10 Unforgettable Moments from 10 Years of ‘The Voice’
Trae Patton/NBC Reading Time: 4 minutes
This year marks 10 years since The Voice first premiered in 2011. The competition is currently in its 20th season, and there have been plenty of memorable moments over the years. We’ve seen iconic vocal performances, as well as funny banter and emotional moments from the coaches.
10 Memorable ‘The Voice’ Moments
The show itself is looking back on some of the best moments in a new 10th anniversary special airing tonight, but we wanted to share our own favorite moments. These are the moments that have shocked us, made us laugh, and brought tears to our eyes.
1. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Flirt on the Show
Coaches Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani first met on The Voice. They made their romance official in 2015, and they couldn’t resist flirting with each other during their first episode as a couple. When an artist performed “Hotline Bling,” Shelton recalled the time Stefani sang it to him on The Tonight Show. Fellow coach Pharrell giggled over the moment, while Adam Levine fanned himself.
2. Adam Levine Pays Tribute to Christina Grimmie
Christina Grimmie finished The Voice in third place during Season 6. Tragically, the singer was shot and killed in 2016, at the age of 22. In 2017, her coach Adam Levine performed a moving tribute to her, along with members of his team. They performed “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. Levine told Grimmie’s family that he missed her, and that he would sing “every word to her, in her honor.”
SEE ALSO: ‘THE VOICE’ COACH ADAM LEVINE GIVES UPDATE ON LIFE, NEW ALBUM
3. Jordan Smith Shocks the Coaches with His Blind Audition
One of the most surprising Blind Auditions in the history of The Voice came in Season 9, when Jordan Smith tuned four chairs with a cover of Sia’s “Chandelier.” The show held back on showing what he looked like until the first coach turned around, knowing that we would be just as shocked as they were. Stefani was so amazed, she ran up to give him a hug. Smith ended up winning the entire season on Team Adam.
4. Shelton Passes the Sexiest Man Alive Title to John Legend
In 2017, Shelton was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. Fellow coach Adam Levine had previously held the title in 2013. Then in 2019, coach John Legend received the honor. Shelton announced the news on the show, and presented Legend with a pair of denim shorts celebrating his VEGOTSMA status. In case you don’t know, that’s an EGOT, plus a win on The Voice and a Sexiest Man Alive title.
5. Gwen Stefani Wins ‘The Voice’ for the First Time Ever
Stefani has been a coach on The Voice on and off for five seasons, but she hadn’t won the show until 2020, when her artist Carter Rubin was named the winner of Season 19. At 15 years old, Rubin was the youngest male winner in the show’s history. It was great to see Stefani take home a win after so many seasons on the show.
6. Kelly Clarkson Gives Jackets to Her Artists
When Kelly Clarkson joined The Voice as a coach in Season 14, she started a new tradition for her artists by handing out special Team Kelly jerseys. She later switched to jackets, and we’ve loved watching her contestants receive the special items. The other coaches have even taken inspiration from her and started giving gifts of their own when artists join their teams.
SEE ALSO: ‘THE VOICE’ CONTINUES TO TOP ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ MONDAY NIGHT RATINGS
7. ‘The Voice’ Coaches Cover TLC’s ‘Waterfalls’
The coaches have teamed up to deliver some amazing performances over the years, but one that stands out is their acoustic cover of “Waterfalls” by TLC in 2017. Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, and Adam Levine combined their unique voices and played various instruments during the stripped-down performance.
8. Monique Abbadie Wows Shakira with Her Own Song
One of the most energetic performances in The Voice history came from Monique Abbadie, who auditioned for the show in Season 4. Her performance of Shakira’s song “Loca” turned all four chairs, including Shakira herself. Abbadie belted out the lyrics and displayed an amazing stage presence. She had Shakira dancing and singing along to her own song.
9. Couple Gets Engaged After ‘The Voice’ Blind Audition
During Season 9 of the show, a duo called Jubal and Amanda performed “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles for their Blind Audition. They turned two coaches’ chairs, but that wasn’t even the most memorable moment from the audition. When Shelton asked if they were married, Jubal pulled a ring out his pocket and got down on one knee to propose to Amanda. The coaches could hardly believe their eyes.
10. Janice Freeman Performs an Emotional Blind Audition
In Season 13, Janice Freeman auditioned for The Voice with a performance of “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons. She turned two coaches’ chairs, and chose to join Team Miley Cyrus. After her performance, Freeman emotionally shared that she was a cancer survivor. Sadly, Freeman passed away in 2018, at age 33. Cyrus paid tearful tribute to her at her memorial service.
