15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Voice
For starters, auditions have gone virtual.
NBC’s The Voice has dominated the airwaves since it first came out over a decade ago. Each season, a group of vocalists bust out their best singing chops in hopes of winning the grand prize. But that’s not all. Besides the talented acts, people love to tune in to see some of their favorite Hollywood celebs in the coach’s seat—big names like Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Miley Cyrus, and Ariana Grande have all worked on the show before.
Although the reality series is popular, there are tons of behind-the-scenes intel that you may not already be aware of. From contestants training for the competition even months before filming begins to the exciting cash prize one winner gets, these are 15 facts you might not know about The Voice.
Auditions are done virtually
Work meetings aren’t the only thing that’s held virtually nowadays. As it turns out, you can also audition for The Voice virtually. Michelle McNulty, the supervising casting director for McNulty Casting, Inc., shared that this new way of doing things has been great for the show. “Because when we were going out and traveling, people were having to spend so much money on getting to us,” she told NBC Insider. “Now, people can actually just do this from the comfort of their home.”
And they’re not long at all
Virtual auditions also aren’t an all-day thing—in fact, they’re only around a minute and a half each. According to The Voice’s open call casting site, each individual gets one minute and 30 seconds to introduce themselves, share what song they’re singing, and then, of course, sing part of the song.
There’s a minimum age requirement
If you’re looking to try out for the show, it’s important to note that you must be at least 13 years of age. Throughout the years, many teenagers have appeared on the show, including 15-year-old Aliyah Moulden, 16-year-old Emily Ann Roberts, and Season 6’s runner-up, Jake Worthington.
It’s filmed in Hollywood
Although it attracts contestants from all over the country, the reality talent show is filmed at Universal Studios in Hollywood, CA.
You can audition each season
If you don’t get selected to be on the show, don’t worry—you can always try out again the following season. According to The Voice’s website, there’s no limit to how many seasons you can audition for.
It’s been on for many seasons
The Voice has been on the air for a whopping 23 seasons. Its first episode aired on April 26, 2011.
Producers sometimes recruit talent
Sometimes producers and casting directors will directly reach out to talent they think should be on the show. Vicci Martinez, who appeared on Season 1, previously told Cosmopolitan that she was “persistently” approached by the show’s producers who wanted to get her on the competition.
The prizes are pretty sweet
Besides landing a record deal, the first-place winner of The Voice also receives a $100,000 cash prize.
Contestants don’t necessarily pick their songs
If you think contestants get to choose the songs they will sing, think again. The Voice’s producers and coaches often pick which songs each person performs. This proves to be frustrating for some contestants.
No, this singing superstar didn’t win
You don’t necessarily have to make it to the final round to be successful. For example, one singing superstar, Melanie Martinez, made it to the top six but was ultimately booted off.
Contestants go through training even before the Blind Auditions
Each contestant receives thorough training even before they film the first episode. Season 6 contestant Kat Perkins shared with Cosmopolitan that at least a month before filming the season she was on, contestants were trained on every possible scenario—for instance, how to react when coaches turn around and how to handle fainting. Perkins said that Season 6 contestants even went through social media and interview training. However, contestants from Season 1 have mentioned that they didn’t receive this same treatment back then.
Sometimes judges regret turning around
Yes, “chair-turner’s remorse” is a real thing. Some coaches on the show, such as Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine, regret turning around for certain contestants.
It was inspired by a European show
Even though The Voice has been a big hit in America for the last decade or so, it originated in the Netherlands. The Dutch show, which goes by the title The Voice of Holland, premiered in 2010.
Those rotating chairs aren’t that exciting, IRL
Do you know that “whoosh” noise the coaches’ chairs make when they turn around? Yeah, well, it doesn’t exist in real life. Perkins told Cosmopolitan that that signature sound effect is added only in post-production. The more you know.
The coaches get paid maybe more than you’d expect
The Voice coaches receive a big check on payday. Many coaches receive, on average, about $13 million per season, but some get paid a lot more than that, especially if they stay on for multiple seasons.
Brittany is a freelance writer based in her hometown of New York City. She writes about everything from fashion and beauty to food and wellness. When she's not writing, she can often be found at her local library, playing with her cats, or exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Watch Next
The Oppenheimer Cast And Their IRL Counterparts
Celebs Who Do Extreme Sports in Their Free Time
10 Celebs You Didn’t Know Are Color Blind
Pictures Of Olympic Gymnasts Through the Years
