Psychedelic rocker is The Voice Season 13 champ

MANILA, Philippines — “You are a superstar!”

That was how coach Blake Shelton confidently described his artist, Chloe Kohanski, the 23-year-old psychedelic rocker from Nashville, Tennessee, who won The Voice Season 13 that concluded recently.

Chloe, who sailed through every portion of The Voice with her unique and distinguishable raspy voice, bagged a much-coveted recording contract from Universal Music. She competed against Team Adam Levine’s Addison Agen, the 16-year-old pop artist from Fort Wayne, Indiana who placed second.

Originally an artist of Miley Cyrus from the Blind Auditions, Chloe lost to Ashland Craft in the Knockout Rounds. Chloe performed Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide, while 21-year-old Ashland, a country singer from South Carolina, won the round with Bon Jovi’s Wanted: Dead or Alive.

However, coach Blake apparently saw the huge potential from Chloe not to get eliminated and strongly make it to the competition. By virtue of a “Steal,” which Blake fought out with coach Jennifer Hudson, Chloe joined the stable of artists in Team Blake. The latter had another artist in the final four, country crooner Red Marlow, who ended up in fourth place.

That made Blake the coach with the most wins — six — in The Voice 13-season history. He really nailed it this year, not only as judge of the show. He was also voted as the Sexiest Man Alive for 2017 by People Magazine. Although that clearly gave him an edge over fellow coach and his perennial bratty mocker, Adam Levine (who earned the title earlier in 2013), Blake clearly stayed ahead of the course this time.

Team Miley’s Brooke Simpson, the 26-year-old pop-soul artist from Hollister, North Carolina, finished third. A four-chair-turner from the Blind Auditions in the pilot episode where she sang Demi Lovato’s Stone Cold, Brooke made it all the way to the finale, where she got to perform Wrecking Ball, with coach Miley.

Every artist in the final four had the chance to perform with a guest star in the finale. Chloe did a duet of White Wedding with rock star Billy Idol. Addison shared the stage with Norah Jones and they crooned the latter’s Don’t Know Why. Brooke belted out Titanium with Sia and Red performed When I Call You By My Name, with country legend Vince Gill.

Jennifer, a first-time coach in The Voice US, failed to have any artist in the finale. So, instead of throwing more clogs and high heels onstage, she proudly basked on the performance of her artist, Chris Weaver, a worship leader by day and a drag queen by night.

The 29-year-old Chris from Long Island, New York, was a four-chair turner in the Blind Auditions when he sang Otis Redding’s Try A Little Tenderness. In the finale, Chris brought the house down when he emerged onstage in a drag and sang Bang, Bang, with a special participation from Jessie J.

Advisors for the Battle Rounds were pop-rock artist Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers for Team Adam, country music trio Rascal Flatts for Team Blake, erstwhile Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland for Team Jennifer, while Team Miley sought the help of her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.

American Idol’s first champion Kelly Clarkson, became advisor for all artists in The Playoffs. She was also one of the guests in the finale, where it was announced that she would join the panel of coaches in the red swivel chairs next season.

The Voice will return to the small screen in February 2018 for its much-awaited Season 14.