The Voice has taken American Idol’s place as the top singing competition reality show. But all is not squeaky clean behind the scenes.

The Voice has been one of NBC’s most successful reality show franchises for 21 seasons but even the most loyal viewers don’t know everything about it. The premise is simple: four celebrity coaches listen to a contestant’s voice without seeing them, with each of the judges’ respective red chairs turned to the audience. When a judge becomes interested, they press a button and their chairs turn around to see the person, who joins the judges’ teams, being coached by them throughout the competition. But some fans wonder questions like “How much time do The Voice coaches spend with their team?”

The original lineup of judges and coaches was composed of Maroon 5’s lead vocalist Adam Levine, country star Blake Shelton, pop star Christina Aguilera, and soul singer CeeLo Green, who was then best known for his work in Gnarles Barkley. Throughout the seasons, the judging panel has rotated, bringing in other established musicians to coach the most successful The Voice contestants, with Shelton the longest-lasting from the original lineup, and names like Kelly Clarkson and John Legend cementing their places as regular coaches on the show.

15. Contestants Have To Sign Intense Contracts

The Voice Contracts Say The Show Can Humiliate The Singers

Reality shows are known for protecting themselves from any liability. Though that is true, it certainly looked bad when a contract between The Voice and one of its contestants leaked on the Internet in 2014. The leaked contract stated, “The show ‘may be disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing and may expose them to public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation”. It also said NBC could force contestants to “undergo medical and psychological evaluations“ and NBC could “publicize the results.”

The leaked document seemed a little dangerous for many singers who wanted to try out for the show. Moreover, the contract’s details shed light on the extensive control the show can exercise over contestants’ careers even after the season ends. It includes clauses that potentially bind contestants to the show’s associated recording label and management for a period, sometimes years, dictating the direction of their music careers.

14. Why They Replace The Judges So Much

Changing Coaches Is All About Saving Money For NBC

Blake Shelton was a coach on The Voice for 23 consecutive seasons and reportedly made more than $21 million per season. One of the secrets of The Voice about the rotating chairs is that NBC is constantly trying to cut costs. It is cheaper to bring new talent to the judging panel with each coming season to keep the show’s budget low. Producers had to pay Christina Aguilera – who was a coach for seven seasons — more than they paid Gwen Stefani or Miley Cyrus at the time they replaced her.

In the 21st season, NBC paid more for Ariana Grande, hoping she would bring in more viewers, but cut her after the ratings didn’t go up. This strategy of rotating judges serves a dual purpose by not only managing costs but also keeping the show fresh and engaging for the audience. New judges bring in their unique fan bases, musical perspectives, and dynamics with other coaches, contributing to a rejuvenated interest each season.

13. Season 1 Winner Gave Up His Prize

Javier Colon Gave Up His Record Deal

Since its inception, the big prize of winning The Voice is leaving with a record label contract. Winners are signed to Universal Republic Records, a huge deal for contestants who couldn’t previously make a living off of their music careers. However, a record label is not a guarantee of success. Javier Colon won The Voice season 1 as the franchise’s first-ever champion. He signed with Universal Republic Records in June 2011 after his season ended. However, one year after signing to the label, Colon announced he would no longer be attached to it, citing “the unforeseen bad marriage between the label and I” (via Yahoo News).

“I went into it with high hopes, as I believe everyone did. But when you pour your heart and soul into a new album that you think is really great, and your label who is supposed to support, market, and promote your music does neither, it’s really hard not to be upset. The truth is, we are all better off going our separate ways.”

This incident highlights a broader issue faced by many reality TV show winners: the transition from show victory to real-world success is often fraught with challenges. While a record deal is touted as the ultimate prize, it comes with its own set of complexities and creative constraints. Artists like Javier Colon enter these contracts with high hopes for their music careers, only to find that the artistic direction and promotional support from the label may not align with their vision or expectations.

12. There Was A Season 6 Voting Glitch

Fans Votes Via iTunes Had To Be Deleted

The Voice’s season 6 finale faced a major voting controversy due to a problem that had little to do with the show: a glitch on iTunes. In The Voice’s early years, buying the show’s singles on iTunes counted as votes. Three contestants battled for the top prize: Christina Grimmie, Jake Worthington, and Josh Kaufman. However, while Christina and Jake were battling it out on the iTunes charts, Josh was mysteriously not even in the Top 10, which was – according to Apple – a glitch on the iTunes platform (via EW).

Due to the iTunes glitch, all of those purchases had to be removed, and the winner was Josh Kaufman, the biggest victim of the voting glitch. Following the controversy, the show faced the challenge of restoring trust in its voting process, leading to adjustments in how audience input was integrated into the competition.

11. Gwen Stefani’s Marital Drama Surrounded The Show

Gwen Stefani Ended Up With Blake Shelton

Gwen Stefani joined The Voice as a coach during season 7, which aired in 2014. During that season, she brought in her then-husband Gavin Rossdale to serve as a secondary advisor to the contestants on her team. Gwen later admitted to The Voice secrets that she and Gavin “got in a little fight” about the whole situation, justifying that they had “only collaborated on babies before” (via Us Magazine). Less than a year later, they separated.

Even though their divorce was only fully concluded in 2016, Stefani was quickly public about her new boyfriend: Blake Shelton, her fellow The Voice coach, who was in the middle of divorcing Miranda Lambert. Stefani and Shelton’s relationship, evolving directly in the spotlight of The Voice, added a real-life soap opera element to the show that fans latched onto, blending the boundaries between personal affairs and professional roles.

10. The Voice Live Tour Failed

Fans Weren’t Interested In The Touring Contestants

From its very first season, The Voice was a massive television hit. NBC had an idea to take the show on the road, featuring season 1’s contestants. During the season 1 finale, Carson Daly announced a series of summer concerts, which later were named The Voice Live on Tour, featuring the top two finalists from each team. Though the New York stop sold out, sales for the other cities were lackluster, prompting the tour to end up canceled.

An attempt to revive the idea came in 2014, featuring contestants from seasons 5 and 6, but it once again sold badly. While shows like The Masked Singer and Dancing with the Stars have great tours, they never worked for The Voice. While the show thrived on the small screen, capturing the audience’s attention with its unique format and engaging judges, this appeal didn’t necessarily translate into ticket sales for live performances.

9. The CeeLo Controversy

CeeLo Green Left The Voice After Real-Life Controversies

During season 4 in 2013, Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green decided to take a break, which created the tradition of rotating coaches sitting in The Voice’s red chairs. Producers of the show said the coaches would always have their spots when they felt like returning, regardless of what other artists came into the franchise. That promise quickly changed. In 2014, Green found himself in the middle of assault accusations and was caught tweeting out inflammatory comments. Green’s last time as a coach on The Voice was season 5, which aired in 2013 before this controversy.

The Voice, like any other high-profile show, operates not just as an entertainment platform but also as a brand that must maintain a certain level of public respect and trust. Green’s legal troubles and controversial statements posed a significant risk to the show’s reputation, leading to a reconsideration of his involvement. This incident illustrates the broader implications of how off-screen behavior can impact a professional relationship, especially in the entertainment industry where public perception plays a critical role.

8. Christina Aguilera Feuded With Her Fellow Judges

Christina Aguilera Reportedly Left Because of Gwen Stefani

Alisan Porter, who was on Christina Aguilera’s team, was the winner of season 10 of The Voice, which aired in 2016. After so many seasons on the show, Christina Aguilera was celebrated. Then something weird happened: Aguilera never returned to the show. Rumor has it that it is because of Aguilera’s alleged feud with Blake Shelton. According to reports, Shelton wanted his new girlfriend Gwen Stefani to stay on the series, which rubbed Christina Aguilera the wrong way. Adam Levine, who is close friends with Shelton, also took Stefani’s side in this controversial The Voice moment.

This situation underscores the importance of chemistry among coaches on shows like The Voice, where their interactions are a key part of the appeal. A falling out between major personalities can disrupt the balance and affect the show’s overall harmony, potentially impacting viewer engagement. It also illustrates the challenges producers face in managing a successful show’s cast, where negotiations and compromises are often necessary to maintain a cohesive and appealing team dynamic to the audience.

7. Eliminated Contestants Don’t Even Get To Say Goodbye

Contestants Are Not Even Allowed To Say Goodbye

According to former contestant Kat Perkins, it feels very “abrupt” when you’re eliminated from The Voice because producers make you leave the set. The Voice contestants stay at a hotel paid for by NBC, and they have to leave the hotel immediately after their elimination. The Voice has professional psychologists on set to deal with the aftermath of one’s elimination. However, when those psychologists deem a contestant feels okay, that person is sent home immediately.

Contestants can’t even say goodbye to fellow contestants, coaches, and production team members. The practice of immediately removing eliminated contestants from The Voice, as described by former contestant Perkins, sheds light on the often harsh realities of reality TV competitions. This abrupt departure process underscores the emotional and psychological challenges contestants face, not just during the competition but also in its aftermath.

6. Judges Pick Songs For Contestants

The Singers Don’t Really Pick Out Their Own Songs

During the season 1 “Battle Rounds” phase of The Voice, contestants Tarralyn Ramsey and Frenchie Davis battled it out to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” a popular song selected by coach Christina Aguilera and the show’s producers. According to Davis, she didn’t understand that choice of a song, adding that it is “hysterical when the judges say, ‘I don’t think that was a good song choice for you,’ and I’m thinking, ‘You picked that song‘. Despite singers not choosing their songs on The Voice, Davis won that “Battle Round” and advanced to the semi-finals, finishing that season in fifth place.

Davis’s reflection on her experience during the “Battle Rounds” illustrates the potential disconnect between the show’s strategic decisions and the contestants’ personal musical identities or comfort levels. Moreover, this practice raises questions about authenticity and artistic development within the framework of the show. While the choice of songs by judges and producers is likely aimed at creating engaging television moments and showcasing versatility, it can also limit contestants’ ability to fully express their individuality and connect with the audience on their own terms.

5. The “Whoosh” Is Fake

The Chair Turning Sounds Are Added Later

One of the most recognizable and iconic elements of The Voice is the turning of the coaches’ red chairs, which is accompanied by a now-famous “whoosh” sound effect. Despite what many thought, the “whoosh” does not happen as the chairs turn during the taping of each episode. It is a sound added later, during the editing and post-production of The Voice, to create more of a dramatic effect during the turning of the chairs.

However, that makes sense, as the sound effects would probably be distracting to contestants performing songs – if facing a celebrity judge isn’t already disconcerting enough. The revelation that the “whoosh” sound accompanying the chair turns on The Voice is added in post-production peels back another layer of the reality TV veneer, showcasing how auditory elements are meticulously crafted to enhance viewer experience. This manipulation of sound effects to amplify drama and tension underscores the careful orchestration behind reality television’s seemingly spontaneous moments

4. Contestants Spend Months Training For The Show

The Voice Prepares The Singers Intensively For The Show

According to season 6 contestant Kat Perkins, months can go by between the time The Voice contestant receives an audition call and the time the person makes it to the Blind Auditions. Kat stated contestants are trained to face all sorts of different situations: feeling sick on stage, fainting, reacting to failure or success, social media training, and even interview prep. It is not common for reality shows to help their contestants in such a comprehensive way.

However, The Voice is known for being a reality series that aims to help talent fully realize their potential, so it makes sense that such training happens before a singer makes it into the show. The comprehensive training provided to contestants before they even appear on The Voice highlights the show’s dedication to not just finding but also nurturing talent. This preparatory phase is critical, equipping contestants with the skills and resilience needed to navigate the intense pressure and visibility that come with participating in a high-profile competition.

3. Kelly Clarkson Likes The Voice Better Than The Show She Came From

She Prefers The Voice To American Idol

The Voice season 14 introduced a new coach to its lineup – Kelly Clarkson. She came to prominence for being the very first winner of American Idol in 2002. She joined The Voice just as Idol rebooted and moved to ABC. Many speculated Kelly would be the perfect judge to join the Idol revival, but Clarkson chose The Voice instead. Clarkson said, “A lot of people reach out to me to be a part of singing things,” but regarding The Voice, she stated, “I love this show, and I’ve been trying to be a part of it“.

Clarkson left after season 21 with a series-high 50% winning percentage but has since returned to The Voice for more coaching. Kelly Clarkson’s preference for The Voice over American Idol, despite her historic win on the latter, speaks volumes about the evolving landscape of reality TV music competitions and the personal connections that can influence such decisions. Her choice underscores the unique appeal of The Voice’s format and coaching philosophy, which emphasizes mentorship and collaboration over competition.

2. The “First Female Coach To Win” Actually Wasn’t A True Statement

It Took 10 Seasons For A Female Coach To Win The Voice

When Alisan Porter won The Voice in season 10, a huge fuss was made about this being a groundbreaking moment. Porter was on Christina Aguilera’s team, and that was the first time a female coach had won the U.S. version of The Voice. However, this was not the first time a female coach had ever won a series of The Voice. The Voice of Holland, for instance, coach Trijntje Oosterhuis won season 3 (2012). On The Voice Brasil, coach Claudia Leitte won season 2 (2013).

A female coach won the first two seasons of the Canadian La Voix: Ariane Moffatt won season 1, and Isabelle Boulay won season 2. The achievement of the first female coach winning The Voice in the U.S. with Alisan Porter’s victory in season 10 underlines a significant milestone in the show’s history, shedding light on the broader context of gender dynamics within competitive reality TV shows. While Christina Aguilera’s win was celebrated as a groundbreaking moment domestically, it also brings attention to the international versions of The Voice, where female coaches had already achieved this milestone.

1. The Show’s Biggest Success Didn’t Even Win

Melanie Martinez Had More Success Than Any The Voice Winner

By far, the biggest criticism regarding The Voice is that, unlike American Idol and The X Factor, The Voice has produced almost no mainstream superstars. What makes matters even worse for The Voice is that the closest thing the series has to a superstar is singer Melanie Martinez, who was eliminated during Week 5 in season 3. Koryn Hawthorne became a successful gospel singer, Nicolle Galyon has two Grammy nominations for songs she wrote for others, and Cassadee Pope has made waves on her own.

However, success stories are rare, and Melanie Martinez is the highlight, with a double-platinum debut album and several gold-certified singles. Martinez’s post-show success underscores the fact that the impact of The Voice extends beyond the confines of the show. It highlights how participation in the show can serve as a valuable platform for exposure, but it also highlights how winning the show doesn’t guarantee success.