As much fun as I have working on The Voice, and as neat as it is to be working on one of the biggest shows on television, that’s not why I do it. I’m there because I love music, I love these people, and I’m well aware of how these two things can change a life. It means something to me to be a part of that.
Some of you may have read my column from two weeks ago, where I addressed the spat over Twitter comments that were made about Raelynn. It was really a simple thing for me: it upset me to see her spoken of that way, and I wanted to say something about it. I also thought it was important to thank Blake for the fact that he said something about it. All I wanted to do was support an artist and her coach.
I didn’t expect that the column would catch on pretty quickly. It started what I think is an important discussion about internet etiquette, which was good. But more importantly I had people come to me and thank me for saying something, and sharing their own feelings about the issue. I found out that I gave a voice (pardon the pun) to many other people’s feelings. To be able to affect other people in that way was very gratifying and humbling to me.
And then came Tuesday night, when I found out just how big those words I wrote have become. I’ve gotten to know Blake fairly well since working on the show; I’ve spent time with him just about as many times as I’ve gotten to talk to Adam. Even so I was floored when he came into the press room and decided to come talk to me first. At the end of our interview we spoke about that column. I was touched by the compliments he gave me. Before he left we hugged and he told me “I love you.” And then my brain exploded.
That wasn’t even the end of it: on my drive home, I got a call from Blake’s publicist, who is one of the people I truly love working with. She mentioned to me that Blake’s wife, Miranda Lambert, was backstage that night and she’d said that she had also read that column.
To realize that I could write something that touched quite a few people, something that reached someone as big as Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, is an incredible honor and exactly why I do what I do. I touched the lives of two people I look up to. I’m still having a hard time believing it.
I’m in this job because I’ve been affected by so many people that have been a part of The Voice. I’m very blessed to say that I have earned the respect of Blake and Adam over my time on the show. I can’t explain what it’s like to realize that not only have I met two fantastic people, but that they appreciate me. That mutual respect and affection, particularly from Adam, who is the person that I look up to more than any other, is the biggest honor I’ve ever received in my life. I know that my hero not only knows me, but sees me for who I really am, and likes that person. And so does another of his pretty fantastic colleagues.
Every day I’m a better person because of the things I have learned from spending time with these artists and their coaches, and more importantly, the friendships I’ve made in that time. Those are things that are going to last well beyond who is named “The Voice.” And that’s what matters the most.
Clacked by Brittany Frederick 
on Apr 19, 2012 @ 14:55 EST5EDT
Greetings. Glad you got good responses to your column. I always look forward to reading your new installments.
We got to see a lot more of the dark side of the internet, this week. Like everyone else, I was shocked, but I thought Jesse handled his elimination with class, much more than some of those who supporting him. I also thought Christina articulated herself pretty well on Tuesday’s show. I’m glad Adam and Cee Lo got the chance to put her decision in its proper perspective, and that Cee Lo chimed in on some of the “flak” he’d received for his decisions, as well. He seems kind of discouraged and heavy-hearted. All of this does take away from the general positive vibe of the show, unfortunately.
I think the instant elimination is a negative gesture. It’s one thing to save someone, or to advance to the live show. It’s quite the opposite to single out someone to cut, and it came across to me as a shallow way to a) make the Monday performances more relevant, now that there’s a 2nd chance song on Tuesday, and b) add drama to the pure performance shows. By this time, everyone remaining is a strong talent in their own way and I, personally, liked the pure performance shows. I enjoy the music for its own sake, and these make great TV concerts.
*POST AUTHOR*
I agree with you – to me, the “instant elimination” idea just comes off as one more way the producers can manufacture more drama (and give those involved more stress). Hopefully they’re listening to the feedback from the artists and coaches.
There was definitely a dark side this week and it’s never fun to see that. I appreciated, though, that the other coaches were respectful of Christina. Other reporters asked them more than once to comment on her choice, and they never threw her under the bus even though I’m sure that’s what some of my colleagues were hoping they’d do.
I know Cee Lo once tweeted (since deleted) that he wanted to quit the show after the Erin Martin thing, and that just broke my heart.
But I appreciated the reminder that I guess we can do good things on the Internet just as much as not.
Not sure if you have access to Carson Daly (who’s a producer, this year), but there’s an obvious solution to their Monday-Tuesday dilemma: top vote getter is advanced AND bottom vote getter is eliminated by the audience; middle two singers get a 2nd chance song to be saved by their coach. Seems real easy to me, for next season.
*POST AUTHOR*
Funny you should mention Carson: I have never, in my year and a half of working on the show, formally met him.
But one of my good friends from this season is Justin Hopkins, who used to play in Carson’s house band. And I’m pretty sure this Tuesday Carson was pointing at me during one of the commercial breaks and he said something to me…but given the volume in the room, I have no idea. It was kind of funny and kind of cool.
One of these days, I’m going to have an actual conversation with that man.
Great post Brittany! I always look forward to your columns!
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks Toni! Appreciate you reading.
I’m not sure how I’ve been missing these posts for the past few weeks, but now I’m all caught up. I totally agree with you. I’m getting tired of the negativity on the internet. I guess when people are anonymous they feel they can say anything, including stuff they would never say in person. There is a way to word it nicely while still putting forth your own opinion. I really, really hope that the contestants aren’t seeing any of the negative stuff that’s out there. I’ve stopped reading some reviews of The Voice for that very reason.
I didn’t like the “instant elimination” this week as it doesn’t seem to be keeping with the positivity of the show. I thought instead they should have an “instant save” on Monday nights. I love Carson Daly’s idea that the middle 2 singers get a chance to be saved. I hope you get a chance to talk to him. : )
That wasn’t Carson’s idea – it was mine. I was thinking, maybe Brittany might suggest it to Carson, if she crossed paths with him (which she hasn’t). (Maybe she could suggest my idea to Adam (or Blake), who could suggest it to Carson…?) I think Carson, in his blog, mentioned Adam’s observation that the singers were doing way better performances on Tuesday, when they were singing to be saved, than on Monday, so the thinking must have been to inject the same level of danger into the Monday performances.
Oops. Sorry about that, MoSolomon. I totally missed that. Serves me right for reading too fast. So I should correct myself and say that I love your idea about the 2 middle singers getting a chance to be saved. Hopefully, somebody out there will read this or perhaps Brittany will be able to pass your idea on. Too bad they can’t get rid of the “instant elimination” next week, but that wouldn’t be fair to Teams Blake and Christina.