• And the winner of 'The Voice' is ...

    By Reuters

    Jermaine Paul of Team Blake won TV singing contest "The Voice" on Tuesday night, taking home a recording contract with Universal Republic Records, a $100,000 cash prize, and a shot at his dream of singing stardom.

    Paul collapsed into a hug from his coach Blake Shelton and wiped away tears as he thanked his wife, children, and all of the people who voted for him, ending his speech by exclaiming "nobody but Jesus!"

    Jermaine Paul, a former backup singer for Alicia Keys, has been named champion of the second season of "The Voice." He tells TODAY what it means to have found success as a solo artist.

    The former backup singer for Alicia Keys took center stage as he sang R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" to close out the show, which he also sang in his final performance on Monday's penultimate episode of the show. Paul received embraces from his wife and family members as he sang.

    Paul beat out fellow contestants Juliet Simms of Team Cee Lo (Green), Tony Lucca of Team Adam (Levine), and Chris Mann of Team Christina (Aguilera). Host Carson Daly revealed that Paul edged out second place finalist Simms by fewer than four percentage points.

    Tuesday's special two-hour finale included a plethora of performances from stars such as Justin Bieber, Lady Antebellum, Flo Rida, and Hall & Oates. Contestants previously voted off the show were invited back to perform with the four finalists.


    "The Voice" became one of the most-watched TV shows in the United States earlier this season and was seen a challenge to Fox's top-rated singing show "American Idol."

    During the season, it proved very competitive against "Idol," especially in the coveted 18-49 viewer group where the two shows are in a close race to be the most-watched program.

    But "Idol" draws many millions more total viewers than "The Voice" - an average audience size of 19.2 million this season compared to 14.8 million for "The Voice", according to figures from the two TV networks.

    Do you think Jermaine was the right choice? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

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  • Newly ousted ‘Voice’ singers talk elimination

    The four contestants sent home from “The Voice” this week – Pip, James Massone, Cheesa and Mathai – chat with TODAY’s Al Roker about working with coaches Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine on the NBC series.

     

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  • Simon Cowell wants 'X Factor' vs. 'Idol' vs. 'The Voice' showdown

    Dan Steinberg / Dan Steinberg / AP

    Simon Cowell wants to see a battle of the talent show greats.

    By Craig Berman

    With his show on the sidelines this spring, “X Factor’s” Simon Cowell is looking to get attention by elbowing his way into the headlines. A few weeks ago, it was by dumping Steve Jones, Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul. That got him the publicity he wanted, but it’s hard to do that more than once a year because he’d quickly run out of people to fire.

    On Thursday, he tried a different tactic, tweeting during the “American Idol” Las Vegas round:

    “Maybe the winner of @TheXFactorUSA this yr should compete with winner of The Voice & Idol in a super final. Just a thought. I'd be up for it”

    Well, duh. Why shouldn’t he be up for it? He’s the show trying to knock “Idol” off its perch. I’m sure he’d also be up for a mixed martial arts fight with Ryan Seacrest, or a stint on “Survivor” with the “Idol” and “Voice” judges. Anything to close that gap.

    Others might have ignored Simon at this point, but when has Nigel Lythgoe ever been good at that? He responded with a tweet of his own:

    “@simoncowell suggests the IDOL winner should take on the voice and x-factor winners. The problem is the Idol winner will be a star by then.”

    Shots fired!

    On the surface, Simon’s got the high ground. Who wouldn’t want to see the winners of all the singing shows face off? It would be a huge ratings success if marketed well – and given the amount of commercials that all the shows run to promote themselves, it’s a safe bet that everyone would know about it.


    Nevertheless, I doubt that Simon actually expects this to happen. The logistics alone would be extremely difficult, since “Idol” and “The Voice” are on in the spring, “Idol” goes on tour over the summer and “X Factor starts in September. “Idol” isn’t going to cancel its tour for this.

    But Nigel Lythgoe also is right in his point. “Idol’s” track record is strong, and has a proven ability to create stars. It’s winner is going to be a star soon after the finale. “The Voice” is 0-for-1 in that regard, while we’re still awaiting “X Factor” winner Melanie Amaro’s debut album.

    So practically speaking, if you’re “Idol” you’d be risking a lot to gain very little. Your track record of success dwarfs that of your rivals, and it’s hard to see the show seeking company.

    It’s also hard to imagine how the format would work. Perhaps each competition’s judges could mentor their winner, then sit in backwards-facing chairs during the performance itself and have Ryan Seacrest interview everyone afterwards. And then the Coke and Pepsi people could fight over sponsorship rights like the Sharks and the Jets, which would spare us a massive group sing. And the “America’s Got Talent” winner would be picketing outside for not being included.

    Still, it would be some great television. And the clash of egos in the room would be something to behold.

    Would you watch? Is Simon serious? Or is this just an attempt to get attention for his own show? Tell us what you think on our Facebook page.

    Want more "Idol" during "Idol"? Follow @CraigBerman as he live tweets each show!

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  • 'Voice' win 'changed everything' for Javier Colon

    Bebeto Matthews / AP

    Javier Colon

    By Ree Hines

    Winning “The Voice” brought about more than just newfound fame and a record deal for Javier Colon — it gave him a new lease on life.

    During a Thursday night appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” the singer explained his personal woes before the show, and how how the competition “changed everything” for him.

    “It’s a new lease on life,” Colon said. “Before the show I was just a struggling musician, trying to, you know, trying to figure out a way to support my family. And this show comes along and completely changed everything.”

    For instance, with his much improved musical prospects (and the $100,000 prize money he raked in), “The Voice” victor can now pay all of his monthly bills. That’s a big change from where he was just months ago.

    “We had this little game, my wife and I. ‘Well, we can’t pay this bill, so let’s try and pay another one,’” Colon explained. “So usually the cable bill was the last one to be paid. My cell phone bill – I’d get the notice basically every time. ‘We’re going to shut you off if you don’t pay it right now.’ So I would pay it that last day before they would shut me off. But that was life.”

    That was life then. Now things are very different. Good thing Colon has his kids around to make sure he always stays humble — no matter how much success he has. In fact, he wouldn’t even have his current success if one daughter had her way.

    “Kids are proud of daddy,” Colon said. “(But) my oldest daughter, she was a big Vicci Martinez fan. She was rooting for Vicci. But that’s OK, because as long as they like good music, then that’s all that I care about. And Vicci is awesome, so yeah, I was OK with that.”

    Will you follow Colon's career now that "The Voice" is over? Tell us on our Facebook page.

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  • 'Voice' winner almost gave up on music business

    By Ree Hines

    On Wednesday night, Javier Colon took top honors on “The Voice,” but in a Friday morning interview on TODAY, the singer admitted he came close to giving up on the music business all together before the competition even began.

    The winner of NBC's "The Voice," Javier Colon, talks with the TODAY's anchors about how excited he is to get a new record deal.

    According to Colon, tough times and a failed record deal made success seem hopeless.

    “I was (thinking of abandoning music), because it was getting to the point I wasn’t able to, you know, make a living enough to raise my two beautiful girls and support my wife,” he explained. “I wasn’t going to let that happen, so if I had to do something else, I was going to do something else.”

    Of course now, with a prize of $100,000 and a guaranteed record contract, Colon’s given up on thoughts of giving up. But in the moments just before his big win was announced, he still wasn’t so confident of his future.

    “There was never any confidence,” the self-proclaimed “acoustic soul” singer said. “Actually, honestly, I was fully prepared for Carson (Daly) to say, ‘And the winner of ‘The Voice’ is Dia Frampton.’ I was going to turn around and hug and tell her how much I love her, because she’s absolutely amazing. And I mean, honestly, the votes were so close I feel like we all should have won at that point. Hopefully, we all get the record deals and the same happens for all of us.”

    Colon even sees himself singing alongside other talent from “The Voice” in the months ahead — other top talent, that is.

    “(Adam Levine and I ) already talked about it. We’re going to do some things in the studio together," he said. "We also talked to Cee Lo (Green), as well. He wants to get together. So we’re going to do some fun things in the future”

    Next up in Colon's immediate future, as well as that of his fellow former finalists, is “The Voice” tour, which kicks off July 27.

    Will you follow Colon’s post-“Voice” music career? Tell us on our Facebook page.

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  • 'Voice' finale features some of the season's top performances

    By Ree Hines

    Fan favorite Javier Colon took top honors on "The Voice" Wednesday night, but the winning moment wasn’t the only highlight of the show. Finale night also featured some of the top performances seen all season.

    Once again, it was an evening of star-studded match-ups for the contestants, as each of the finalists paired up with a celebrity performer. The only difference this time was that the big names weren’t doing double duty as coaches.

    Winner Javier performed "Landslide" alongside Stevie Nicks. 

    Runner-up Dia Frampton belted out "The House That Built Me" with country singer Miranda Lambert.

    Vicci Martinez was joined by Pat Monahan for “Drops of Jupiter.”

    Beverly McClellan sang "Good Life" with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder.

     Which performance was your favorite? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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  • Who should win 'The Voice'?

    By Ree Hines

    The final four gave it their all on “The Voice” Tuesday night, and they’ll soon learn their fates on Wednesday's finale results show. But before the winner walks away with a recording contract and $100,000, take one last look at the performances that paired each of the hopefuls with their celebrity coaches.

    Beverly McClellan and Christina Aguilera sang "Beautiful."

    Javier Colon and Adam Levine performed Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror."

    Dia Frampton and Blake Shelton teamed up for Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

    And finally, Vicci Martinez and Cee Lo Green sang "Love Is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar.

    After watching the last efforts, which contender do you think should win it all on “The Voice”? Tell us on our Facebook page.

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  • 'Voice' contestants prepare for final showdown

    By Ree Hines

    It’s down to the last stretch on “The Voice,” as the remaining singers in the competition prepare to face off for Tuesday night’s live battle. Before they leave their fates to viewers' votes, three of the final four stopped by TODAY to share their pre-showdown thoughts.

    Contestants Vicci Martinez, Dia Frampton and Javier Colon chat about competing on NBC's hit singing reality-TV show "The Voice."

    For Vicci Martinez, those thoughts include her late father, of whom she’s spoken many times during the competition.

    “I feel like I definitely am doing him justice and representing myself,” the last member of Cee Lo Green’s team said. “But at the same time, (I’m) just having fun with it — just like he would have done. So hopefully that is coming across.”

    Javier Colon, who worked his way to the end with the help of coach Adam Levine, also hopes his fun-loving performances are coming across to the audience. After all, that’s what could make him a winner, even if he doesn’t actually win the $100,000 or the guaranteed record deal that go “The Voice’s” victor.

    “Honestly it’s going to depend on the people, you know, here in America, that will decide if they will support me and come to my shows and buy CDs and stuff,” Colon said of his career if he doesn’t take it all the way. “I really don’t know, but I guess time will tell.”

    As for which finalist is favored to win, it’s a good thing the singers aren’t making the selection themselves. None of the contenders could pick.

    “Oh, my gosh, I love everybody next to me, and Beverly (McClellan),” Dia Frampton, from Team Blake Shelton, raved. “I’d be happy for any of them. They’re great people!”

    Martinez and Colon completely agreed.

    The finalists can’t seem to decide, but what do you think? Which one should take the big prize on finale night? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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  • Adam Levine accidentally slams Adam Lambert on 'The Voice'

    By Ree Hines

    While heaping praise on one contestant during last night’s “Voice” semifinals, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine took an inadvertent swipe at ex-“Idol” singer Adam Lambert.

    The gaffe occurred right after Nakia, from Cee Lo Green’s team, stole the show with his version of Lambert’s big hit “Whataya Want From Me.”

    “I’m actually not familiar with that song, but you just forced me to like it,” Levine raved before adding, “I’m pretty sure, although I’ve never heard that song before, that you probably sang it better than the person that sang it originally.”

    That comment earned Levine plenty of outrage from Lambert fans, who took to Twitter and Facebook to bash “The Voice” coach. But Lambert himself was in no mood to start a feud over it. In fact, the singer seemed to enjoy Nakia’s rendition of the song as much as Levine did.

    “Yeah Nakia! Saaaang boy!! Great performance.” Lambert tweeted. “I think Adam might know who I am after this next album. Get ready for me Levine. Hahah”

    Minutes later, Lambert addressed his still-raging fans.

    “But for the record, I’m def a Maroon 5 fan,” he wrote. “Fans: there is NO reason to be angry. Thanks for being protective but it's all good.”

    Lambert wasn’t the only one trying to soothe upset fans. Even Nakia got into the act.

    “Before I go to bed: Fans, pls don't hate on @adamlevine for his comments about (“Whataya Want From Me”),” the crooner requested. “He's a great guy & wasn't trying sabotage anything.”

    For Levine’s part, he has no regrets about the comments, despite the continued messages directed toward him from Team Lambert.

    “I had honestly never heard that song before,” he tweeted.  “I thought that @nakia made me like a song that would have otherwise fallen flat. I'm NOT sorry.”

    Levine's not sorry, but should he be? After all, Lambert's not offended and Nakia's just fine, but some fans are still worked up. Tell us what you think on our Facebook page!

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  • 'The Voice's' Levine talks tension with Aguilera

    By Ree Hines

    The on-air tension between “Voice” coaches Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera has only grown since the competition started, but what’s really behind all of that back-and-forth banter? According to the Maroon 5 frontman, nothing at all.

    That’s right, despite snappy comments and a couple of uncomfortable moments, such as the time Aguilera suggested Levine “soiled” himself in the face of quality singers, Levine insists the drama seen on the show is the made-for-TV variety.

    “They fabricate a lot of that – a lot of that is kind of reality television fodder,” Levine confessed during a Monday night appearance on the “Tonight Show.”

    When the point was pressed by host Jay Leno, Levine hesitated for a moment, but then chalked up any seemingly tough times between the two to a sibling-like chemistry.

    “What are you trying to do?” he laughed. “She’s fine. We bicker like brother and sister.”

    The pair will likely keep the “bickering” to a minimum during Tuesday night’s two-hour episode of “The Voice,” as Levine’s team is set to face off against Cee Lo Green’s group.

    What do you think of the on-air tension between Aguilera and Levine? Is it really all in good fun and just for the cameras? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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  • Coaches take the stage on 'The Voice' live show

    By Ree Hines

    The contestants weren’t the only ones to hit the stage for “The Voice’s” live quarterfinals Tuesday night. The panel of celebrity coaches kicked off the action by standing in the spotlight themselves.

    Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine earned raves from the crowd as they joined forces for medley of Queen hits.

    But that opening act wasn’t the only star-studded performance of the evening. With a nod to Maroon 5 frontman Levine, Shelton returned to the stage along with his team to put their spin on of “This Love.”

    Aguilera was back, too, with the four remaining members of her team for a sing-off to “Lady Marmalade.”

    What did you think of the A-list performances? Did they add appeal or take the focus away from the stars-to-be? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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  • 'Voice' battle ends in romance

    By Ree Hines

    Updated at 4:22 p.m. PT

    The singing showdowns on “The Voice” often end in surprise, but those jaw-droppers are usually about which vocalist wins the round. Not so on Tuesday night.

    When Cee Lo Green pitted protégés Curtis Grimes and Emily Valentine against each other, Grimes was the easy winner. The shock came when the country crooner and his heavily tattooed counterpart shared a passionate post-performance kiss.

    “Is there more behind that?” host Carson Daly asked the pair.

    Grimes said, “Maybe." Valentine remained equally evasive with her “We’ll see.”

    Meanwhile judge Blake Shelton cracked, “Cee Lo probably told ya’ll he wanted you to ‘duet’ not ‘do it.’”

    Actually, Green seemed to play an unwitting cupid for the partners before their act, as he encouraged them to “reenact” the love and loss behind Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.” The duo handled the love part well enough. What about the loss? Valentine likely knows all about that now that she's been eliminated.

    "When you're a sexy lady, you think you would have an edge," Valentine told reporters during a conference call on Wednesday. "I was banking on that, but I guess I was wrong."

    That elimination wasn't the only thing Valentine was willing to chat about. "We choreographed (the kiss) all night long!" the singer told our pals at Us Weekly.

    So there you have it!

    What did you think of the on-stage lip lock? Did it look real to you? Tell us on Facebook!

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