NEED TO KNOW
- A few of the largest stars to come back from The Voice have been rejected from the present
- Artists like Chappell Roan and Luke Combs by no means ended up performing in entrance of the judges
- Some stars, like Morgan Wallen, have been eradicated in a while within the competitors
A few of right this moment’s largest names obtained their begin on The Voice, which crowns its subsequent winner on Dec. 16 because the present’s twenty eighth season involves an finish.
Because the NBC competitors sequence first aired in April 2011, artists have carried out in “blind auditions,” hoping for one of many 4 coaches on the panel to show their chair round and recruit them as a part of their group. Twenty-eight seasons later, a number of contestants have gone on to have profitable careers, together with nation singer Morgan Wallen.
However whereas some stars obtained their begin on the present, among the largest names in music right this moment — together with Chappell Roan and Luke Combs — did not even make it in entrance of the panel of judges.
From one artist who tried seven occasions to a different who left on her personal phrases to chase one other dream, listed below are eight stars you will have forgotten auditioned for The Voice.
Luke Combs
With eight Grammy nominations and 6 CMA awards, Combs is an acclaimed artist in nation music. However throughout a June 2022 episode of the Pictures Podcast Community, the “Quick Automotive” singer revealed that he “did not even make it to the present” when he auditioned for The Voice years in the past.
“I keep in mind getting there, and I did not perceive how a lot of a complete factor it was going to be,” he mentioned, including that there have been “hundreds of individuals” on the audition. “It was a clown present.”
The “Stunning Loopy” singer went on to say that he waited in line for “hours and hours,” and obtained to audition in a bunch of 10, who all stood subsequent to one another and sang in entrance of producers.
The remainder of his group was despatched dwelling, however Combs was requested to remain and sing yet one more tune. Though he then made it to a different spherical of auditions, he obtained reduce from the competitors shortly after.
“Primarily, I obtained a letter again after the subsequent audition, which I made it by,” he mentioned. “After which they informed me, basically, I used to be too boring to be on tv.”
Chappell Roan
Lengthy earlier than Roan received the Grammy for Greatest New Artist, she auditioned for The Voice — however did not precisely have the very best expertise.
Throughout an April 2025 interview with W Journal, the “Pink Pony Membership” singer shared that she auditioned for the NBC competitors present when she was 15 years outdated, singing Rihanna’s 2012 hit “Keep.”
“That was when the Bruno Mars tune ‘After I Was Your Man’ was actually large, and I assumed I used to be so distinctive in switching it round and singing ‘Once you have been my man’ and making it about gender,” she mentioned. “However each woman was like, ‘I’m switching it round.’ ”
The pop star went on to say that one of many producers did not take note of her audition.
“By the way in which, after I did the Voice audition, the producer or whoever the f— was watching didn’t even lookup from his cellphone,” Roan mentioned. “He was like, ‘Okay, subsequent.’ And I went up there and sang a cappella, the scariest factor ever. He by no means actually checked out me.”
Morgan Wallen
Earlier than turning into one of many largest names in nation music, Wallen obtained his begin on season 6 of The Voice. After his 2014 audition, the “Whiskey Glasses” singer was on Usher’s group earlier than being stolen by Adam Levine — however was eradicated in the course of the playoffs.
Regardless of not successful the competitors, Wallen mirrored on the expertise throughout an October 2019 dialog with ipromiseyoumedia, saying, “I am grateful for that point. I am grateful for the way it all turned out.”
“I did not even know what The Voice was,” he mentioned. “That complete expertise form of kick-started me a bit of bit.”
“It was an enormous first step — I assume that is the primary time in my life the place I spotted that perhaps I even have a shot at this,” the nation singer continued. “Truthfully, I’m grateful that I didn’t win as a result of it gave me an opportunity to take a pair years after that present and actually work out who I used to be as an artist and get the suitable group round me. After I obtained there, I had no clue what I used to be doing.”
Maren Morris
In 2017, Maren Morris received her first Grammy for Greatest Nation Solo Efficiency. However earlier in her profession, she was rejected from a number of music competitors exhibits, together with The Voice and American Idol.
“That is not even it,” she mentioned throughout a March 2019 look on Watch What Occurs Reside with Andy Cohen. “There have been a ton that I did not make it to, thank God.”
“Now folks cowl my songs for his or her auditions on these exhibits,” the “My Church” singer mentioned. “Not solely is it very nice to have my songs on a nationwide tv present, I get to gather the test and have some candy revenge.”
Lainey Wilson
Lengthy earlier than Lainey Wilson was a mentor on the present, she auditioned for The Voice — not simply as soon as, however seven occasions.
Throughout a Could 2024 dialog with Leisure Tonight, the nation singer-songwriter mentioned she “did not even make it to the half the place they flip the chairs round.”
“However hey, it simply form of lit a fireplace beneath me, and I mentioned, ‘You gotta carry on going,’ ” she mentioned.
Camila Cabello
It is no secret that Camila Cabello rose to fame with Fifth Concord on The X Issue. However, she really auditioned for The Voice first.
Throughout a November 2022 dialog with Entry Hollywood, the “Havana” singer shared that though she made it by the producer spherical after singing Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” she in the end left to chase larger goals: assembly One Route.
“I do not even know if I can say the remainder of the story,” she shared. “I did make it within the producer spherical, not the TV spherical. I by no means auditioned for the coaches.”
“I actually needed to satisfy One Route, and I knew that they have been gonna carry out for X Issue,” Cabello continued. “So I used to be like, ‘I am simply gonna threat it and never do The Voice after which audition for X Issue.’ After which I did find yourself assembly One Route.”
Nevertheless, it was solely a matter of time till Cabello discovered her manner again to The Voice. In 2022, she made her debut as a coach for the NBC present’s twenty second season.
Anthony Ramos
Hamilton‘s Anthony Ramos isn’t any stranger to the Broadway stage, however he was turned away from The Voice‘s.
“I obtained reduce within the first spherical. I did not even make it to the TV spherical,” he mentioned throughout a July 2024 look on LIVE with Kelly and Mark. “I am going to always remember it.”
Ramos defined that when the producer requested him to remain again after his preliminary audition, he thought he was getting “by to the subsequent spherical.” As an alternative, the producer informed him to “work in your respiration and are available again subsequent 12 months.”
Ramos returned to the present as a mentor in 2023, serving to Reba McEntire’s group.
Melanie Martinez
Melanie Martinez has carried out at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Outdoors Lands — however her profession all began with a blind audition throughout season 3 of The Voice.
In 2012, the “Play Date” singer obtained a three-chair flip from coaches Levine, Blake Shelton and CeeLo Inexperienced — and joined the Maroon 5 singer’s group.
Martinez made it to the highest six however was eradicated after singing covers of Gnarls Barkley’s “Loopy” and Lenka’s “The Present.”
Throughout an October 2016 dialog with Teen Vogue, the singer mirrored on her expertise on The Voice, saying, “I discovered so much about what I needed.”
“I used to be too scared to sing in entrance of my dad and mom and I didn’t actually watch The Voice. I simply went out on a limb and went for it,” she mentioned, including that she almost missed the open name audition as a result of her automotive broke down.
“I didn’t count on to get so far as I did,” Martinez continued. “I used to be actually in love with songwriting and I feel the toughest half about being on that present was that I needed to sing different folks’s songs; I didn’t really feel snug doing that so I’m simply completely satisfied I get to write down my very own music now.”
