The eighteenth season of the American reality television series The Voice ran from February 24 to May 19, 2020, on NBC. Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend returned as coaches for their eighteenth, fifth, and third season, respectively. Nick Jonas joined the panel for his first season as a new coach, replacing Gwen Stefani. Meanwhile, Carson Daly returned for his eighteenth season as host.
This is the third season in The Voice since seasons season 1 and season 3 where the team sizes was not 12, as it was reduced to ten. This is also the first season to have five artists compete in the finale, and the first time each coach would guarantee to have at least one artist representing in the finale since season two. For the first time since season 2, artists are not awarded any multiplier bonuses for streams or iTunes downloads due to the performances being recorded away from the studios (except for the finals) as a measure against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Todd Tilghman was named the winner of the season, marking Blake Shelton's record-extending seventh win as a coach, making him the oldest winner to date in the show's history – following Josh Kaufman in the 6th season. For the first time, the first artist in the Blind Auditions went on to win the entire season.
During the finale, Daly forwent the announcement of third place and instead proceeded to announce Tilghman winning the season, without revealing the final placements for Thunderstorm Artis or Toneisha Harris. However, through The Voice Twitter page, Harris was revealed to finish as runner-up, which made her the highest-placed African American female singer in Voice history until Alexia Jayy became the winner of season 29.
Coaches and hosts
In October 2019, it was announced that Nick Jonas would join the show as a coach for this season replacing Gwen Stefani who left the panel due to her Just a Girl Las Vegas Residency. This is his second appearance, as he was the Battle Advisor for the 8th season for Team Christina. Blake Shelton returned for his eighteenth season as a coach, John Legend for his third, and Kelly Clarkson for her fifth. This is the twelfth season to feature three male coaches on the panel.
This season's advisors for the Battles are: Dua Lipa for Team Kelly, Joe and Kevin Jonas (Jonas Brothers) for Team Nick, Ella Mai for Team Legend, and Bebe Rexha (who was the coach for 16th season's Comeback Stage) for Team Blake.
James Taylor served as a mega-mentor for all teams during the Knockouts.
Teams Color key
Coaches Top 40 artists Kelly Clarkson Micah Iverson Megan Danielle Cedrice Mandi ThomasCammWessSamantha HowellAnaya CheyenneTayler GreenChelleSara CollinsGigi HessJulesNick JonasThunderstorm ArtisAllegra MilesMichael WilliamsRoderick ChambersArei MoonTate BrusaJacob MillerJon MullinsJoanna SerenkoAnders DrerupKevin FarrisSamuel WilcoJohn LegendCammWessZan FiskumMandi CastilloMike JerelThunderstorm ArtisJoanna SerenkoNelson Cade IIIDarious LylesCammWessCedriceBrittney AllenZach DayBlake SheltonTodd TilghmanToneisha HarrisJoanna SerenkoJoei FulcoCedriceTodd Michael HallCam SpinksLevi Watkins Jon Mullins Kailey AbelJamal CorrieJacob Daniel Murphy
Blind auditions + Blind auditions color key Coach hit his/her "I WANT YOU" button Artist defaulted to this coach's team Artist was eliminated with no coach pressing their button ✘ Coach pressed "I WANT YOU" button, but was blocked by another coach from getting the artist Blocked by Kelly Blocked by Nick Blocked by John Blocked by Blake
Episode 1 (Feb. 24) Among this episode's auditionees was Emily Bass, who previously auditioned unsuccessfully in season 17. Order Artist Age Hometown Song Coach's and artist's choices Kelly Nick John Blake 1 Todd Tilghman 41 Meridian, Mississippi "We've Got Tonight" 2 Nelson Cade III 27 Anaheim, California "Pride & Joy" ✘ 3 Tate Brusa 16 Salt Lake City, Utah "Perfect" – – 4 Tayler Green 27 Los Angeles, California "Issues" – – 5 Ashley Plath 20 Middletown, New Jersey "Baby, It's You" – – – – 6 Darious Lyles 30 Chicago, Illinois "How Do You Sleep?" – – 7 Megan Danielle 17 Douglasville, Georgia "Remedy" – – – 8 Chrissy Joly 32 Brooklyn, New York "Don't Let Me Down" – – – – 9 Todd Michael Hall 50 Saginaw, Michigan "Jukebox Hero" – – 10 Emily Bass 16 Magnolia, Texas "Love Yourself" – – – – 11 Joanna Serenko 18 St. Louis, Missouri "All My Loving"
Episode 2 (Feb. 25) Among this episode's auditionees were Zach Day and Arei Moon, who previously competed on the thirteenth and fifteenth seasons of American Idol. Order Artist Age Hometown Song Coach's and artist's choices Kelly Nick John Blake 1 Arei Moon 28 Boston, Massachusetts "Miss Independent" ✘ – – 2 Levi Watkins 14 Birmingham, Alabama "Hey, Soul Sister" – – – 3 Cassidy Lee 22 Jacksonville, Florida "Gold Dust Woman" – – – – 4 Zach Day 25 Stearns, Kentucky "Weak" – – 5 Chelle 18 Bargersville, Indiana "idontwannabeyouanymore" – 6 Toneisha Harris 44 Roswell, Georgia "I Want to Know What Love Is"
Episode 3 (March 2) Among this episode's auditionees was Samantha Howell, who previously competed on the seventeenth season of American Idol. Order Artist Age Hometown Song Coach's and artist's choices Kelly Nick John Blake 1 Allegra Miles 16 St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands "Use Somebody" – – 2 CammWess 21 Blythewood, South Carolina "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)" – – 3 Joei Fulco 22 Lancaster, California "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" – ✘ – 4 Sara Collins 18 Baton Rouge, Louisiana "Johnny & June" – – 5 Clerida 30 Long Island, New York "Put Your Records On" – – – – 6 Samantha Howell 19 Virginia Beach, Virginia "Take It on the Run" – ✘ 7 Jamal Corrie 26 San Francisco, California "Be Alright" – – – 8 Ruby G 29 Brooklyn, New York "Hard Place" – – – – 9 Samuel Wilco 39 Fort Knox, Kentucky "Lately" – – 10 Hawk McIntyre 20 Boone, Iowa "Lie to Me" – – – – 11 Thunderstorm Artis 23 Haleiwa, Hawaii "Blackbird"
Episode 4 (March 9) Order Artist Age Hometown Song Coach's and artist's choices Kelly Nick John Blake 1 Anaya Cheyenne 16 Norwalk, Connecticut "I'll Never Love Again" – – 2 Mandi Thomas 33 Memphis, Tennessee "Con Te Partirò" – – – 3 Ari Tibi 27 Calabasas, California "The Joke" – – – – 4 Jacob Miller 29 Eden, Wisconsin "The Times They Are A-Changin'" – 5 Jon Mullins 32 Lynchburg, Virginia "Don't Give Up On Me" – – – 6 Jacob Daniel Murphy 27 Elk Grove, California "Until You Come Back To Me" – – – 7 Zan Fiskum 22 Seattle, Washington "Light On" – 8 Chan Fuze 23 Chicago, Illinois "Groove Me" – – – – 9 Roderick Chambers 38 Miami, Florida "Back at One" – – – 10 Jules 15 Peoria, Arizona "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" – – 11 Jared Harper 22 San Francisco, California "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" – – – – 12 Michael Williams 18 Mason, Ohio "You Say" – – – 13 Mike Jerel 31 Ashburn, Georgia "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
Episode 5 (March 16) The Coaches performed "Jealous" at the start of the show.
Among this episode's auditionees were Brittney Allen, who previously competed on the tenth season of America's Got Talent, and Kailey Abel, who previously competed on the fifteenth season of American Idol.
Order Artist Age Hometown Song Coach's and artist's choices Kelly Nick John Blake 1 Micah Iverson 26 Tokyo, Japan "All I Want" – 2 Brittney Allen 28 Columbus, Georgia "Dancing on My Own" – – – 3 Tracey Preston 35 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania "Rock Steady" – – – – 4 Cam Spinks 29 Alabaster, Alabama "Wave on Wave" – – 5 Anders Drerup 36 Ottawa, Canada "Can't Help Falling in Love" – – – 6 Mandi Castillo 23 San Antonio, Texas "Así Fue" 7 Kailey Abel 19 Verdigris, Oklahoma "Forever Young" – – – 8 Tyrone Perkins 68 Marina del Rey, California "Stormy Monday" – – – rowspan="5" 9 Gigi Hess 22 Lovington, New Mexico "Lovesong" – – 10 Kevin Farris 33 Arlington Heights, Illinois "Home" rowspan="3" 11 Allison Grace 25 Fort Smith, Arkansas "Don't Know Why" rowspan="2" – 12 Cedrice 28 San Diego, California "Fever"
Battles The battles started on March 23. The advisors for this round were Dua Lipa for Team Kelly, Joe and Kevin Jonas for Team Nick, Ella Mai for Team Legend, and Bebe Rexha for Team Blake. The coaches can steal one losing artist from other coaches and save one losing artist on their team. However, the team coach may only hit their button to save an artist after it is clear that no other coach is going to steal the artist. Artists who win their battle or are stolen by another coach advance to the knockouts.
+ Battles color key Artist won the battle and advanced to the knockouts Artist lost the battle but was stolen by another coach and advanced to the knockouts Artist lost the battle but was saved by their coach and advanced to the four-way knockout Artist lost the battle and was eliminated
+ Battles results Episode Coach Order Winner Song Loser 'Steal'/'Save' result Kelly Nick John Blake Episode 6 Blake 1 Joei Fulco "The Best" Todd Michael Hall – – – Kelly Clarkson 2 Anaya Cheyenne "Scared to Be Lonely" Chelle – – – – Nick Jonas 3 Roderick Chambers "When the Party's Over" Joanna Serenko – – – John Legend 4 Mike Jerel "Adorn" Zach Day – – – – Blake Shelton 5 Levi Watkins "Counting Stars" Jamal Corrie – – Nick Jonas 6 Allegra Miles "How Will I Know" Michael Williams – – Episode 7 Blake Shelton 1 Toneisha Harris "Good as Hell" Jacob Daniel Murphy – – Kelly Clarkson 2 Micah Iverson "Someone You Loved" Gigi Hess – – – John Legend 3 Mandi Castillo "Señorita" CammWess – – – Blake Shelton 4 Cam Spinks "What Ifs" Kailey Abel – Nick Jonas 5 Tate Brusa "Circles" Anders Drerup – John Legend 6 Darious Lyles "Come Together" Nelson Cade III – – Episode 8 Nick Jonas 1 Arei Moon "Missing You" Samuel Wilco rowspan="8" – Kelly Clarkson 2 Megan Danielle "Top of the World" Samantha Howell – – Blake Shelton 3 Todd Tilghman "Ghost in This House" Jon Mullins rowspan="6" John Legend 4 Zan Fiskum "Closer to Fine" Brittney Allen rowspan="5" – Kelly Clarkson 5 Mandi Thomas "My Baby Loves Me" Sara Collins – 6 Tayler Green "Water Under the Bridge" Jules – Nick Jonas 7 Jacob Miller "Lights Up" Kevin Farris – John Legend 8 Thunderstorm Artis "Stay" Cedrice
Knockouts In the knockouts, each coach can steal one losing artist from another team. Artists who win their knockout or are stolen by another coach advance to the live playoffs. James Taylor served as a mega mentor for all teams in this round.
New this season, each saved artist from the battles will go head-to-head in the first-ever four-way knockout. Results for the four-way knockout are decided by a public vote, with the winner announced during the first week of live shows.
+ Knockouts color key Artist won the Knockout and advanced to the live playoffs Artist lost the knockout but was stolen by another coach and advanced to the live playoffs Artist lost the knockout and was eliminated