The Voice ends latest season sans coaches, live audience

Everything had to be inevitably adjusted, if not cancelled or changed, with the worldwide outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic. For the first time in the history of The Voice, the reality talent competition had to tape live episodes for the Play-Offs from the respective homes of the star coaches and the hopeful contestants.

Starting from the Top 17, down to the Top 9 and the five finalists, The Voice successfully aired the last three weeks of its episodes through live streaming. Until the final episode, host Carson Daly was the only one seen in the studio, with the distinctive, red swivel chairs of the coaches visibly empty. The live audience, too, became a thing of the past as The Voice concluded its latest season.

Carson could hardly believe how The Voice staff and crew were able to pull off the three-week remote shows up until the finale, “the most important night of the competition.”

For the first time, too, Top 5 artists competed in the finals, with only four selected in the previous years. The Wildcard Instant Save was added this season and that was 44-year-old Toneisha Harris from Roswell, Georgia. Meanwhile, The Voice Season 19, slated to air last quarter of this year, may have to adopt the remote airing which coach John Legend called the “brand new format.”

Todd Tilghman, 41, from Meridian, Mississippi, a talent of Team Blake Shelton from the very start, was the winner of The Voice 18. It will be remembered that Todd was the very first who was seen in the Blind Auditions and also the first four-chair turner of the season.

Todd was seen with his wife and eight children when he was proclaimed winner. His coach, Blake, was seen rejoicing with girlfriend Gwen Stefani, who earlier did a duet with him for his No. 1 single, Nobody But You, for the frontliners in Oklahoma, Blake’s hometown.

Although Blake is the most veteran in the pool, being the only original coach from the inaugural episode of The Voice, he gets a trophy again after four seasons of not winning. That brings his The Voice trophies to seven.

“Rookie” coach this season, Nick Jonas, as Blake described Nick, was proud about his talent, 23-year-old Thunderstorm Artis from Haleiwa, Hawaii, who placed second. The only female finalist, Toneisha, from Team Blake came in third.

In fourth place was 22-year-old Camm Wess from Blythewood, South Carolina, a bet of coach John Legend. Team Kelly Clarkson’s talent, 25-year-old Micah Iverson from Tokyo, Japan, came in last. For the second consecutive season, Adam Levine did not return as coach.

Impressively, all five finalists rendered their original compositions for the finale. Micah sang Butterflies, that sounded like a Coldplay song according to Kelly. Toneisha belted My Superhero, Thunderstorm rendered Sedona, Todd crooned Long Way Home and CammWess carried out Save It for Tomorrow.

Jon Bon Jovi was the superstar guest who sang his Limitless single and showed a piece of paper that said, “I need a haircut.” The previous winners of The Voice, led by Season 17 champion Jake Hoot, as well as other noted contestants, joined together for What the World Needs Now Is Love.

Nick was really excited to join this season as first-time coach of The Voice. “We’ve got some amazing talents this year,” he earlier declared. “I’m always blown away by the caliber of talent on the show. I feel this year is one of the best, if not the best (season).” He rendered his newest single, Until We Meet Again.

Back in The Voice Season 8, Nick mentored the contestants under Christina Aguilera’s team. Both of them were erstwhile Disney stars. Performing, singing and writing music was just a “natural fit” for Nick, who is one third of the popular The Jonas Brothers. His siblings, Kevin and Joe Jonas, joined Nick in mentoring the contestants in the Battle Rounds. The Jonas Brothers also did a remote performance for the finale.

“We tried to show him the ropes without letting him defeat us,” John said of Nick. The other mentors this season were Ella Mai for Team Legend, Bebe Rexa for Team Blake and Dua Lipa for Team Kelly.