Why Maddie Poppe Was More Successful on 'American Idol' Than 'The Voice' -

Suffice it to say, American Idol and The Voice are two totally different beasts. Even how you approach the competition once you get past the audition takes completely different strategies. But that’s the key, getting past the audition. There will forever be individuals who audition for both shows who don’t make it. They are the ones that got away. Perhaps they didn’t have the best audition, or they weren’t the celebrity panel’s cup of tea. Whatever it is, if you’re good at what you do, there are enough reality talent shows to try out for.

In 2016, a young singer from Clarksville, Iowa auditioned for the tenth season of The Voice. She sang Florence + the Machine‘s “Dog Days Are Over.” It was a good performance, but none of the coaches turned. This young girl was rejected by The Voice. But four nos didn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams. Just two years later, with the return of American Idol, that same young singer auditioned for the new panel. And then she went on to win the whole damn thing. That girl was Maddie Poppe. Timing, personnel, and growth were the recipe for Maddie Poppe to conquer American Idol when The Voice neglected her.

‘The Voice’ Was Not Right for Maddie Poppe

For the tenth season of The Voice, the coaches were three OGs, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Christina Aguilera, who returned for her final season, and Pharrell Williams, who was back for the fourth time. After a trio of three successful Blind Auditions on the first episode, Maddie Popp was the next singer to try to win the admiration of a coach. Unfortunately, she didn’t deliver what they were looking for.

As she shared on her Instagram, the coaches had a little bit with her sitting in on of the chairs, but nevertheless, her journey on The Voice was over before it even began. Years later, she said, “I was totally rejected on national TV, and it was really embarrassing. It was so discouraging, and I thought, ‘Man, if these people don’t like me, then no one will.” While she has since acknowledged how special a day it was, it didn’t deter her from trying again.

By the time American Idol rolled back around, she tried something different. With a guitar in her hand and a story in her heart, she sang “Rainbow Connection,” instantly earning the praise of the judges. Lionel Richie told her she had a storyteller’s voice, Katy Perry noted a unique quality in her voice, and Luke Bryan simply just gave her a yes.

From there, Maddie Poppe showed another asset of her skills with an original song during Hollywood Week. Again, she received immense praise, with Katy Perry noting the similarities in their writing styles. From there, the judges had faith in her future, even if she didn’t. She had revealed while she was happy to make it to the Top 24, she didn’t expect to win. Humble, to say the least.

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‘American Idol’ Was the Right Fit for Maddie Poppe

Maddie Poppe was a bit of an underdog in the competition. She wasn’t a boisterous presence, but she was consistent. In every round of the competition, Maddie showcased exactly who she wanted to be as an artist. If you put the song she sang for her Blind Audition on the list of her American Idol set list, it still fit the bill of her artistry. But on American Idol, she was able to showcase her singer-songwriter folk vibe through her song selection.

Whether playing guitar, ukulele, or piano, Maddie Poppe was at home with her instruments. She took songs like “Homeward Bound,” “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and “Landslide” and made them her own, creating Maddie Poppe originals. She even managed to make a Disney song sound brand new. When Katy Perry tells you that she closed her eyes and believed she was listening to Joni Mitchell, you know that honor means you’re doing something right.

Maddie Poppe may not have had this type of success had one of the coaches on The Voice taken a risk on her. She needed the platform and format that American Idol provided. Her ability to showcase her musical prowess on her terms proved beneficial. If you look back at the season’s final three and where they are now, it was an incredibly hard-fought battle for the type. Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Gabby Barrett were tried-and-true country singers. Maddie Poppe had that country sensibility, but had an accessibility to her that allowed her to take the victory. Maddie Poppe is proof of if at first you don’t succeed, try again.