Category Archives: Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton & 6 Other ‘The Voice’ Artists With New Releases

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Blake Shelton

The Voice coach Blake Shelton releases his new album Based on a True Story today (and if you haven’t ordered your copy yet, you can do so here), but he’s not the only one from the show who’s put new music out recently. Here are a half-dozen other artists you know from the show who have turned out fresh albums or EP’s in the last few months.

Tje Austin, Dreamin’ Big (get it HERE): A member of Team Cee Lo in Season 1, this soulful singer returns with a CD he’s been working on for some time, and that extra time and effort shows in a pleasant R&B collection that ranges from the heartbreakingly touching (earlier single “Right For You”) to the more uptempo (“Not A Thug”) and the slow jams (“Back 2 Me”). He’s not necessarily upending the genre, but he doesn’t need to; he’s got a voice that practically melts in your ears. For those of you who need something smooth to relax with, this is the album you want to add to your collection.

Tim Mahoney Band, Shine Through (get it HERE): Tim Mahoney was responsible for one of The Voice‘s first-ever memorable moments, when coach Adam Levine mistook him for a woman during his blind audition in Season 1. His unique voice didn’t get the appreciation it deserved on the show, but Tim has continued to deliver solid, enjoyable rock ever since, and this new album is more of the same. Whether it’s the earnest title track or the simple and painful “It’s Over,” his album is perfect for those who love a good singer-songwriter without a lot of fanfare. This album also includes his Voice-inspired single, “Hey Adam Levine.”

Nakia, Drown in the Crimson Tide (get it HERE): The semifinalist for Team Cee Lo during Season 1 (who competed with Tje Austin during the battle rounds), Nakia is more than doing his part to keep the blues genre in the public music consciousness. Whether it’s the uplifting “Dream Big” or something like “Pieces and Castles,” this six-song EP from the Texan has plenty of soul and a certain funky element to top it all off. This is music from an artist who’s secure in his sound, and while it may not be for everyone, those who want something different than the usual pop and rock will enjoy this one.

Pip, No Formalities (get it HERE): A fan favorite during Season 2, Pip has definitely found his groove with this six-song EP, which comes off confident and catchy. Danceable beats mix with memorable choruses and Pip’s refreshingly clear vocals to create songs that will roll around in your head for hours afterward. This is a wonderful debut release that’s purely good, clean fun, and establishes exactly what sound fans can expect from Pip in the future. It includes his first post-Voice single, “Who Cares.” If there’s any issue with No Formalities, it’s that it leaves you wanting more. Of all the recent releases from Voice artists, this is the strongest.

Casey Weston, Find the Moon (get it HERE): Team Adam’s Season 1 semifinalist has put out her first new material since appearing on the show, and while you’d probably still call her a country artist, there’s a surprising amount of range on this new CD. This is the Casey Weston album we’ve all been waiting for. The distinct twang to Casey’s voice is put to good use across the board, but it’s the songs that change, with tracks like “Into Your Heart” having more of a pop-rock edge while others such as “Like You” stay closer to country. What’s most remarkable about Find the Moon is that you can hear the added maturity, both in Casey’s voice and in her lyrics, compared to her self-titled release from two years ago. You can also read the BFTV interview with Casey Weston here.

Kim Yarbrough, Brand New Day (get it HERE): The Team Adam singer with the powerful voice from Season 2 has mostly been busy on stage and screen (did you see her on TNT’s Southland earlier this month?), but has just released her new CD-single. If you didn’t figure it out from her performances on the show, Kim can blow the doors off with the strength of her voice, and “Brand New Day” is an anthem reminiscent of power-pop singers like Kristine W. The original version runs a bit long, and it’s a little bummer that the album is comprised of remixes of one tune, but that one tune proves that a full album from Kim will definitely be intriguing.

The Voice continues tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on NBC.

For more on The Voice and its artists, you can visit BFTV’s dedicated The Voice blog, Big Red Chairs.

(c)2013 Brittany Frederick/Big Red Chairs. Excerpts appear at Starpulse and Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted. Visit my official website and follow me on Twitter at @bigredchairs.

‘The Voice’ Season 4 Premiere Red Carpet Photos

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NBC hosted a premiere for The Voice Season 4 in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, and pretty much everyone from the past three seasons joined the coaches on the red carpet. Scroll down to see pictures of familiar faces, from coaches Blake Shelton and Usher to Dia Frampton, Terry McDermott and Pip, just to name a few!

All Four Mentors Revealed for Season 4 of ‘The Voice’

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The Voice - Season 4

Fans of NBC’s The Voice now know everyone who will be helping the superstar coaches when the show returns for its fourth season in March.

It was announced today through Access Hollywood that Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott will be the mentor for Team Adam. She and Adam Levine previously collaborated on the song “Out of Goodbyes,” which appeared on Maroon 5′s third studio album, Hands All Over.

Access Hollywood is a production of NBC’s parent company, NBCUniversal.

This follows the previous reveals of the other three mentors. Team Blake has enlisted the services of Sheryl Crow, while Team Usher will have Pharrell Williams, and Team Shakira is joined by Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden – who is himself a coach on the Australian version of The Voice.

The Voice returns on March 25.

For more from Brittany Frederick on The Voice, visit Big Red Chairs and follow me on Twitter (@bigredchairs).

(c)2013 Brittany Frederick/Big Red Chairs. Appears at Starpulse and Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted.

Episode Postmortem: Season 3 Finale

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The Voice - Season 3NBC has crowned its third ‘The Voice’ in just over a year – and on Tuesday evening, the winner, the runners-up and the coaches joined Big Red Chairs on the red carpet to give their final thoughts about the junior season of the hit series.

Team Blake’s pop-rocker Cassadee Pope was named the winner of the competition at the end of Tuesday night’s season finale, joining previous winners Javier Colon from Team Adam in Season 1 and Jermaine Paul from Team Blake in Season 2.

Her win was expected by most of America – and also by her fellow finalists, teammate Terry McDermott and Team Cee Lo’s Nicholas David. “Absolutely,” said Terry when asked if he had thought Cassadee would take home the title. “I think the biggest reason we had that feeling was because her songs had been reaching such a large cross-section of the public. Her continually crushing iTunes speaks volumes for itself.”

“She deserves it,” he continued. “The right person’s won.”

Added Nicholas, “I had a feeling i was going to go a long time ago – but I never looked at it like a competition. I’ve always just been blessed to be here.”

Even Cassadee, who previously stated that she tried not to be affected by the buzz, said she felt confident in her chances. “At one point I felt like ‘Okay, this could become a reality,’” she said. “I actually felt that back when ‘Over You; got to number one. I was like, ‘If this keeps happening I might have a shot.’”

It proved to be just one of her many charting iTunes hits that helped deliver her the title – as those iTunes downloads which were in the Top 10 singles chart at the close of each round of voting had their total number of downloads (which then translated directly into votes) multiplied by ten.

Her coach, Blake Shelton, had plenty to say about Cassadee’s victory and how he would continue to support her after the show, as he has done with many of his artists throughout the history of The Voice. “She knows that this doesn’t end with the finale of The Voice, [our] relationship,” he told reporters. “I don’t want to make one dime off of her in my life, but i do want to see her go on to be a superstar and end up in relationships in this business that are the best for her.

“If I’ve got to get in the way of something that she doesn’t like or she doesn’t agree with, then I will because I’m her friend,” he continued. “I’m her friend, I’m Terry’s friend, and I will be until the day I die. I just want to see them do whatever it is they dream of doing because they’re good people and they deserve it.”

His fellow coaches Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera – who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday – also weighed in on Team Blake taking the title for the second straight season. “It’s not about did the right person win,” said Christina. “I just think that she kept improving week by week and I think we all recognized that.”

Agreed Adam, “It was her moment. Cassadee excelled at the best times. We’re really happy, even though it’s not our team, we’re happy for Cassadee.

“We chose Cassadee, too, she just didn’t choose us,” he quipped. “We all chose the winner, damn it.”

The coaches closed the season with one final performance reflecting on their three seasons together. As previously revealed in September, Christina and Cee Lo will not be part of The Voice Season 4. They will be replaced by Shakira and Usher respectively.

However, both Christina and Cee Lo are on record as saying they want to return for Season 5, as the series has been renewed through that fifth cycle, which is expected air in the fall of 2013.

What’s next for each of the three finalists? “I’m going to release something quick,” said Cassadee, who asked her fans to support the new music she’ll put out.. “I have to, and it’s going to be great.” You can keep up with her on Twitter at @CassadeePope.

“I’m going home,” said Minnesota native Nicholas, who has family time and Christmas shopping on his to-do list, as “I haven’t really had time to do anything except the show.” He can be found on Twitter at @thefeelin.

“I’ve always been motivated by new music and being part of it and creating it,” said Terry, who added that he has “an idea and direction” for what he wants to do next. His Twitter handle is @TerryMacMusic.

All three artists reflected on the many accomplishments they’d achieved through being part of The Voice‘s third season. “There’s so many, from the chair turning to meeting all the people,” said Nicholas. “Meeting Cee Lo, to sing with Cee Lo, meeting Bill Withers, to sing with Smokey Robinson. it’s a freaking adventure of a lifetime and that’s the truth.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to meet some wonderful people along this ride and really form relationships with some great people,” concurred Terry. “It’s made it such a pleasurable journey. there’s been nothing negative about this experience.”

Cassadee was able to perform with her musical idol, Avril Lavigne, and remarked that “I met her and she just blew my mind with how nice she was and how thankful she was to have me there.”

Still, she added, she’s ready to see what the music world has in store for her next. “I’m absolutely happy to move onto the next chapter,” she added.

The Voice returns in just over three months – Season 4 premieres on March 25, 2013.

For more from Brittany Frederick on The Voice, visit Big Red Chairs and follow me on Twitter (@bigredchairs).

(c)2012 Brittany Frederick/Big Red Chairs. Appears at Starpulse and Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted.

Maroon 5, Blake Shelton Earn Grammy Nominations

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Adam Levine might be out of the running on The Voice, but on Wednesday night he received a great consolation prize: two Grammy nominations.

Levine and his band Maroon 5 earned recognition in the ‘Best Pop Duo/Group Performance’ category for their hit single “Payphone,” and their most recent album Overexposed was also on the short list for the ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ trophy.

Maroon 5 has won three Grammy Awards and been nominated for six others. The band also performed at Wednesday’s nominations concert, televised by CBS.

The Voice coach Blake Shelton is also a nominee in the ‘Best Country Solo Performance’ category for the song “Over” from his album Red River Blue.

His wife – and Team Blake’s advisor in Season 2 – Miranda Lambert was nominated in the ‘Best Country Album’ category for her release Four the Record.

Another Voice advisor, Kelly Clarkson, is up for four prizes. Her album Stronger is a nominee for ‘Record of the Year’ as well as ‘Best Pop Vocal Album.’ The title track is also a contender for ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Best Pop Solo Performance.’ Clarkson also worked with Team Blake in the second season.

The Grammys will be awarded on February 10 at 8 PM ET/PT on CBS.

The Voice continues next Monday at 8 PM ET/PT on NBC.

For more from Brittany Frederick on The Voice, visit Big Red Chairs and follow me on Twitter (@bigredchairs).

(c)2012 Brittany Frederick/Big Red Chairs. Appears at Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted.

Episode Postmortem: Season 3 Live Shows, Night 11

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The Voice - Season 3

The Voice may have only one coach standing by the time the show reaches its December 17-18 finale.

Tuesday night, Big Red Chairs talked with the two artists who were eliminated from the NBC singing competition, and with their dismissal another coach was also knocked out of contention. Adam Levine saw both his remaining artists – Melanie Martinez and Amanda Brown – sent home after the results of America’s vote were revealed.

Coaches Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green each have two artists still up for The Voice grand prize, but with two more singers being eliminated next week, it’s possible that either of them could also be left without anyone in the race.

For his part, although he has half the competing field on his team, Shelton isn’t taking it easy. “Even though two coaches are eliminated, I’m not changing anything,” he said Tuesday night. “It’s listening that got Team Blake here and that’s what’s going to keep us here hopefully, is communicating with each other and being sure that when we do pick a song, it’s for a really good reason. It needs to be something that they’re passionate about every time they go on that stage.”

Melanie Martinez said afterward that she wasn’t surprised by her elimination. “Me and Amanda are really close, so we kind of felt it today. We felt that we were both leaving, and we felt really bad because we’re like ‘we’re both on Team Adam and he’s got nobody left,’” she said with a laugh, but added, “I think it’s not really about that. I think it’s just genuinely about being yourself and just showing who you are as an artist on the show.”

She added that she benefited from having The Voice come along at such an early point in her career. “I think that this is an amazing opportunity and I’ve grown as an artist because of the people like Amanda who’ve been through so much,” she said. “They’ve definitely taught me a lot.”

You can continue to keep up with Melanie via Twitter (@MelanieLBBH).

“I don’t feel any kind of negativity in regards to this entire experience,” reflected Amanda Brown. “I made it to the Top 6 and I feel like it was just a tremendous accomplishment for me. There’s nothing but love and positivity and hope for the future.”

“I feel really proud of those performances and really proud of the decisions that I made. I really left my all on the stage last night and so I don’t think I would have changed anything,” she continued. “I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself along this entire journey and I feel like the lessons that I’ve learned I most definitely will take with me.”

What will she take away personally from The Voice? “Definitely being able to work with Cee Lo and Adam was an amazing opportunity,” she said, “and just to be in the company of such talented young artists. I feel both honored and excited for their journey and excited for mine.”

You can continue to keep up with Amanda via Twitter (@Amanda__Brown).

Their coach was philosophical about Tuesday’s results. “You know, you win things and you lose things. If you win everything all the time, then you wouldn’t be human. It’s kind of how you respond to the losing and tweak things and change things and come back that much stronger for understanding the dynamics of whatever failures you make,” Levine said.

“No one failed. That’s what’s really crazy,” he continued. “So they didn’t get the $53,000 after taxes and the really crazy weird record deal that they are already going to get anyway. Those six people are winners and every single one of them should be proud for however much further they make it in the competition.

“I think actually, there are so many amazing allegiances that have been formed on the show that are so great that, that is the saddest thing to see end – the camaraderie amongst artists.

“It’s on to a new chapter for these guys,” he added. “Listen, the winner has to go home too. People don’t realize that. The winner probably experiences the biggest culture shock when they say to themselves, ‘Now what?’ The winner still has to go home. Don’t forget that.”

Cassadee Pope, Terry McDermott, Nicholas David and Trevin Hunte remain.

The Voice continues next Monday at 8 PM ET/PT on NBC.

For more from Brittany Frederick on The Voice, visit Big Red Chairs and follow me on Twitter (@bigredchairs).

(c)2012 Brittany Frederick/Big Red Chairs. Appears at Starpulse and Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted.

Catching Up With ‘The Voice’ Coach Blake Shelton

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The Voice wouldn’t be the show it is without Blake Shelton. There are many great country music artists, but there’s only one Blake: talented, but also a capable and dedicated coach, a great person, and so hilarious that it’s impossible not to smile around him. Recently, Blake talked with me about what Season 3 has been like for him, and how he’d describe himself as a coach.

There are only two of Blake’s artists remaining in the running this season – Cassadee Pope and Terry McDermott – meaning that under Season 3′s new rules, the entirety of Team Blake could go home in one night and leave him without a finalist. Asked if that increases his stress level, “Damn right it does,” Blake said. “No coach wants to be a douchebag sitting there with nobody left in this competition, just sitting in a chair for no reason. I don’t want that to happen. That’d be a crushing blow to my ego,” he added with a laugh.

He has plenty to have an ego about, especially after he won three CMA Awards earlier this month, including his third straight Male Vocalist of the Year trophy and the top prize, Entertainer of the Year. But the hardware isn’t going to Blake’s head. Before our interview, he pulls me into a hug and tells me that he’s glad to see me. That’s a kindness many artists wouldn’t extend, but it’s typical for Blake.

He’s not coasting through the competition, either. Each season of The Voice has seen significant changes to the rule book, from Season 2′s instant eliminations at the end of performance shows to Season 3′s steals during the battle rounds, and Blake thinks it’s a good thing that the show has evolved. “I like that they change it up. I don’t know, as a viewer, how people feel about it. I know that they tell me ratings-wise this is the biggest season that we’ve ever had, so something’s got to be working,” he reflected.

“When you raise the stakes and you put us in that situation, the coaches, there’s a part of people that want to see us be humbled,” he continued. “And it’s humbling when you’re sitting there, going ‘Oh my God, I could be not having anybody in this thing, just sitting here like an idiot?’ It makes me step up my game and make sure there’s no stone unturned. I think of everything I can.”

Whatever he’s thinking, it’s working. Blake has proven that he’s an excellent coach, not only in that he’s the reigning champion after his finalist Jermaine Paul won Season 2, but also because his artists have thoroughly praised how he supports them not just as artists but also personally.

“I get on tremendously well with Blake,” said Terry McDermott of his coach on the red carpet earlier this season. “I like him as a person, I think he’s a great coach. It turns out that Scottish country and American country really aren’t that far apart. They’re very straight talking, down to earth and I think there’s a connection there that really made it easy for me to get on and enjoy being on his team.”

Added Season 2 semifinalist Erin Willett: “Blake and I have a really great personal relationship, through all the things that we’ve been through. After I was eliminated, I ended up getting together at Blake’s house and we had a great conversation, and it wasn’t even about the show. I’m so thankful and lucky that I got to be on his team.”

It’s clear that the artists he’s worked with admire him, but how does Blake evaluate himself as a coach? “I’ve never had really a style of coaching,” he explained. “I just kind of approach it with each artist is a different artist, and they have different things they need to work on. Some artists just need me to stay out of their way, and some of them maybe need a little guidance here and there. But I’m not a music teacher. I’m just a guy that has some advice for them and hopefully it’s right and hopefully they listen.”

If you’re not getting enough of him on The Voice, there’s even more Blake on NBC this season as the network airs his first holiday special, Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas, on December 3 (10 PM ET/PT, right after The Voice) with an encore on December 14 (9 PM ET/PT). The hour-long show includes an appearance by Christina Aguilera, as well as three of Blake’s Voice advisors – Reba, Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert – and, if that wasn’t enough for you, Blake’s mother. The special ties in with the release of his recent CD, Cheers, It’s Christmas.

You should also be following Blake on Twitter (@blakeshelton). He’ll be back in his big red chair tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on NBC, as The Voice prepares to cut its Top 8 to Top 6 this week.

For more from Brittany Frederick on The Voice, visit Big Red Chairs and follow me on Twitter (@bigredchairs).

(c)2012 Brittany Frederick/Big Red Chairs. Excerpts appear at Starpulse and Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted.

Photos From ‘The Voice’ House of Blues Concert

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If you weren’t able to catch last night’s The Voice coaches/Top 12 performance at House of Blues Sunset Strip, no worries – I have you covered. Here are photos of each of the Top 12 from House of Blues via the Big Red Chairs Facebook page. You can also see NBC’s photos of the coaches in my Examiner news blast. I have some photos of the coaches that I shot which I’ll be posting over the weekend. Enjoy!

People’s Choice Award Initial Nominees Include Lots of ‘The Voice’

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It’s time again to vote for the People’s Choice Awards, and The Voice is well-represented on the PCA’s first-wave ballot, which pools a field of 12 possibles before narrowing them down to the 5 nominees eligible to win the awards.

Not only is the show up for recognition itself as Favorite Competition TV Show, but all four coaches could be picked for the shortlist for the Favorite Celebrity Judge trophy, Adam Levine and Maroon 5 have possible nods for Favorite Band, Favorite Album (Overexposed) and Favorite Music Video (“Payphone”),  Blake Shelton is up for consideration to be nominated for Favorite Country Artist, and host Carson Daly is a candidate for Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host.

Only the top 5 vote-getters in each category will become official nominees on the final ballot being revealed on November 15. You can vote now and vote often to make our Voice folks nominees for the People’s Choice Awards by visiting their online ballot.