Kelly Clarkson scores 1st victory in The Voice

MANILA, Philippines — Call it beginner’s luck, but definitely, it was more than that. Grammy Award-winner Kelly Clarkson may be a first-time coach in The Voice Season 14, yet, she readily scored her first victory with 14-year-old Brynn Cartelli, the youngest talent to win the competition.

A native of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Brynn was in tears when she was announced big winner. Her coach Kelly faced a really tough tussle with her fellow coaches and was not obviously easily discouraged. Kelly bravely fought for every artist in her team-up until the end.

Brynn bested 18-year-old Britton Buchanan, this season’s runner-up from Sanford, North Carolina. The only guy who made it to the Top 4 by virtue of an “Instant Save,” Britton was an original artist of Team Alicia (Keys), whom the latter immediately snagged from the first episode.

Britton was the first artist who made it into the competition from the Blind Auditions. Interestingly, he met his present girlfriend, Livia Faith, during the Blind Auditions. Livia, who also landed on Team Alicia, was booted out during the Battle Rounds.

Third placer was 33-year-old Kyla Jade from Nashville, Tennessee, followed by 24-year-old Spensha Baker from San Antonio, Texas. The two African-American finalists were original artists of Blake Shelton’s Team, who both secured them, interestingly, after a toss-up with Kelly.

Unlike last season, Blake won his sixth The Voice trophy by virtue of a “Steal” with Chloe Kohanski, an original artist of Miley Cyrus. Chloe was a guest performer in The Voice Season 14 finale, with Dua Lipa, Jennifer Hudson, Jason Aldean and country star Kane Brown, among others.

A week before the finals, veteran coach Adam Levine lost his last man standing, Rayshun LaMarr, despite the latter’s captivating rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine — which would have made “John Lennon proud,” Adam said to Rayshun. This is the second time since the fourth season, when Adam lost all his competing artists before the finale.

In the finale, Season 14’s Top 4 were awarded brand-new cars, which obviously thrilled all the finalists.

Two features were introduced to The Voice this season. First was the one-time Block in the Blind Auditions, which allowed one coach to prevent another coach from getting a particular artist for the round.

The other feature was the one-time Save in the Battle Round, where the coach can keep the eliminated artist to his stable, but the latter can easily also go to another coach by virtue of a Steal.

For the first time, previous winners of The Voice became Key Advisors and worked with their respective coaches in the Knockout Rounds. Jordan Smith of Season 9 with Team Adam, Chris Blue of Season 12 with Team Alicia, Chloe Kohanski of Season 13 with Team Blake and Cassadee Pope, the first female winner in Season 3 (originally with Team Blake), with Team Kelly.

Kelly will return for The Voice Season 15, to be joined by her fellow American Idol alumna, Jennifer Hudson.