Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Marshmello and Anne-Marie perform during a guest spot on the Jimmy Kimmel show earlier this year. (NBC Photo)

Well, here’s a good example.

This Tuesday’s results show featured James Arthur and Anne-Marie singing “Rewrite the Stars” from The Greatest Showman Re-imagined album.

For those unaware, James was the winner of the The X Factor in the UK back in 2012.

For those unaware, The Greatest Showman Reimagined album features popular artist’s takes on songs from the original movie soundtrack album. Like Kelly Clarkson covering “Never Enough.”

Of course, there wouldn’t have been a “reimagined” album if the original hadn’t been such a hit, to the tune of 50 straight weeks on the Billboard 200.

And the original album might not have been as successful as it was if it weren’t for Loren Allred’s brilliant vocals on two versions of “Never Enough.”

And, guess what, folks? Loren Allred is a Voice alumni.

Inviting Loren back to celebrate her success would have been a wonderful move by the show. And a chance for The Voice to sorta say, ‘Hey, look, we might not have produced a Kelly Clarkson yet, but lots of singers from the show are doing well.”

Nope. Instead, The Voice decides to promote the winner of someone else’s singing competition.

Because, hey, that’s how it goes on The Voice.

Kelly also performed Tuesday night. So do Gwen Stefani. Blake Shelton took the stage Monday. Guest performances are also being filmed for Jennifer Hudson and Halsey.

That brings the total number of guest performances by people with no real connection to The Voice this season to three: Kane Brown, the Backstreet Boys and the Anne-Marie/X Factor winner duet.

That brings the total number of guest performances by coaches / advisers to four: Kelly, Jennifer, Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini, Blake and Gwen.

The total number of past Voice contestants invited back to play their new music this season? A big fact zero.

Hell, the show couldn’t even find time to air Brynn Cartelli’s entire “Walk My Way” music video a couple of weeks ago.

You might think that’s because past contestants haven’t been very active. You’d be oh, so wrong.

Adam Wakefield, runner-up in Season 10, just dropped a great new album. Hannah Huston, third-place finisher in the same season, just dropped a Christmas album. Chris Jamison, who’s from Pittsburgh and was a Season 7 finalist, recently released a single with proceeds going to help those affected by the synagogue shooting in his hometown.

Emily Ann Roberts has released three songs this fall, her first new music since finishing second in Season 9 at age 16. Koryn Hawthorne just won a Dove Award, not surprising since her debut single has spent 37 weeks at number one on the Billboard gospel chart. She finished fourth on Season 8 at age 16.

In a Season 15 loaded with young female talent, wouldn’t bringing those two back to perform as a sign of what the future can hold for Reagan, Chevel, Sarah and Kennedy be a wonderful touch on the part of The Voice?

Don’t hold your breath. That’s not how things work on The Voice.

Guest spots go to established or upcoming stars with no connection to the show, and with no evidence that it does anything to boost The Voice’s ratings.

Or they go to coaches and advisers who, in my humble opinion, already get ample publicity from the show and can go elsewhere on NBC to promote their new music.

How much more fun could the results shows be if The Voice invited back three or four past favorites every week to perform new original music we’ve never heard? And if Carson Daly stopped asking insipid questions to current contestants while their Voice fate hangs in the balance?

The Voice would have no problem finding past contestants to feature. My mentions above just include very recent releases by only past finalists. Non-finalists from the show have released dozens upon dozens upon dozens of albums, EPs and singles in 2018.

Lots of it every bit as good as what we heard from Kane Brown, the Backstreet Boys or Ann-Marie and James Arthur.

Maybe someday The Voice will wise up. Maybe. But doubtfully.

Meanwhile, I have a little prediction about the future fate of The Voice Top 10.

Unless they’re very, very lucky, it won’t ever include a return to The Voice stage after Season 15 to promote their post-show music.

And that’s a shame.

Editor’s Note: Thought it appropriate to finish the blog with this tweet from Season 11 champ Sundance Head.

Hey @NBCTheVoice do you remember me? I would also like to “drop by”… been patiently waiting here but we’re coming up on 2 years already. All the best Season 11 2016 Champ Sundance! So much has happened and it’s time to show everyone. Talk to you soon. pic.twitter.com/p8yf0dT2MX

— Sundance Head (@SundanceHead) December 5, 2018