can Fly", but he pretty much fell off the radar since. His victory was followed by singles "Butterfly Kisses" and "I Believe in This Life", and his debut album was supposed to drop in 2015, but it never saw the light of day. He never gave up performing, and he mostly does fundraising events and local venues. His songs are available on several streaming platforms, such as Spotify and Amazon, but they failed to find commercial success.

Cassadee Pope (Season 3) – Then

Cassadee Pope is one of those singers who didn’t really need *The Voice* to shine. She found significant success before this show came around, as the lead vocalist of the pop-punk band Hey Monday. After the band went on hiatus in 2011, Pope decided to branch out on her own, and *The Voice* seemed like a good way to put herself out there. Blake Shelton coached her to victory, and she rocked our world with amazing covers of songs by Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, and Faith Hill.

Cassadee Pope – Now

Pope didn’t struggle to find success after winning *The Voice* and released her debut solo album *Frame by Frame* in 2013. She found significant success with the lead single "Wasting All These Tears", and topped the U.S. Country chart with her debut LP. *Frame by Frame* was followed by several EPs and two more albums—*Stages* and *Thrive*. Since 2017, Pope has been dating Nashville alum Sam Palladio, with whom she recorded a song called “California Dreaming”.

Danielle Bradbery (Season 4)– Then

Danielle Bradbery was only 16 when she joined *The Voice*, and she made history as the youngest contestant to ever win the competition at the time. Her rendition of Taylor Swift's "Mean" was a huge hit with the judges, and Blake Shelton agreed to be her coach. She found her way to the finale thanks to amazing covers of several country hits. She won the show in a similar fashion and sang an unforgettable duet with Shelton of Patty Loveless’ classic "Timber, I'm Falling in Love."

Danielle Bradbery – Now

Following her win, Bradbery signed a record deal with Big Machine Records and promptly released her debut single "The Heart of Dixie". It was featured on her debut album *Danielle Bradbery*, which made it to the top five on the U.S. Country chart. Her second studio album *I Don't Believe We've Met* came out in 2017 and she went on to receive several nominations for the CMT Music Awards and ACM Awards. She toured with country stars Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, and Thomas Rhett, and she’s still actively recording new music.

Tessanne Chin (Season 5) – Then

Tessanne Chin grew up in a musical family, and her sister Tami Chynn also happens to be a successful recording artist. She found significant success in her home country of Jamaica and even released her independent debut album *In Between Words* before giving *The Voice* a shot. Chin chose to be Team Adam Levine after her commending blind audition with Pink’s “Try”. Her performances were a joy to watch, and it wasn’t a surprise to see her take the big win with a powerful rendition of "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston.

Tessanne Chin – Now

Chin joined *The Voice* after the reggae icon Shaggy suggested it, and they kept on working together after the show wrapped up. She made her major-label debut with the 2014 album *Count On My Love*, but its first week sales were pretty disappointing. Chin is still working on music, but she discovered her passion for philanthropy after her win and took part in a long list of charity shows. Back in 2019, the singer tied the knot with Brandon Cook and they welcomed their first child together.

Jake Benson (Season 7) – Then

Jake Benson was one of the singers who took part in Season 7 of the British version of *The Voice*. Three coaches turned after he performed an impressive cover of Julia Michaels’ “Issues” and Jennifer Hudson offered him a spot on her team. Benson went on to deliver an amazing rendition of "Every Breath You Take" in his next episode, but his triumph didn’t last for too long. He was eliminated in the knockout rounds and failed to advance further after performing "Sun Comes Up" by Rudimental.

Jake Benson – Now

Jake Benson made headlines shortly after his stint on *The Voice*—but for all the wrong reasons. Several major media outlets reported about him being found guilty of assault of his ex-girlfriend in late 2019. The row between Benson and his ex, Sophie Lynch, happened shortly after she decided to break things off. Lynch described Benson as “manipulative and needy” and said he gets angry very quickly. Benson initially denied the charges and accused her of making a false allegation, but he was later found guilty of the assault.

Josh Kaufman (Season 6) – Then

Josh Kaufman was no stranger to singing competition shows long before *The Voice* came into the picture. He appeared on *Star Search* and auditioned for the first season of the American version of *The X Factor*, but *The Voice* eventually gave him his big break. After auditioning with George Michael’s "One More Try", he chose Adam Levine as his mentor, but later switched to Usher’s team. This proved to be the right decision because he ended up winning the show thanks to the duet of “Every Breath You Take” alongside his coach.

Josh Kaufman – Now

Most *The Voice* contestants drop new music right after the show to capitalize on the momentum, but not Kaufman. He decided to give theater a shot and played the lead role in the 2013 Broadway revival of *Pippin*. He later went on to appear in the show *Home For the Holidays, Live on Broadway* and released his self-titled EP in 2016. Kaufman currently lives with his wife Jennifer Myer and their kids in his home state of Indiana, where he offers private singing lessons and workshops.

Craig Wayne Boyd (Season 7) – Then

Like many aspiring country singers, Craig Wayne Boyd moved to Nashville in his youth. He joined *The Voice* at 26 which proved to be a great choice, and the fellow country singer Blake Shelton agreed to coach him. They were truly a match made in heaven, and Boyd’s covers of country classics were a joy to listen to. He even released his debut single "My Baby's Got a Smile on Her Face" while still on *The Voice* and performed it in the final episode.

Craig Wayne Boyd – Now

"My Baby's Got a Smile on Her Face" debuted at no. 1 on the U.S. Country chart following its release, but quickly experienced a huge drop. Boyd has shared new music with the world since but struggled to really make a mark. His 2017 album *Top Shelf* wasn’t a huge commercial success, and his future singles "I'm Still Here" and "Stuck in My Head" went largely unnoticed. Luckily, things are blooming in his personal life and he and his wife welcomed a baby daughter in the spring of 2021.

Sawyer Fredericks (Season 8) – Then

Sawyer Fredericks broke the record held by Danielle Bradbery and become the youngest winner of *The Voice* in 2015. He’s also the first and only competitor to be crowned as the winner under the wings of his coach and mentor Pharrell Williams. Fredericks seemed wise beyond his years when he performed Dick Burnett’s "I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow” at the blind auditions. In his final performance, he impressed us with the cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man” and the new original song "Please".

Sawyer Fredericks – Now

Fredericks found significant success after *The Voice*. He dropped a self-titled EP in 2015, and three albums in the following years—*A Good Storm,* *Hide Your Ghost*, and *Flowers for You*. He supported his music by touring with his band—both live and virtually during the pandemic. Fredericks is also a passionate philanthropist, and he performed at many fundraising concerts to help those in need. He even auctioned some of his personal belongings for charitable causes, including the red jacket he wore on *The Voice*.

Ryan Gallagher (Season 19) – Then

Ryan Gallagher made quite an impression with his take on "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Kelly Clarkson picked him for her team, and he eventually made it to the knockout rounds, but his time on the show was cut short due to an unexpected reason. Gallagher has been removed from competition after allegedly violating the show's coronavirus protocols. *The Voice* released an official statement saying they have “strict Covid protocols in place to secure a safe set for our crew, coaches and contestants” and that Gallagher could not participate in the next show “without potentially putting others at risk.”

Ryan Gallagher – Now

Gallagher didn’t take this decision peacefully and his manager Michael Catalano repeatedly denied allegations that his client broke Covid protocols. He stated that “Ryan understands all too well how serious the COVID-19 pandemic is” because his mother was hospitalized with the virus in Michigan. Catalano, also said there is "more to the story" and that Gallagher will share his side of the story at "an appropriate time and place", but we never actually heard from him after that. He performed "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with the top 20 contestants in the season finale, but the performance was pre-recorded.

Jordan Smith (Season 9) – Then

Jordan Smith sang in a church choir and was a member of a singing group at Lee University, but he decided to fully immerse into the music industry by joining *The Voice*. His audition promoted his future coach Adam Levine to call him “the most important person that's ever been on this show.” Smith managed to live to Levine’s expectations, and his final performance was one for the books. In addition to performing The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” with his mentor, he also delivered a powerful rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from *The Sound of Music*.

Jordan Smith – Now

Smith was the show's first artist to reach no. 1 in sales in iTunes Store and also managed to reach no. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart with his debut album *Something Beautiful*. His future albums *'Tis the Season* and *Only Love* failed to find the same kind of success, but he’s still recording and writing music. He was recently credited as one of the writers of Celine Dion’s “Ashes” from the soundtrack for the hit blockbuster *Deadpool 2*.

Alisan Porter (Season 10) – Then

Alisan Porter rose to stardom long before joining *The Voice*, but not necessarily as a singer. She had a pretty successful career as a child actress, playing the titular role in *Curly Sue*, in addition to appearing in *Parenthood*, *Stella*, and several more movies and TV shows. She was the first and only winner to pick Christina Aguilera as her mentor. They performed Carole King’s "You've Got a Friend" during the season finale, but Porter also impressed us with a solo cover of "Somewhere" from *West Side Story*.

Alisan Porter – Now

Porter stuck to music after *The Voice* and found success with her single "Down That Road" before releasing albums *Who We Are* and *Pink Cloud*. *The Voice* put Porter back on the map, but she didn’t let her return to the spotlight go to her head because she struggled with substance abuse in her youth and saw the dark side of Hollywood. Her health and her family are her main priorities, and she has two kids with her ex-husband Brian Autenrieth.

Sundance Head (Season 11) – Then

*The Voice* wasn’t Sundance Head’s first brush with stardom. He appeared on the sixth season of *American Idol* but only made it to the semi-finals before being eliminated. He even signed a deal with Universal Music Group, but that didn’t seem to be enough. Head decided to give *The Voice* a shot and joined Team Blake Shelton on his quest to victory. This proved to be the right decision because he managed to win over the audience with his country covers and ended up winning Season 11.

Sundance Head – Now

Despite winning *The Voice*, Head struggled to make a mark in the country world following his victory. His record deal with Republic Records was shelved after some time after they struggled to find a Nashville label for the singer. Luckily, he found a new partner in crime in Dean Dillon and signed to his label Wildcatter Records in 2018. His first album under their wing, *Stained Glass and Neon* came out one year later and it produced singles "Leave Her Wild" and "Close Enough to Walk".

Chris Blue (Season 12) – Then

Chris Blue was destined for great things from an early age. He was only 3 years old when he started singing in church, and he went on to start a band, The Blue Brothers, with his siblings. Joining *The Voice* was a natural next step, and he kicked things off with "The Tracks of My Tears" from The Miracles. Alicia Keys picked him as the member of her team, and he’s the first and only contestant to score her a win. They delivered an epic duet of Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls” during his final performance.

Chris Blue – Now

Chris Blue had a soft spot for gospel music before joining *The Voice* and he returned to his favorite genre after winning this show. He released several singles, starting with "Blue Blood Blues" and dropped his EP *Fresh Start* in 2019. Blue didn’t find overnight success after *The Voice*, but he’s still recording music and looking forward to performing live.

Chloe Kohanski (Season 13) – Then

Chloe Kohanski was a newcomer in the music industry when she joined *The Voice*, and this show gave her a chance to shine. Her musical and fashion style has often been compared to Miley Cyrus, who was one of the judges on *The Voice* at the time, but Blake Shelton eventually took her under his wing. This proved to be the right choice, and Kohanski went to become Shelton’s sixth protégée to win the show. She performed the original song "Wish I Didn't Love You" during her last appearance on the show.

Chloe Kohanski – Now

After her debut single, Kohanski dropped several more, including "Come This Far," "Ride," and "To Be Young". She changed her stage name to Chloe MK and released her first extended play titled *Fantasy* under this moniker. Like many winners in the past, Kohanski didn’t see eye to eye with Republic Records and eventually parted ways with the label. There didn’t seem to be bad blood between them, and the singer said she’s “excited for this new chapter” and keeps on teasing her next album.

Brynn Cartelli (Season 14) – Then

Brynn Cartelli set a new record as the youngest person to ever win *The Voice* at just 15. She fell in love with classical music at a young age and took piano and voice lessons before joining the show as a part of Team Kelly Clarkson. She started her rise to stardom with a show-stopping cover of "Beneath Your Beautiful” by Labrinth and Emeli Sandé. The sky was the limit after that, and no one was surprised to see her come out victorious after performing a powerful rendition of Adele’s “Skyfall”.

Brynn Cartelli – Now

Like the rest of *The Voice* winners, Cartelli signed with Republic Records but switched to Atlantic Records before the expiration of her deal. She found success with her debut single "Walk My Way", and opened for Clarkson on her *Meaning of Life Tour*. Cartelli went on to drop several more songs and released her debut EP *Based on a True Story* in spring 2021. Despite the fact it’s been a while since her win on *The Voice*, her fans have been paying attention, and this record debuted in the top 10 on the iTunes Album Chart.

Chevel Shepherd (Season 15) – Then

Clarkson continued her winning streak with Chevel Shepherd, another young contestant with an incredibly powerful voice. Her cover of The Band Perry’s "If I Die Young" made her sound like an experienced singer, despite the fact she was still a teen at the time. Her take on Tanya Tucker’s "It's a Little Too Late" led her to victory against the runner-up Chris Kroeze. She became the first country artist to be crowned as the winner of *The Voice* without joining Team Blake Shelton.

Chevel Shepherd – Now

Shepherd has been pretty busy since winning the popular singing competition, but we’re still waiting for her first album. She kicked things off with the debut single "Broken Hearts", and shared several more songs and covers on streaming platforms. She also tours alongside Maroon 5, made her acting debut in *Wildfire*, and graduated high school in 2020. She’s often confronted with questions about her first album, but Shepherd is asking her fans to be patient because she’s working on it and hoping it will come out soon.

Reagan Strange (Season 15) – Then

Reagan Strange was only 14 when she took part in Season 15 of *The Voice*, but her time on the show was veiled in controversy. Things were looking pretty great for her after Adam Levine picked her for his team during the blind auditions, but they went downhill as the show neared its end. In the Top 10 episode, Strange failed to appear on stage during the eliminations because she was ill. Then, despite not singing in the instant save round to secure her future on the show, Levine asked people to vote for Strange and helped her advance to the next round.

Reagan Strange – Now

Levine’s favoritism of Strange angered many viewers, who felt she should immediately be eliminated after failing to perform. She tried to brush off the controversy by tweeting, “I don’t expect some people to understand. They weren’t there”, but the damage has been done. Strange was eliminated in the next round, and she made it back home to Memphis where she continued performing and recording new music. In addition to sharing amazing covers with her fans on social media, she also released the single “Tell Me I Can’t” to raise awareness of cerebral palsy.

Maelyn Jarmon (Season 16) – Then

Folk singers don’t often make it far on *The Voice*, but Maelyn Jarmon proved to the world that’s not a mission impossible. All the judges turned their chairs after hearing her take on Sting’s "Fields of Gold", but John Legend was the only one lucky enough to get her on his team. She scored Team Legend its first win with a powerhouse performance in the finale. A duet of Nat King Cole’s "Unforgettable" with her mentor was one for the books, and the solo performance of Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah" sealed the deal.

Maelyn Jarmon – Now

Like the rest of *The Voice* winners, Jarmon was signed to Republic Records. Her debut single "Wait for You" was included in her final performance, but she hasn’t released new music since. Jarmon is pretty active on social media, and she’s been open about her struggles when it came to navigating her career. She had many things planned in 2020, but had to put them on hold in the face of the global pandemic, but she’s hoping things will change for the better soon.

Jake Hoot (Season 17) – Then

Jake Hoot had a pretty colorful childhood, moving with his missionary parents to the Dominican Republic. After returning to the U.S., he played college football at Tennessee Tech University and decided to give music a shot following his graduation. Joining *The Voice* seemed like a good opportunity, and he impressed us with his version of Luke Combs’ "When It Rains It Pours" during the live auditions. Kelly Clarkson was the only coach who turned for him, but she made the right choice because he ended up winning.

Jake Hoot – Now

His debut single "Better Off Without You" kicked off Hoot’s career after *The Voice*, but he faced some challenges. Just like Maelyn Jarmon, he struggled to put himself out there in the face of COVID-19 but managed to make a comeback. 2021 has been a pretty big year for Hoot. He teamed up with his former mentor Kelly Clarkson for the song "I Would've Loved You", performed many live gigs with more underway, and tied the knot with Brittney Hoyt back in March.

Todd Tilghman (Season 18) – Then

Todd Tilghman’s musical background is somewhat unorthodox when it comes to *The Voice*. He started singing in church at the age of eight and continued to do so as the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Meridian. Tilghman kicked off his rise to the top with Bob Seger’s "We've Got Tonight", and all four judges ended up turning their chairs for him. He eventually opted for Team Blake and went on to become the oldest contestant to ever win *The Voice* at the age of 42.

Todd Tilghman – Now

Tilghman’s victory was followed by his debut single "Long Way Home", and he kept recording music and performing live after venues around the U.S. started reopening as the COVID-19 pandemic eased up. What made Tilghman’s win so interesting is the fact that his entire community came together to celebrate his achievement. His hometown of Meridian in Mississippi organized a drive-through parade in his honor, with participants driving vehicles with decorations paying homage to his win on *The Voice.*

Carter Rubin (Season 19) – Then

Carter Rubin was born into a musical family, and he gained a lot of experience as a singer while performing for the autism foundation that his parents opened after his brother was diagnosed with this condition. Rubin performed Lewis Capaldi's "Before You Go" at his audition, and Gwen Stefani was so impressed by his performance that she picked him for her team. He performed the cover of Stefani’s own song "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" by her side in the finale and was crowned as the winner just in time for the holidays.

Carter Rubin – Now

Winning *The Voice* was the best Christmas presents that Rubin could possibly ask for. After all, he was just 15 at the time, which makes him the youngest male winner in the history of this show. It’s still too early to tell what his future holds for Rubin as he’s still pretty young and it hasn’t been long since he won the show. He went back to attending high school and helping his parents with their autism foundation, but he’s also working on his first studio album on the side.

Koryn Hawthorne (Season 8) – Then

Koryn Hawthorne started her rise to prominence after auditioning for Season 8 of *The Voice* with her take on Emeli Sandé’s "My Kind of Love". She was initially picked by Christina Aguilera, but Pharrell Williams later stole her and made her a part of his team. Hawthorne delivered a series of great performances throughout the show and eventually made it to the big finale. She was eventually placed fourth, while Sawyer Fredericks ended up winning, but that didn’t stop her from achieving great things.

Koryn Hawthorne – Now

After the show, Hawthorne got signed to Sony’s subsidiary RCA Inspiration and found huge success as a gospel singer. Her self-titled EP came out in 2017 and that was just the start of her rise to stardom. Hawthorne went on to release two albums—*Unstoppable* and *I AM*—both of which made it to the top of Billboard’s gospel charts. She also received nominations for numerous awards, including two Grammy awards for best gospel performance/song with "Won't He Do It" and "Speak the Name".

Nicolle Galyon (Season 2) – Then

Nicolle Galyon is one of *The Voice* contestants who didn’t find huge success on this show but managed to do it afterward. She appeared on Season 2 and was part of Team Adam, but we wouldn’t blame you if you missed her altogether. She performed "You Save Me" by Kenny Chesney during the blind auditions, but didn’t find much luck in the battle rounds. Levine teamed her up with the fellow contestant Mathai and chose to save her instead of Galyon after they both performed "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles.

Nicolle Galyon – Now

Galyon failed to find success as a singer on *The Voice*, but quickly learned that songwriting is her one true passion and went on to become one of the leading songwriters in the country scene and contributed to a long list of chart-topping country hits. Her list of collaborators includes the likes of Lady A, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, and many other country legends. In addition to songwriting, she also enjoys doing charity work as a part of the CMA Foundation’s music education initiative.

Morgan Wallen (Season 6) – Then

Morgan Wallen is one of those contestants who found such huge success after *The Voice* that you almost forget he was ever on the show. We’re here to refresh your memory after his unsuccessful quest to be crowned as the winner of Season 6. The country star joined Team Usher after performing Howie Day’s "Collide" at his audition. He later switched sides after being stolen by Adam Levine, but didn’t stay on the show for too long and ended up being eliminated during the playoffs.

Morgan Wallen – Now

*The Voice* managed to open some doors for Wallen, and he ended up signing a deal with Big Loud Records in 2016 and releasing his debut single "The Way I Talk" that same year. This song was included on his debut album *If I Know Me*, which debuted atop the U.S. Country chart in 2018. This record was followed by his double album *Dangerous*, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and spent its first 10 weeks at the top spot. Surprisingly enough, its success on the charts was aided by Wallen’s many controversies. He was dropped by his label, removed from radio airplay, and suspended by several award shows after using racially insensitive language.

Pete Mroz (Season 20) – Then

Pete Mroz’s journey on *The Voice* was a joy to watch because it came with a great personal backstory. He had a close relationship with coach Blake Shelton before joining the show, and they used to perform in the same band while making their way through Nashville’s country scene. Mroz auditioned with the song "Can’t Find My Way Home", and it wasn’t a surprise to see Shelton pick him for his team. Their reunion was truly epic, but Mroz was eventually eliminated during the live playoffs.

Pete Mroz – Now

Mroz never found the kind of success that Shelton did, but he’s still fully committed to his music. In addition to working as a traveling sales manager, he performs around 75 live shows a year. Despite the fact he failed to win *The Voice*, his participation in this show was deeply meaningful. After his father died of a sudden heart attack, Mroz realized that life is too short and wanted to prove to his sons you're never too old to follow your dreams.

Taylor Phelan (Season 7) – Then

Taylor Phelan was one of the contestants who took part in Season 7 of *The Voice* and made quite an impact despite the fact he didn’t go too far. His audition was quite memorable, and he made all four judges turn with his hit take on The Neighbourhood’s "Sweater Weather". His renditions of such songs as "Cool Kids" by Echosmith and "Breakeven" by The Script were equally memorable, but not good enough to get him to the finale. Phelan was eliminated during the live playoffs, but he was a great addition to Team Adam during his time on the show.

Taylor Phelan – Now

Despite the fact that Phelan didn’t advance to the great finale, his stint on *The Voice* put him on the map and helped him score a record deal with the indie label Native Nine Records. His first single “Settle Down” came out in 2017 to positive reviews. Following its release, Phelan was featured in many major publications, such as *Paste Magazine* and *Huffington Post*. He’s committed to throwing amazing live shows and enjoys sharing updates about his music on social media.

Dia Frampton (Season 1) – Then

Dia Frampton was a contestant on the first season of *The Voice*, but she wasn’t exactly a newbie because back in 2005, she joined the five-piece alternative rock band Meg & Dia with her sister Meg Frampton. After Warner Bros. Records dropped them in 2010, Frampton decided to give *The Voice* a shot, and it’s proven to be the right call. She was selected to be on the team of coach Blake Shelton and was eventually crowned as a runner-up of the inaugural season.

Dia Frampton – Now

Frampton signed to Universal Republic Records after her successful run on *The Voice* and released her debut solo album *Red* through this label. It was followed by *Bruises* in 2017 and two EPs that came out that same year. Frampton kept recording new music, both solo and with her band Meg & Dia, who reunited in 2019 and even went on tour. In addition to joining forces with her old girl group, Frampton is also no stranger to EDM collaborations with such DJs as Illenium and Kaskade.

Barrett Haynes (Season 21) – Then

Season 21 of *The Voice* started airing in September 2021 and Berritt Haynes is already one of its biggest favorites. Blake Shelton was the only coach who turned his chair for Haynes’ cover of “Mercy” by Shawn Mendes, but he didn’t regret it one bit. Haynes defeated Kaitlyn Velez in the battle round with Coldplay’s “Yellow” and advanced to the knockout portion of the competition. What makes his participation on this show so interesting is his revelation that he suffers from a syndrome commonly known as “sudden death disease”.

Barrett Haynes – Now

Haynes was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy aka “sudden death disease” when he was 8 years old. This condition causes heart muscle to become abnormally thick and unable to easily pump blood, and people who suffer from it are at greater risk of heart failure. Before making it on *The Voice* as a contestant, Haynes was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish foundation to watch the show as an audience, but his plans were halted by coronavirus restrictions. That didn’t stop him from chasing his dream, and the future will tell how far he’s going to make it in this competition.

Wolf Winters (The Voice Australia) – Then

The Australian version of *The Voice* wasn’t without its controversies, and one of the biggest had Wolf Winters at its center. His cover of "The Sound of Silence" was so amazing that it created a rift between the judges, and Guy Sebastian broke all the rules to get him on his team. He turned his chair for Winters despite already having a full team, and the fellow judge Kelly Rowland accused him of cheating. Producers allowed Sebastian to keep Winters in exchange for losing two artists in a three-way battle, and he made it to the playoffs before being eliminated.

Wolf Winters – Now

This was one of the biggest scandals to ever take place on the Australian version of *The Voice*, but Sebastian later claimed it was “quite orchestrated”. According to him, the judges wanted to create a bit of drama and made him “a sacrificial lamb” without telling other judges. Winters also addressed the drama and said it felt like he was up there forever while the judges argued, but he was happy with the outcome. Even John Legend addressed the scandal, saying something like this could never happen on the American version of *The Voice* because the buzzer is turned off once a coach has a full team.