Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Season 4 of The Voice begins Monday night at 8 p.m. on NBC. Check back for live blogs during each show and for bios of the contestants who land a spot in the competition.

Meanwhile, it’s time to catch up with some familiar faces who have new music, including a Season 3 Team Cee Lo member Cody Belew.

Before The Voice: From Beebe, Ark., Cody was 27 at the time he auditioned, a 2007 graduate of Arkansas Tech University living in Nashville and pursuing a career in music while working at a women’s fashion store. Before moving to Nashville, he was lead singer of a cover band called Cody Belew and the Mercers.

On The Voice: He’ll long be remembered for his enthusiastic — some might call it rambunctious — reaction to landing a spot on Team Cee Lo. Cody figured it was the perfect marriage of singer and mentor since he wouldn’t have minded “wearing a red winged latex suit with studs all over it” and getting shot out of a cannon on stage. That never happened, but Cody did turn in a brilliant vocal on “Jolene” and a memorable version of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” en route to a Top 8 finish.

Since The Voice: Last month, Cody released a splendid single called “Baby, Get Out” with Meghan Linsey, formerly of Steel Magnolia. Cody and Meghan wrote the song with producer Tyler Cain. The press release announcing that single says he’s working on a debut album of “music you’ll want to roller skate to” and will be releasing more singles this year. He has also recorded a song called “Say Love,” to be released through Heifer International, with proceeds benefiting the organization’s goal of ending world hunger. Oh, and on April 2, Cody is planning a concert via stageit.com.

Keeping up with Cody: Head here for his website. On Twitter, he’s simply @CodyBelew. Here are the links for Facebook and YouTube.

Cody Belew and Meghan Linsey, “Baby Get Out”

“Say Love”