Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Danielle Bradbery returns to The Voice stage tonight (NBC Photo)

Danielle will mark the first alumni invited back to perform during Season 13. She’ll perform “Worth It,” the latest single from her new album “I Don’t Believe We’ve Met.”

That album dropped Friday and quickly hit number two on the iTunes country albums chart and number four on the overall albums chart.

Her invite to perform on The Voice marks a step forward for the show.

Among seven guest performances on results shows in Season 12, Alisan Porter was only past contestant given a chance to show off her new music.

But I’m not going to cheer The Voice too loudly, for the following reasons:

1. Tuesday’s results show will also feature a performance by Portugal, The Man. Does that band have a connection to The Voice that I’m unaware of? Did I miss it somehow?

2. Monday’s show will featured Gwen Stefani singing her new holiday single, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” with Blake Shelton. The song was billed on The Voice press release as Gwen’s new hit single. If it’s already a hit, wouldn’t it have been great if, in the spirit of the season, she gifted the guest performance spot to another former Voice contestant? Especially since she has a Christmas special airing right after the Voice tonight?

3. The press release announcing Tuesday’s performances pretty much sums up the show’s priorities. Gwen and Blake get top billing. Then comes Portugal, The Man. Then comes Danielle.

4. As happy as I am for Danielle, I have to note that she’s The Voice contestant least in need of the show’s support right now. She’s one of the handful of former contestants still signed to a record label. She was interviewed about the new album by Billboard and The Rolling Stone. She’s already performed “Worth It” on Today. Believe me, the independent artists from Voice seasons past typically do not get that type of exposure for their new music.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you already know my stance on this issue.

Promoting past contestants should be a top priority for The Voice, not an afterthought.

Each and every guest performance spot should go to a past contestant. And that especially includes past contestants who made the finals, have released new music and are struggling to get it heard as independent artists.

As I’ve noted previously, we’ve recently gotten great new music from Meghan Linsey, Billy Gilman, Craig Wayne Boyd, Jacquie Lee (she’s goes by just Jacquie now) and a number of others. (Head here for my dream guest artist list, with a playlist so you can hear some of those new songs.)

Why aren’t we seeing them on The Voice?

Because Voice producers would clearly rather promote the coaches and guest artists who have no connection to the show.