The winner of season 16 of “The Voice” was announced on May 21, 2019 at the end of the two-hour results show. But in a break with tradition last season’s champion, Chevel Shepherd, was not part of the line-up of talent that performed in the lead-up to the big reveal.
Compare that to when Chevel claimed the title in December 2018 and the season 14 winner, Brynn Cartelli, got a chance to sing her new single, “Last Night’s Mascara.” That exposure propelled the song to #19 on the charts. And Brynn then got to spend the first part of 2019 touring the country as the opening act for her coach Kelly Clarkson.
Brynn has done better than the season 13 winner, Chloe Kohanski, who likewise returned to “The Voice” to debut her new single “Come This Far” on last spring’s season 14 finale. While she had made it to No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her winner’s song “Wish I Didn’t Love You” the previous December, that second single didn’t even chart. That might be why we have yet to get an album from Chole, the sixth champion for coach Blake Shelton who has been with the show since the start.
In the photo gallery above, we take a look back at all 15 of the winners of “The Voice” to date and see what they have been up in the years since claiming victory.
Season 1: Javier Colon (Team Adam Levine)
Then: He won the first edition of the show on June 29, 2011 with his solo song “Stitch by Stitch” and his duet with Levine on “Man in the Mirror.” Later that year, he released his first album, “Come Through For You,” which sold 46,000 copies. He also released an acoustic holiday EP that year.
Now: After ending his deal with Universal Republic, Colon signed with Concord Records and released “Gravity” in 2016, having co-written all the tracks.
Season 2: Jermain Paul (Team Blake Shelton)
Then: This back-up singer for Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys won the sophomore season on May 8, 2012 with three songs: his solo “I Believe I Can Fly,” his coach tribute “God Gave Me You” and his duet with Shelton on “Soul Man.” He debuted his first single, “I Believe In This Life,” on season 3 of the show.
Now: He continues to perform while fans wait for his first album.
Season 3: Cassadee Pope (Team Blake Shelton)
Then: Pope was the first woman to win “The Voice,” claiming the title on December 18, 2012 after her solo performances of the new song “Cry” and a reprise of “Over You” as well as her duet with Shelton on “Steve McQueen.” Her first album, “Frame by Frame,” was released on October 8, 2013. Buoyed by good reviews, it reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
Now: She recently did a duet with Chris Young on “Think of You,” that appeared on his album “I’m Comin’ Over” and topped the charts.
Season 4: Danielle Bradbery (Team Blake Shelton)
Then: On June 8, 2013, she became the second woman in a row to win for Shelton after her solo performances of the new song “Born to Fly” and a reprise of “Maybe It Was Memphis” as well as her duet with Shelton on “Timber, I’m Falling In Love.” At the end of the year, she released her self-titled debut album, which made it into the top 20 on the Billboard 200. The single, “The Heart of Dixie,” cracked the country chart.
Now: After the recent success of the singles “Human Diaries” and “Sway,” she is readying her second album and tours extensively.
Season 5: Tessanne Chin (Team Adam Levine)
Then: On December 17, 2013, Chin claimed the second win for Levine after after her solo performances of the new song “I Have Nothing” and a reprise of “Try” as well as her duet with Levine on “Let It Be.” Her first studio album, “Count On My Love,” came out in 2014 but only reached No. 41 on the Billboard 200.
Now: Chin continues to release new music, including the single “Love Suicide.”
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Season 6: Josh Kaufman (Team Usher)
Then: On May 20, 2014, Kaufman became the first winner (to date) for Usher after his solo performances of the new song “Set Fire to the Rain” and a reprise of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” as well as his duet with his coach on “Every Breath You Take.” He opted not to release any records but went to Broadway where he took over the title role in the Tony-winning musical “Pippin.”
Now: In 2016, he released a well-received self-titled EP and continues to tour extensively.
Season 7: Craig Wayne Boyd (Team Blake Shelton)
Then: On December 16, 2014, Boyd was the fourth winner for Shelton, having claimed the title after his solo performances of the new song “My Baby’s Got a Smile on Her Face” and a cover of “In Pictures” as well as his duet with his coach on “Boots On.” His new song debuted at No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart.
Now: He has his own line of guitars and released his first album, “Top Shelf,” in October 2017.
Season 8: Sawyer Fredericks (Team Pharrell Williams)
Then: On May 19, 2015, Fredericks was the first winner (to date) for Williams after his solo performances of the new song “Please” and a cover of “Old Man” as well as his duet with his coach on “Summer Breeze.” He followed up with a self-titled EP that hit No. 2 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart (and No. 40 on the Top 200).
Now: In 2017, he released a second album, “A Good Storm,” which included “4 Pockets, a remix by Williams. Recently, he released his third disc, “Hide Your Ghost,” and is touring in in support of that.
Season 9: Jordan Smith (Team Adam Levine)
Then: Smith became the third winner for Levine on December 15, 2015 with his renditions of his solo song “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” the Christmas carol “Mary Did You Know” and a duet with his coach on “God Only Knows.” Four months later, he released the album “Something Beautiful,” which reached No. 11 on the Christian Songs chart.
Now: He tours extensively with other Christian singers, including Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.
Season 10: Alisan Porter (Team Christina Aguilera)
Then: On May 24, 2016, Porter became the first winner (to date) for Aguilera after her solos on the cover “Somewhere” and the original song “Down That Road” as well as a duet with her coach on “You’ve Got a Friend.”
Now: After the success of two singles, “Deep Water” and “Change,” this one-time child star (“Curly Sue”) released her EP, “I Come in Pieces,” in the summer of 2017.
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Season 11: Sundance Head (Team Blake Shelton)
Then: On December 13, 2016, Head became the fifth winner for Shelton following his solo turns on the original song “Darlin’ Don’t Go” and cover of “At Last” as well as a duet with his coach on “Treat Her Right.”
Now: Following a tour with Shelton as his opening act, Head is hard at work on his first album.
Season 12: Chris Blue (Team Alicia Keys)
Then: On May 23, 2017, Blue became the first winner (to date) for Keys after his soaring renditions of the original song “Money on You” and a cover of “Rhythm Nation” as well as a duet with his coach on “Diamonds and Pearls.”
Now: After his cover of “Take Me to the King” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart in May, 2017, he began work on his first album.
Season 13: Chloe Kohanski (Team Blake Shelton)
Then: Kohanski claimed the season 13 title on December 19, 2017. She became the sixth winner for coach Blake Shelton, who has been with the show since the start. Kohanski won after delivering a soaring performance of the original song “Wish I Didn’t Love You” as well as a cover of the 1980s hit “Bette Davis Eyes” and a duet with Shelton on “You Got It.”
Now: The single of her original song only made it to No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100. Is that a sign of things to come when Kohanski releases her first album later this year.
Season 14: Brynn Cartelli (Team Kelly Clarkson)
Then: Cartelli won the season 14 title on May 22, 2018. She was the first winner for coach Kelly Clarkson who had just joined the show. Cartelli won after debuting the original song “Walk This Way” as well as a cover of “Skyfall” and a duet with Kelly on “Don’t Dream It’s Over.”
Now: The single of her original song made it to #8 on the Billboard Digital Chart. She signed a deal with Atlantic Records in December, 2018 and will open for Kelly Clarkson on a 2019 tour.
Season 15: Chevel Shepherd (Team Kelly Clarkson)
Then: Shepherd won the season 15 title on December 18, 2018. She was the second winner in a row for coach Kelly Clarkson who had joined the show in season 14. Shepherd won after debuting the original song “Broken Hearts” as well as a cover of “It’s a Little Too Late” and a duet with Kelly on “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain.”
Now: The single of her original song made it to #24 on the Billboard Country Chart. She signed a deal with Republic Records in 2019 and is working on her debut album.
