Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The Voice Season 14 Top 4 of Britton Buchanan, Brynn Cartelli, Spensha Baker and Kyla Jade (NBC Photo)

Who has the inside track on the Season 14 crown on The Voice?

Who knows?

Teen phenom Brynn Cartelli led Voice contestants two straight weeks in overnight streaming on Apple Music and has two Top 10 singles heading into the finals.

But it’s Jennifer Hudson background singer Kyla Jade who has led contestants on iTunes the past two weeks. She hit number two with her cover of “Let It Be,” the best showing yet by a Voice artist in Season 14.

Then there’s Britton Buchanan. He needed an instant save to make the finals, but he also enters Monday night’s show with three Top 10 hits on iTunes. That means he holds the edge in bonus points.

Finally, there’s Spensha Baker, the only country singer remaining on a show where country singers coached by Blake Shelton have a history of doing very, very well. In fact, four of Blake’s six coaching wins have come with country singers.

It all adds up to one of the most wide-open finales in recent memory on The Voice.

The Top 4 will take the stage an 8 p.m. performance finale Monday night.

The season finale — complete with the announcement of the results — airs from 9 to 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Here are Voice View’s rankings of the Top 4.

1. Brynn Cartelli, 15, Longmeadow, Mass.: She’s simply the most unique talent on The Voice in Season 14. Just 14 when she auditioned, she would have been too young to try out before The Voice lowered the age limit to 13 in Season 12. Yet she’s displayed the stage presence and confidence of someone who’s been performing for years. She was at her best during a two-week stretch in which she performed Rascal Flatt’s “Here Comes Goodbye” and Sia’s “Unstoppable.” How’s that for versatility? Head here to check out all of Brynn’s Voice performances.

2. Britton Buchanan, 18, Sanford, N.C.: Britton was the first contestant we met in Season 14 and he’s probably shown the most growth in terms of confidence, and that includes a willingness to put his own spin on classic rock songs. Occasionally, his voice isn’t quite up to his ambitions (see “What’s Love Got to Do With It”). But when the game plan and Britton’s vocals are in sync, the outcome is as good as it gets. Among his best performances to date have been “Some Kind of Wonderful” in the live playoffs and “Perfect,” a song he dedicated to fellow Season 14 contestant Livia Faith on Top 11 Week. Head here to check out all of Britton’s Voice performances.

3. Spensha Baker, 24, San Antonio, Texas: After a couple of shaky performances in the live playoffs, lots of Voice viewers (yours truly included) were probably wondering why in the world Blake Shelton saved Spensha as his choice to make the Top 12. Turns out The Voice’s all-time winning-est coach knew exactly what he was doing. Spensha has come on strong ever since. The former child gospel star turned soulful country singer has turned in two of her best performances in the past two weeks with covers of “Red” and “My Church.” She also hit the iTunes Top 10 for the first time in the semifinals. That’s called peeking at the right time. Head here to check out all of Spensha’s Voice performances.

Shouldn’t Even Be on the Show

Kyla Jade, 33, Nashville, Tenn.: Look, I’m not going to put Kyla at number four in the rankings because this show is called The Voice and she probably has the best, the strongest and the most versatile of the Top 4. But I’m not putting her at number one because I continue to insist she has no business being a contestant on the show.

She is Jennifer Hudson’s background singer. Jennifer Hudson coached Season 13. Jennifer Hudson will coach Season 15. Jennifer Hudson was in the middle of her first season as a Voice coach when Kyla auditioned last October. That creates, or should create, a huge issue with a perception of favoritism.

Has Kyla received special treatment? Well, The Voice aired two sneak peek blind auditions before the season premiere. Kyla’s was one of those. Producers and coaches, not fans, determine who makes the live playoffs. Surprise, surprise, Kyla made it. A couple of equally impressive R&B singers did not. Kyla was never montaged along the way. And once the finals began, who was in the pimp spot the very first week? Kyla Jade.

Even if you come to the conclusion that doesn’t add up to special treatment, the perception of an unbalanced playing field is still a problem. Bottom line: Singers and musicians of active coaches on the show should not be allowed to compete.

Gee, Alicia Keys is taking Season 15 off. Perhaps one of her background singers could audition. Maybe Kelly Clarkson will take Season 16 off. Then one of her background singers could win The Voice. And, hey, Blake Shelton will need a vacation sometime. That would be a perfect opening for one of his background singers to triumph on the show. Get the picture?

But, hey, if Kyla wins, my headline is already written: “Voice coach Jennifer Hudson’s background singer wins The Voice.”

Doesn’t sound right, does it?

Head here to check out all of Kyla’s Voice performances.