The Voice' Season 9 Premiere Stars Newly Single Blake & Gwen, Chuck Woolery

Chuck Woolery visits ‘The Voice’

Season 9 is to The Voice as Rumours is to Fleetwood Mac. What I mean by that is, this is the series’ “breakup season.” Just as the Blind Auditions were being taped earlier this year, the superstar marriages by superstar coaches Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani famously, shockingly imploded. Soon, bizarre tabloid rumors (or should I say rumours?) of a Blake/Gwen showmance circulated. So naturally, as The Voice returned to NBC this Monday – the day after its second Best Reality Competition Emmy win – viewers were looking for signs of drama on the set.

Gwen Stefani: ‘I’m in a Real Spiritual Phase in My Life’

Thankfully, the coaches’ personal lives didn’t totally upstage the actual contestants’ auditions. And Gwen and Blake seemed in good spirits. But interestingly, when the coaches sang each other’s songs during the premiere’s opening number, Blake did croon the Gwen-penned No Doubt breakup ballad “Don’t Speak,” which surely must’ve had some personal meaning for him, given his current situation. I gotta wonder what his ex Miranda Lambert thought of that. (And I have to wonder what Gavin Rossdale thought when Blake later likened Gwen’s fight over a teen contestant to a “custody battle” – maybe not the best choice of words, considering that Gwen is about to divorce the father of her three young children.)

Personally, I don’t believe there is a love connection, other than a platonic one, between Gwen and Blake. But speaking of Love Connection… Chuck Woolery’s son, Michael Woolery, auditioned this Monday! That’s not as much of a stretch as you might think. Music is in the Woolery blood: Back in the ‘60s, Chuck was actually part of a psychdelic pop duo called the Avant-Garde, who scored a top 40 one-hit wonder with a song called “Naturally Stoned.”

But alas, there was no love, and a missed connection, for the Love Connection progeny. No red chairs turned for poor Michael. Perhaps he can come back in “two and two,” and try out again. Or, maybe his dad can help the newly single Blake and Gwen find dates.

And now, on to the successful Blind Auditions of the night, about which there was much to love…

Mark Hood - In one way, I can understand why Voice producers kicked off the season with this guy. He had oodles of personality – I warmed to him before he even opened his mouth to sing – and he was a fun, vivacious performer. But vocally, singing Bill Withers’s “Use Me,” Mark wasn’t all that spectacular. I was kind of surprised that all four coaches, even the notoriously discerning Pharrell Williams, turned for Mark. Not surprising, however, was that this contestant who described his style as “John Legend meets Pharrell” chose… Pharrell, duh. Pharrell always seems to be the most popular coach during the audition rounds, and he was off to a running start. But I suspect that Mark might eventually end up being Team Pharrell fodder.
MEMBER OF: Team Pharrell

Kota Wade - This purple-haired twentysomething claimed to be some sort of rock chick – she fronts a metal-ish band promisingly called Bad Wolf – but she tried to “go soul” for her audition, and then her cover of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me” sounded more country than anything else. Kota seemed to be having a bit of an identity crisis, and I was disappointed, because I always think the talent-show space needs more badass rocker girls. Anyway, I almost thought Kota would pull a Cassadee Pope and go with Blake, but then she started fangirling all over Gwen, of whom she’s been a superfan since 5th grade. Gwen complimenting her fashion and saying, “I could see you in a band with me!!!” totally sealed the deal. Hopefully Gwen can help Kota get back to her (lavender) rock ‘n’ roll roots.