“The Voice” is always looking for the best talent, but some big names in the music industry may have slipped right through its hands.
Many up-and-coming artists on the show rose to fame, such as Cassadee Pope, Christina Grimmie and Danielle Bradbery, but there are a handful of celebrities in the music business who tried out for the singing competition and never made it on. Some were even told they weren’t “interesting” enough.
A no from the show doesn’t always seal their fate. Here are some celebrities you might recognize who were rejected from “The Voice” but still found fame.
Marren Morris
Morris told audience members on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” that she was rejected from both “The Voice” and “American Idol.” She even was turned down by “America’s Got Talent.”
She added that now, contestants on both shows are singing her songs in auditions and she’s happy it worked out the way it did for her.
Morris went on to be nominated for dozens of music awards in her country genre and even collaborated on hit songs like “The Middle” with Zedd.
Luke Combs
In a January 2022 appearance on the “Full Send” podcast, the hit country singer opened up about his experience on “The Voice.”
Combs said the audition process was not what he was expecting, as thousands of singers showed up hoping for a chance on the show. Combs underestimated just how big the competition is.
He was even rejected by shows producers after a few rounds of auditions, as they thought he was “boring.”
“Essentially, I got a letter back after the next audition, which I made through. Then they told me essentially I was ‘too boring’ to be on television,” he said. He never made it to audition for coaches.
Combs went on to release huge hits in country music, becoming a staple artist in the genre.
Maddie Poppe
Poppe was the season 16 winner of “American Idol,” claiming her rise to fame thereafter.
Before “Idol,” however, the singer auditioned for “The Voice.” Not one of the coaches turned their chair for her.
“I was totally rejected on national TV and it was really embarrassing,” the singer told the Deseret News in October 2019. “It was so discouraging, and I thought, ‘Man, if these people don’t like me, then no one will.’”
She went on to win Idol and began touring, while releasing her own music.
James Arthur
The British singer and songwriter is best recognized for winning “X Factor” in 2012. Like Poppe, before finding fame through winning a talent competition, he also auditioned for “The Voice.”
Arthur was rejected from “The Voice” in 2012, and was not put in the show. He didn’t even make it to the coaches stage to audition, The Mirror reported.
He went on to audition for “X Factor,” got mentored by Nicole Scherzinger and won by fan vote.
For those without cable who want to watch the show, it can also be streamed on platforms likePeaco*ckandFuboTV. Both platforms offer a free trial for those interested in signing up for a membership.
The season finale will air on Tuesday, Dec. 19 as the winner is announced.
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