Gwen Stefani Basically Carrying The Voice Season 24 on Her Shoulders
The singer surprised viewers as a judge.
After long-time judge Blake Shelton left The Voice following Season 23, fans couldn't imagine the show thriving without the beloved country star. However, the producers did everything they could to keep the show engaging for the audience. The new panel of judges included John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, and Reba McEntire, all of whom were expected to do their utmost to ensure Shelton's absence wasn't perceived as Season 24's biggest weakness.
Nevertheless, after a few episodes, fans regrettably concluded that none of the judges could fill Shelton's shoes, but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Fresh Start
Many people were confident that Reba McEntire would be the standout judge of the current season, given the country star's renowned larger-than-life personality and excellent sense of humor. However, it became painfully clear that the veteran singer didn't have a genuine interest in the show, behaving as if she was there merely to collect her paycheck rather than to discover promising singers.
Fortunately, Gwen Stefani emerged to rescue Season 24 from the brink of total disaster. From her very first episode, the singer won over fans with her heartfelt engagement. Stefani appeared fully invested in the show, sharing jokes with the contestants and other judges while showing genuine interest and care in the singers' performances.
Fans didn't hesitate to hail Stefani as the best part of the current season, describing her as delightful and commending the singer for finally stepping up to the plate.
Shelton's Shadow
Stefani managed to truly connect with the fans by not attempting to channel Shelton, instead finding her own unique way of judging the show. The same cannot be said for Niall Horan, who began referencing Shelton's name at every appropriate and inappropriate moment, much to the annoyance of fans. They were disappointed that the former One Direction member decided to forsake his own beloved persona in a rather pathetic attempt to emulate Shelton.
Let's hope that Horan stops trying to imitate his former fellow panelist and starts taking cues from Stefani's approach instead.
The Voice Season 24 Episode 5 is set to premiere on October 9, 2023.