To Date, Here Are 5 of The Biggest Stars to Come Out of The Voice
You know, I've been a fan of The Voice for years—probably over a decade now. And thanks to the magic of TikTok, I've fallen down more than a few rabbit holes watching short clips from The Voice UK, The Voice Kids, and even auditions from countries I didn't expect—like Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa. There's something about those blind auditions and spinning chairs that just pulls me in every time.
After digging into the history of The Voice, I found a few fun factoids I thought you might like, too. The show actually started way back in 2010 in the Netherlands, created by John de Mol (yep, the same guy who helped create Big Brother).
Since then, it's exploded across the globe with over 60 international versions. You can now catch The Voice in countries like the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sweden, Argentina, and many more.
Now, while The Voice has given the world thousands of notable singers, not all of them have gone on to become household names. Who are some of the biggest stars to come out of The Voice? Who made a significant impact after the show was over?
"After conducting some research (and encountering a few surprises), I've found the following. By the way, this is my personal research; feel free to dispute any of these, or add people you think belong on this list! Leave your opinion in the comments."
🌟 Top 5 Most Successful Contestants from The Voice – Worldwide
These are the ones who not only wowed us on the show but also went on to sell records, earn awards, and build actual careers. Let's break it down:
1. Morgan Wallen
(The Voice USA, Season 6 – 2014, Team Usher initially, then Team Adam)
Okay, so this one shocked even me. Morgan Wallen was actually eliminated early in the playoffs, but he's become the biggest success story ever from The Voice.
Why he's #1:
-
🎧 Record Sales & Streams:
-
Over 35 million equivalent album sales (EAS) globally
-
Dangerous: The Double Album broke all kinds of country music streaming records
-
One Thing at a Time dominated the charts for weeks
-
-
💵 Estimated Earnings:
-
Net worth estimated between $25–30 million and rising fast
-
-
🏆 Awards:
-
ACM Album of the Year
-
Billboard Music Awards
-
CMT Music Awards
-
Holds records for most weeks on Billboard Country Charts
-
Bottom line: He didn't win the show, but he definitely won real-life stardom.
2. Melanie Martinez
(The Voice USA, Season 3 – 2012, Top 6 Finalist)
Melanie had a style all her own from the start—quirky, artistic, emotional. And it turns out that unique identity is precisely what carried her beyond the show.
What she's accomplished:
-
🎧 Album Sales & Streams:
-
Cry Baby was certified Double Platinum in the U.S.
-
Albums like K-12 and Portals have cult followings
-
Billions of streams across platforms
-
-
💵 Estimated Earnings:
-
Net worth somewhere around $10–12 million
-
-
🏆 Impact:
-
While she's not mainstream radio famous, she's a huge streaming success, especially among younger listeners on TikTok and Spotify.
-
Strong merchandise sales and sold-out tours
-
Bottom line: She has built a loyal fan base and a full-blown brand on her own terms.
3. Jordan Smith
(The Voice USA, Season 9 – 2015, Winner – Team Adam)
Jordan Smith's voice is the kind that makes you stop what you're doing and just listen. He made history with his chart performance during the show and continued to do so afterward.
Highlights:
-
🎧 Sales & Chart Success:
-
Became the highest-selling Voice contestant on iTunes during his season
-
Albums charted on Billboard's Christian and Adult Contemporary charts
-
-
💵 Estimated Earnings:
-
Estimated net worth around $2–3 million
-
-
🏆 Awards & Recognition:
-
Wrote "Ashes" for Celine Dion (Deadpool 2 soundtrack)
-
Billboard chart-topper in the Christian music space
-
Bottom line: Jordan found his lane in Christian and inspirational music, and is thriving.
Here's Jordan Smith's blind audition:
4. Cassadee Pope
(The Voice USA, Season 3 – 2012, Winner – Team Blake)
Cassadee brought her pop-punk background from the band Hey Monday into country music, making it work. She was the first female winner of The Voice USA and used the win to launch a solid country career.
Career Snapshot:
-
🎧 Sales:
-
Frame by Frame hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country Albums chart
-
Single "Wasting All These Tears" sold 125,000 copies in its first week
-
Duet "Think of You" with Chris Young went Platinum
-
-
💵 Estimated Earnings:
-
Estimated around $4–5 million
-
-
🏆 Awards:
-
Grammy nomination
-
CMT Music Award
-
ACM Award nomination
-
Bottom line: A fan favorite who turned her win into long-term respect in the country scene.
Cassadee Pope performed this song on The Voice, and ever since, it's held a special place in my heart. When my dad passed, I wept listening to it. Those tears were part of my healing. The original is by Miranda Lambert, and it still brings me back to that time.
5. Koryn Hawthorne
(The Voice USA, Season 8 – 2015, 4th Place – Team Pharrell)
She didn't win the show, but she's dominating the gospel and Christian charts today.
Why she made the list:
-
🎧 Chart Success:
-
Unstoppable topped Billboard's Top Gospel Albums
-
Single "Won't He Do It" stayed at No. 1 for 41 weeks (that's almost a whole year!)
-
-
💵 Estimated Earnings:
-
Net worth estimated at around $1–2 million
-
-
🏆 Awards & Nominations:
-
2 Grammy nominations
-
Billboard and Stellar Gospel Awards
-
Bottom line: She's a star in her genre, with one of the most consistent post-show careers.
Here's Koryn's blind audition:
🎬 Final Thoughts
So there you have it! While not every Voice contestant goes on to global superstardom, a few have carved out seriously successful careers. And what's fascinating is that most of them didn't even win, which shows that sometimes, winning the show isn't the only path to success.
Whether it's country chart domination, like Morgan Wallen, quirky theatrical pop, like Melanie Martinez, or inspirational gospel, like Koryn Hawthorne, these artists have found their unique lane.
And if you're like me and still find yourself watching audition clips at 1 AM from The Voice UK or The Voice Kids Philippines, it's kind of nice to know that the show really can change lives—and sometimes, lead to something bigger than anyone expected.
Do you have a personal favorite from The Voice over the years?